Even as I am starting to write this I don't really want to. I REALLY like this horse. However I don't have the time for him that he deserves and needs so here I am.

Vito is a SUPER cool gelding. He has a puppy dog personality and always wants to be with you. He is very easy to catch (even when you are trying to catch someone else). He has great ground manners but still has a bit of baby in him so needs reminded of that every once in a while. He is great for the vet and the farrier. He is barefoot. He will stand tied all day. He is great for grooming and tacking/untacking, including being easy to bridle. He has a typical 4 yr old brain and gets distracted but is easy to bring back to you. He has gotten along with anyone I have turned him out with but prefers someone playful. I have only hauled him once but he loaded/unloaded very nicely. He did dance & paw until we got moving and then was quiet.

I absolutely love riding Vito. He tries very hard to figure out what you are asking and has come a long way. I bought him in February and he was a big project. He was previously treated as a giant pet. He had no concept of personal space and no concept that I wasn't a play toy. I did a ton of ground work with him this spring and now he is a joy to be around. He lunges nicely and responds well to voice commands. He does still like to play and be goofy on the lunge occasionally.

I was told Vito was started as a 2 year old and then was left out to grow. He didn't retain much of what they did (if they even did much?) so I completely restarted him. Even through all of the confusion of trying to figure out what he actually knew he was never nasty. When I first started to canter under saddle he would crow hop and fuss. I just quit trying to canter until we were working on leg yields one day and he just fell into the canter and has been happy to canter ever since.

He has 3 fabulous gaits. His trot is super adjustable. We've slowly been working on contact and he is doing really well. I think he is a fabulous dressage or event prospect. He has a nice soft face and knows how to work off your legs. He can be a little lazy at times but is pretty easy to wake up a bit and get motivated.

Vito has also been spending time out on the trails this summer. He is used to the dogs racing around. When something startles him he plants his feet and checks it out. I have not ridden him out on the trails solo but I don't think it would take much.

I have been asked how much over fences experience he has and the answer is none. I don't believe in pushing a young horse over fences when they are still growing. We have done work with ground poles but he has not been jumped at all.

I think he has the potential to be a fabulous youth mount but is not currently beginner friendly.

Apparently I've run out of room. If you search FB or Instagram for #kyhlwoodvito you can see a bunch of pictures and videos