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Forget
about the spooking, biting, kicking, and nervousness all too common in
horse and pony breeds today. You'll fall in love with Gotlands
because they're lovable, smart, predictable, willing, sane, and a pleasure
to train.
If you are
looking for security in a mount, a cooperative companion with the
intelligence and eagerness to learn whatever you can teach, you're looking
for a Gotland.
Kokovoko Breeding Farm
has been breeding Gotlands for nearly 20 years, ever since we bought
the last remaining breeding herd in North America in 1989. We bought
them sight unseen: a very handsome buckskin stallion (Tarquin
Tristan), a couple weanling fillies, and five very pregnant mares.
They looked pretty much like a bunch of plain brown ponies of "Thelwell"
origin.... Until I got to know them, when I learned that these were the
kindest, most intelligent, easiest to train equines I had ever
encountered. And they had spunk, too. Even my Percherons didn't push
them around (for long!). I scoured the horse books for photos and
information. There was precious little to find.
My best education came
while training the yearlings and new babies. They learned everything
SO quickly, and hardly ever objected to anything I did. I found them
to be very trusting and nearly unflappable. What it took other
horses a week to "get," these guys got in an hour, and
they remembered it. I could long-line and break them to drive in a
day, and add another day for an introduction to riding!
The Gotland loves to
learn, and isn't bothered by anything. They love water, will go
across bridges (and even tarps!), and love the challenge offered by
jumping, eventing, drivng, and contest. Or they'll just carry the
little one on a trail ride or around the yard. They're basically
bombproof.
They average 12.2 hands
high and about 650 lbs, and Kokovoko is also breeding Gotland sport
ponies to meet the demand for a slightly larger mount capable of
carrying larger kids and adults. Gotlands generally remain healthy
into their thirties.
Please explore the
website and feel free to call or email me to learn more. I'm always
happy to talk ponies. Seems they've become my passion over the
years.
Thanks for looking,
Leslie Bebensee
kokovoko@kih.net
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