Mint Game

Breed: TB 

Sex: Gelding

Age: 2017

Height: 16.1h
Pedigree: https://www.pedigreequery.com/mint+game

Price: $9,500  subject to change
​​​​​Link to lots of photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/11833417@N05/albums/72177720325006009

Link to videos- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt-dzmhstvn0BXp3t1QP8ufeL3GjqIBh0

 Calling all my eventers! As I watched him go around the xc today, I thought maybe I really should sell mine and keep him or just keep him but really there is such as a thing as not enough time in the day. I promise you this is the one that every ammy wants to ride and every trainer wants their students on!

Mint Game- 8yr 16.1 gelding sired by Seville  (GER) out of a Harlan's Holiday mare https://www.pedigreequery.com/mint+game If you tell me Seville, I know I am going to love it. I haven't met a Seville that I didn't like. This stunning horse ran 41x earning 142k and ran on the flat and over fences. He is retiring sound, no injuries and has no vices.

Every time we ride this horse, I raise his carrots because I truly think this horse is something that I would want to compete right now. I believe this is the horse everyone is hoping to find as well. He is absolutely lovely on the flat. The type that you get on and just smile because his neck is put on just right, the flatwork is fun and he is just so darn rideable. Maybe it is me because I don't like a big long horse and this one is quite compact making him super easy to ride. He has three quality gaits. He moves so well off the leg. You can ride him up or down. He might not be the hugest mover but he just sits there so consistently which honestly scores better 99% of the time. That canter...well yeah it really is just as nice as it looks. Every single person that rides this horse just thinks he is super enjoyable and talented.

We took him out in the XC field and hot damn this thing can just jump. I really don't know who doesn't want to ride this one around the jumps because he is so rideable. Steeplechase horses get a bad wrap sometimes but this is this horses first few jumps schools and he sits down, waits and rocks back as nicely as you could want for a horse with no "formal" jump schooling. He has scope galore, uses his body well and his front and hind end are just lovely. He hasn't seen a jump that makes him flick an ear. You can screw up and he says I got ya and will not punish you. You can ride him forward or you can sit him down all with the lightest of touch. Lead changes..yeah those are auto. Our jumps simply are not big enough to show him off but I think you can see everything you need to see.

We brought him out to jump in the ring and again just as brave and so darn fun. Scary fillers..yeah no big deal. Justin was just having such an absolute blast on him. Again he is a horse that just stays right in the rhythm because that canter is incredible. He is uphill, light, doesn't pull and will wait right to the base and crack his back.

We took him xc today (4/29). He loaded like a pro. Stood quietly to be tacked. Did his flatwork like a pro. He is just legit the easiest horse to ride and I think he would take anyone around. His canter is so darn easy to organize which makes it very easy to jump him. You can lengthen or shorten with just a touch of the fingers. Not to mention when the balance is uphill and in front it makes it very easy to find that distance. He pretty much will find the distance every single time if you just let him. Sometimes Justin does to much but at the end he said he was tired and finally just let Mint do what he does best. Not shocking he then had his best jumps! This horse may have steeplechased but he brings all the best prep/training from a great trainer/barn. He is quiet, wraps around his jumps and just lightly pings off the ground. He never speeds up and he neatly puts in the nice distance on his own. She said he wasn't a great chaser because he didn't attack the jumps and he jumped too high rather than brushing through. Very much the case!

This horse is all class. I truly believe he is quiet enough for most with experience to just start eventing right this minute. He is the type that will give you confidence both on the flat and over fences. I cannot say enough good things about him. I am smitten!

Mint has a great brain and a super work ethic. He is just a horse you really look forward to swinging a leg over each day. He is so funny because in the barn, he will be squealing and letting you know he feels great but he is all business to ride. He is athletic and fun just making this cute little shape that makes you feel quite secure. He has an excellent brain but this is a fun cheeky sportscar of a horse. Not naughty but always up for the job. It was super windy for his ring ride so you can see he rides past the dog but spooked when the sign on the ring blew. One step and right back to work. He is keen but within reason :)

Mint was deeply offended by changing his shoes and pulling his hinds. Most of the time, we do pull hinds as horses transition but I think he would like them back on so we will see if he toughens up a bit. He actually has super feet (heels/wall/etc) so it is just an adjustment period.

This is a horse that I truly think will do a 2* or more very easily. He could go BN tomorrow. He is everything that I say he is and probably even more. You cannot put a value on what good steeplechase training brings to the table for these horses. The good ones...well we all covet them because they simply have been there and done it. The mileage they get is very much like a show horse. This one is special.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt-dzmhstvn0BXp3t1QP8ufeL3GjqIBh0

www.benchmarksporthorses.com for his details.