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Breed: Thoroughbred Gender: Gelding Age: 7 Height: 15.3hh Color: Dark Bay Disciplines: Trail Riding, Dressage, English Pleasure, Hunter/Jumper Adoption fee: $1,000 Location: Hope For Horses, INC at Advantage Horsemanship — Fredericksburg, VA Meet Eli. Eli is a 7-year-old, 16-hand Thoroughbred gelding who is unfortunately burdened with being smarter than most of us. He is clever. He is playful. He is social. He likes having a job, but more importantly, he likes having a relationship with the person giving him that job. Liberty work? Absolutely his thing. Eli loves connection, problem-solving, and anything that makes him stop and think instead of just mindlessly going in circles. Under saddle, he can go English or Western. Is he going to win an award for being the fanciest mover in the barn? Probably not. Does he move, ride, and have plenty of potential with the right person? Yes. Now for the fine print, because we believe in actually telling people what they’re adopting: Eli is not a beginner horse. Before coming to us, Eli did rear with a rider. We do not know exactly what caused that behavior or what was happening at the time, so we are not going to invent an explanation to make his résumé prettier. Because of that history—and because he is an intelligent, sensitive horse—he needs an experienced, confident rider who can continue bringing him along thoughtfully and correctly. He is the kind of horse who is probably going to notice when you’re inconsistent before you do. Eli currently wears four shoes. In the herd, he generally ranks toward the top, but he is also extremely playful and genuinely enjoys having horse friends. He can live outside 24/7 and does well that way, but he can also be stalled when needed. What we think Eli really needs is someone who enjoys the process. Someone who likes smart horses. Someone who understands that “advanced” does not mean “ride harder”—it means having better timing, clearer communication, and enough experience to help a horse think through things instead of escalating them. For the right person, Eli could be an incredibly fun horse. For the wrong person, Eli will probably become the barn manager. Eli • 7-year-old Thoroughbred gelding • 16 hands • English or Western • Four shoes • Experienced/advanced rider required • Enjoys liberty and relationship-based work • Playful, intelligent personality • Can live out 24/7 or stall as needed • Located with Hope For Horses in Virginia Interested in adopting Eli? Submit an adoption application through Hope For Horses so we can determine whether you and our tiny equine genius are a good match. Hope for Horses, Inc. is a rescue; this horse is for adoption, not for sale. Rescue website: http://www.hope4horses.com