“Jopa’s Wildcard” was a FORCE on the harness racing track, earning $284,000 and running until 2013. Born in 2005, this handsome 18 year old standardbred gelding started 117 times on the track.
After retiring in 2013, Wildcard started a career as an Amish buggy horse. He did this job for the next decade until he got too old and he was taken to the sale to be traded in for a younger model. This horse is so sweet and kind, he deserved so much better than that.
He walks right up to you in the pasture and has a goofy gelding personality. We quarantined him, did his strangles testing, brought all his vet work up to date, and checked to ensure he wasn’t enrolled in the full circle program (he isn’t). He came to our main training farm and started his under saddle career.
Our vets are SHOCKED at how sound he is after 117 career starts AND ten years as a buggy horse but honestly his legs look amazing. He’s sound and trots/paces with ease. He doesn’t know how to / have a natural canter, but seems willing to learn. We’ve trail ridden him EVERYWHERE. He’s crossed water, led and followed, stepped over logs, woods and open fields. He doesn’t really get rattled and is NOT spooky. We have tested him with many different riders. He rides English or western and doesn’t seem to care what outfit he has on. He is sound.
He would make an excellent and smooth trail horse for an advanced beginner+. The worst thing he will do is get a little lazy but a little kick gets him going. Plus his pretty dark bay coat doesn’t hurt does it? He is UTD on vet and farrier.
VIDEO- https://youtu.be/tAq5SyAJH_0