August 2, 2023 •Gentle Spirit Horses Rescue
Meet Hazel, a Morgan type mare and her trainer, Michelle Gilles of Red River Ranch Performance Horses. #ShowdownTeamSugar is competing in the Challenge Division of the 2023 Dakota Showdown Horse Trainer Challenge
Hazel, an 11-year-old Morgan type mare standing at 14.2 hands tall, has become a shining star in the Dakota Showdown with her newfound confidence and blossoming personality under the guidance of trainer Michelle Gilles. With her smooth and rhythmic gait, Hazel is a natural when it comes to moving cattle, navigating trails, and conquering obstacles. Her boundless energy and fearlessness make her a prime candidate for endurance riding, sorting, or even obstacle challenges. While her pleasure breeding may intimidate some riders, Hazel is best suited for intermediate or brave newcomers who are open to receiving instruction. Her forward-moving nature and animated movements make her a mesmerizing sight to behold.
Hazel's natural leadership qualities shine through, making her a confident and fearless mare. She thrives when given a purpose and excels in structured routines and demanding tasks. With her boundless heart and exceptional work ethic, Hazel is always eager to please. She eagerly bounds towards the fence for treats and enjoys engaging in liberty games on the ground. Intelligent, robust, and fiercely loyal, Hazel is truly a remarkable companion.
Red River Ranch Performance Horses will offer continued training for 30 days and lessons to anyone who adopts Hazel to help make the perfect fit!
About Michelle Gilles of Red River Ranch Performance Horses
Michelle Gilles was born in California but has trained in Texas and Wyoming before settling in Minnesota near Fargo, ND. Michelle has a unique ability to figure out the way to communicate with horse and rider to help each individual pair reach new milestones in their horsemanship goals. She has became proficient in building a true bridle horse. Safety of horse and rider is her main focus so she can provide the best for each individual team!
From Her Trainer
Hazel is smooth and fearless! She has a lot of heart
and a great work ethic! She runs to the fence for treats and likes to work liberty games on the ground. She is smart, strong, and very loyal.
About Hazel's Ideal Adopter
Hazel is a mare who is slow to warm up and trust, but once she accepts you she is smart, brave and loyal. Her ideal adopter will allow her time to settle in and build a relationship that will last a lifetime. Once that relationship is in place, Hazel would love a partner who will be up for anything, from trails to endurance, working cows to obstacle courses.
Hazel is a pleasure-type horse with powerful, forward movement which can be intimidating if the rider is unfamiliar with it. Her adopter will be just as confident and/or familiar with the energy a pleasure horse brings to the table. Hazel enjoys routines and prefers to live out rather than in, but is quiet and good in a stall and will adapt to any structured home.
Hazel's History
Hazel was purchased at auction by Gentle Spirit Horses Rescue specifically for the Showdown - though she was also thin and in need of some rehabilitation as well. Little is known of her previous history though we suspect she was an Amish horse as several local Amish families were liquidating and moving out of the area at the time she showed up at auction. She was said to be potentially bred but was found to be open during a vet check pre-Showdown. She was slow to trust, could be extremely pushy at times and other times stand like a rockstar, so likely had all kinds of handling from quiet and calm to rough and difficult prior to coming to GSH.
Adopt Hazel at the Dakota Showdown Finale
The Dakota Showdown horses will be available for adoption under the Gentle Spirit Horses Rescue contract (or Little Hooves Miniature Horse Rescue contract for ponies KC, Diamond Dave, Belle and Tinkerbelle) to approved adopters through an online bidding process on August 12-13, 2023. The starting bid is $1200. Appointments to meet the horses you are interested in on August 12 are greatly encouraged.