Self carriage, lightness, and respect have been the cornerstones of Zontian's schooling. This translates into day-to-day training that channels Zontian's own natural exuberance and keen mind, not force, to help develop his innate talents while still grounding him in the fundamentals. Having Zontian as a willing partner, combined with his exceptionally smooth gaits, makes him a pleasure to ride in the arena, on the trail, and in the show ring.

Handled since birth, Zontian has a solid foundation of ground work, lunging, long-lining, and lateral movements at both the walk and trot and is voice trained. Under saddle, Zontian is confirmed in the walk, trot, lengthened trot, and canter, including all lateral movements at the walk and trot. Work over cavalletti on the lunge and under saddle has been an integral part of his training and is quite routine for him. Aside from the physical and mental benefits this training provides to his flatwork, it will serve as an excellent foundation for any future work over fences.

Zontian demonstrated an aptitude for collected movements very early on in his training; well before he was under saddle. While being careful not to overwork him, I did encourage this natural ability and he now offers piaffe both on the long-lines and under saddle. Although in its infancy, Zontian's passage seems to be just as natural for him and promises to be breathtaking. True to his heritage, Zontian loves Spanish Walk and I predict the same will be true for Spanish Trot.

Under saddle, Zontian has progressed from winning walk-trot classes as a four year old to winning everything from Western Pleasure Junior Horse to English Pleasure Hunt Seat classes as a five year old.
In halter, Zontian has been the Eastern Regional Andalusian Horse Club Half-Andalusian Gelding Champion for both 2008 and 2009 as well as the first place Half-Andalusian Gelding in the 2008 Simply Southern Iberian Region 7 Championship Show. He also placed either first or second in Half-Andalusian Best Movement in all three of these shows. Zontian loves to perform, whether it be Spanish Walk and piaffe in a performance, or a powerful extension in the show ring and is truly a showman at heart.

As some people viewing this advertisement will recognize, the decision to sell Zontian was a difficult one for me. He is such fun to train; he learns so quickly and approaches his work with enthusiasm. This is the perfect time in Zontian's life however, in regards to his age and training, for someone else to take over the reins. This horse can do anything... he just needs to be shown the way.