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Raphael is a seasoned mountain horse.  He is regularly ridden in the rugged San Juan Mountains of Colorado.  He also has extensive training in the deserts of New Mexico.  

Raphael has a big personality.  I often say that you dont catch him, he catches you!!  He will meet you at the gate EVERY time!  He loves to leave his pasture mates to come to you.  He loves to go.  He is easy to  groom, good for the farrier, bathes, clip, fly spray, blanketing etc...  He will climb in any trailer.  Slant, straight, dividers, no dividers.  He'll ride forward, backwards or sideways.  He will go alone or with friends.  There are no problems.  

He is easy to handle on the ground.  He can be led in multiple horsee always minding his manners.

Raphael crosses logs in t on the trail no matter how big, crosses rivers, bogs and streams.  He can be told when to jump over them or when to just step.  He will listen to you! Open gates off him, put on your rain coat.  Ride him bareback, backwards, or even throwing pine needles at your friends.  He'll climb thousands of feet in elevation easily.  After working this hard he will happily do it again day after day.  This is proven on mu;ti day  pack trips.

Raphael has incledible breeding which makes him an abosolute pleasure to ride.  He is an athletic mover.  He is incredibly soft in the face, and moves off your legs.  His aids are responsive and quick.  His walk is big, he covers ground.  BUT it is so nice to sit on.  Youll come off that mountain and not feel "that mountain"!

Raphael can slow down too.  He's polite,  you can have him wait his turn if in a group.  if leading, you can stop him to wait on your friends.  It is incredibly important when leading a pack that the lead horse slows to allow the string the time they need to navigate terrrain..  In Raphaels video you will see him doing this.  Now Raphael does prefer to lead and has done an extraordinary  job.  He is confiedent and makes good decisions.  When i went on our full moon ride we; we were riding in pitch dark for awhile.  Rapheal was 100% reliable.  Even letting me use my flashlight on top of him.

He highlines, you can hobble him, or just leave him tied for a picnic lunch.  This guy stands like angel and does not destroy your tack.  I ride alone A LOT and he is not trailer sour, or herd bound.  He can be tied anywhere.  I feel safe on him, and he loves to please.  He has been taught to lay down.  He ahas a brilliant and busy mind so he is always up for an adventure.  He trusts his handler and if in a bind; it can be easily diffused because of his ability to focus on what he is told to do.   He has shared the trail with many hikers.  we just havent been on the trails with the super crazy mountain bikers and motorcyles.  He is traffic safe..

He has done numerous campouts.  Some of these required being tied to the trailer.  He was well behaved all night and did zero damage to the trailer.  

He's really an amazing horse.  He has had 2 owners in his life.  He has had nothing but love and it shows.  

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