Tui

Tui's Story written by Helen

We were on a mission to find a new roping prospect to replace our aging blue roan gelding- we were first attracted to Robinson's by the blue roan stallion (Sir Robin Blueprince) and were hoping to purchase either one of his off-spring or a 3 yr old gelding also offered for sale with similar bloodlines- this was to become my husbands roping prospect.

I personally ride English and had no interest in purchasing a Quarter Horse. I own a Hannoverian/ TB X and am training in dressage.

Shawna provided us with a tour of the first crop of foals sired by the Blue roan... we didn't find what we were looking for so Shawna continued on to another heard sired by Sir Robin Doc. A very impressive Black stud who appeared to have an extreamly quiet nature. My husband viewed several foals but my eye kept going back to a big boned bay mare (Docs Wiree Willow) and her little bay filly. The filly approached us and was curious- she was going to be a big solid girl.

My husband did not purchase a roping gelding from Shawna but I bought the little bay filly!!

My daughter was participating in the 4H PMU foal program. Prior to purchasing the filly from Shawna, we had toured 4 PMU barns and selected a sorrel QH colt from Donalda to be her project horse. We must have viewed close to 250 foals- still there was something about the little bay filly that I could not resist!

We brought Tui home and let her settle a few days before halter breaking her. She accepted her new home and us as her source of food almost immediately. She was super friendly and allowed us to touch her. The halter breaking was a bit of a struggle but after 30 minutes she was leading with a bum rope without a fuss. She never once displayed any mean behavior.

Next we had the vet out for her first health inspection and vaccines/worming/ hoof care etc. She stood quietly for the vet (including the shots and worming) and passed her inspection.

We worked almost daily with her- placing her in a seperate stall every night with the other colt next door. This allowed me to take the time to just brush her and pick up her feet while she was still small enough to handle easily. She has such a wonderful nature she would stand quietly with just her halter on and lead rope loose. Her personality is so calm nothing seemed to phase her- the farrier and the vet love her.

Teaching her to trailer was no problem either, she would hop in by herself and stand. We have taught her to back out and also spin around and come out forward- either way she is always calm. She will hop in the trailer by herself if we leave the trailer door open!

I took her to a foal clinic in the spring and she did awesome! She tackled every obsticle like an old trail horse - never spooked at the obsticles, lunged on the line nicely forward and changed direction with the swapping of the lead line to a different hand. She used her entire body when changing direction. Her behaviour being with 7 other foals in a tight area was amazing - no fuss at all. She gave her head when asked to drop it with no resistance.

We saddled her for the first time and walked her around waiting for some reaction - she just didn't mind. She will walk with her saddle pad and suricingle done up snug with no objection. We have clipped, bathed, and blanketed her in the first year and she has accepted everything- no display of resistance.

We started a little basic Parelli training- backing, coming, body language, cracking the buggy whip over her head and a lunging around objects. Once she figures out what we are asking of her she just tries so hard to please! She is an intelligent little horse, picks things up very quickly. This summer we also ponied her with the aged gelding. She walked boldly beside the gelding into new territory - no spook at all.

There is no doubt Tui is going to be a big boned powerful horse and although she is increadibly quiet to handle I reconize that there is a lot of horse under that quiet exterior. I have owned horses for 35 years and have never handled one who is as affectionate and Tui. She will stand beside me for as long as I pet her, I can scratch her all over with the plastic garden rake and she adores the attention. She is always watching out for anyone leaving the house heading towards the barn and will follow us around like a dog. Raising Tui has been a rewarding experience for all of us and we feel fortunate to have bought such and amazing little filly.