A very sad sale of my much-loved mare Iris. I've owned her since she was 2 years old, and finding the right, knowledgeable home is far more important than a quick sale.

She's an ID x Cob with plenty of bone, substance and presence (no recorded breeding). She was carefully backed by myself and my trainer last year and was turned away over the winter to mature both physically and mentally.

We spent most of last year hacking out which she loves. She hacks confidently in company and solo with someone on foot. We have a track around our farm which she’s ridden around solo with no issues. I have no doubt that, once settled, she'd be fine hacking out solo with a confident rider. When in company, she prefers taking the lead. She’s unfazed by traffic, tractors, cyclists, dogs, livestock and general village life. Whilst we live in the countryside, she has seen plenty out hacking and has always been genuine and willing, however she does take confidence from her rider given her age. She’s cantered in open spaces and through the woods and didn’t get silly.

She was lightly schooled last year, and is currently being schooled 2-3 times a week and is making lovely progress, albeit very green. She’s recently started cantering in the school. She is improving with every session but will benefit from someone who can continue her education consistently. She’s more ‘woah than go’. We’ve also done a lot of groundwork over the years, including long lining which she loves.

She does throw some excitable shapes on the lunge (buck/rear), however she does not do this under saddle in the school or out hacking.

Iris has a kind nature, but she is a big, young horse and therefore is absolutely not suitable for novices. She is mare-ish and will test boundaries to see what she can get away with. Once she's built a bond with you, she will look after you and try her heart out for you. She needs a strong, confident, experienced person who is used to big horses and enjoys producing young horses and can offer her consistency. In the right hands, everything is there for her to make a lovely all-rounder. Whilst she has not hunted before, she has the substance and attitude to potentially excel as a hunter. I’ve not taken her out and about as I don’t have my own transport, however she has been over cross poles in the field without getting silly. She’s completely unfazed by jumps/fillers/coloured poles (and most things in general really). She’ll stand at the mounting block, equally she’s not bothered if you get on her from the ground (if you’re more nimble than me anyway!), or from the ‘wrong’ side. She’s really chilled for a youngster, but can sometimes be sharp on the ground.

She has no stable vices. She’s previously lived out 24/7 and on a day/night turnout routine. She's currently in during the day and happily out overnight on individual turnout. She can take a couple of weeks to settle into new places. Iris is very independent - she’s happy to be in on her own and doesn’t get attached to other horses (she’s much more of a people person!). She loads and travels well in a 3.5T horsebox (unknown in a trailer, but I'm sure she'd be fine with practice). She is up to date with worming, teeth, vacs and physio. She's previously had front shoes which were recently removed and she's now barefoot.

This is an incredibly difficult decision as I've put a lot of time, love and effort into Iris. I'm only selling her as I feel she needs someone more confident and experienced to help her excel. She's been given a correct start in life, has never been rushed, and is now ready for someone to continue her education and enjoy everything she has to offer.

More pictures and videos available upon request.

£4,500