For more info visit lbequine.net as I ran out of room to type here. In 2021, I hand-selected Turtle for my program because I knew exactly what he was the moment I swung a leg over him: an old soul, a 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝, and the kind of horse that makes everyone around him feel a little more confident. His name suits him perfectly. Turtle takes his time, thinks things through, and never seems to see a reason to hurry. He is 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲, 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝, and kind—the kind of horse you can trust to show up the same way, every single time.

Turtle is the epitome of a 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠. He is thick-boned, substantial, and built with the kind of substance you want in a horse that has spent a lifetime going to work. He possesses an exceptionally quiet brain and the work ethic to go about his job with poise and purpose. His résumé speaks for itself: 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞, 𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞, 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞.

He spent time on a 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐌𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐜𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡, where he became accustomed to rugged country, ranch chores, 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞, 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐢𝐭, and even helping 𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐭𝐬. In his younger years, he was also a little boy’s horse and trusted compadre—the kind of horse that quietly earns a place in a family’s memories.

On the ground, Turtle has impeccable manners. Under saddle, he is 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝, 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲. He has a 𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞, punchy neck rein, good stop and back, picks up his leads, works a gate, and possesses all the practical qualities you want in a true working ranch horse. More importantly, he is forgiving and kind. He has been ridden by kids, safely carried older riders, and is equally comfortable and handy underneath an experienced rider.

He will ride alone or in a group, through water, over bridges, across rough terrain, and through whatever obstacles the trail happens to offer. He does not care if he falls to the back of the pack, but he is perfectly willing to step up and lead when asked. He is never in a hurry, but he will move out when you ask him to.

He is also an exceptional babysitter horse for younger or greener horses. His confidence simply does not waver, and he has the experience to quietly teach another horse that there is nothing to be worried about.

Turtle has always been the horse we reach for when guests come to town. He is the first one pulled out of the paddock because we know he will take care of whoever is sitting on his back. He rides in traffic and has remained quiet and sensible even when a train came blaring by. Very little seems to bother him. He simply goes about his business and does his job like the seasoned horse he is. Ran out of room to type....