Howdy, my name is Darby. The sweet red mare with just a touch of sass for flavor. 😊
 

I landed at Rise and Ride because a good friend of the ranch knew I needed a gentler pace and a little extra attention, and she made sure I ended up somewhere that would actually listen to my body like they did.

 

When I first arrived, I was a bit underweight and pretty tight, especially through my neck and hindquarters. The best guess is I worked hard as a show horse at some point, but the details are fuzzy. I did come with a fancy roping saddle though, and a scar on my leg that tells its own story.

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A while back, I had an injury at the base of my spine that needed real time to fully fuse and heal. So I took a good long rest and let my body do what it needed to do. Turns out that was exactly the right call, because once it healed properly, my whole body started carrying itself better.

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These days, I’ve put my weight and muscle back on, and I’m feeling genuinely good. Massage day is my favorite day. I’m always making goofy little smiles when our specialist comes around and works those tight muscles back into place, like, “Yep… that’s the spot.” 😉  I’ve still got a few tiny signs of compensation here and there, but nothing that slows me down out on the trail.
 

The trail is really where I belong. Folks tend to love me for exactly what I am.. a slow, steady, cowhorse built mare who takes her time and makes everyone feel like there’s nothing to worry about. No drama, just an easy mosey through the woods with good company. I like to look around, take it all in, and remind whoever’s on my back that there’s no reason to rush. And honestly… who doesn’t love a little red mare? 😉
 

Come say hi when you visit, and if you’re feeling generous, a good wither scratch goes a long way around here. ♥︎