Magic is a 24 year old saddlebred, he thinks he is 8 and we just let him keep thinking that. He is registered as Night Ruler and is sired by Carey's Night of Love and is out of the mare Fashionable. In his younger years, Magic was shown as a three-gaited horse and his least favorite gait is the walk. Magic is always ready to go and will prance his way to the lesson arena if you let him. We do not use Magic for beginner riders as he prefers to be ridden in his show bridle which has two bits and two reins for the rider to manage.
People always ask why Magic's hair is always fuzzy. Last year Magic developed Cushing's syndrome which is a metabolic disorder that can afflict older horses. The disorder is caused by a brain tumor in the pituitary gland and it causes the constant growing of hair, failure to shed, insulin resistance, cortisol problems, redistribution of body fat...the list goes on and on. Because of this, we are very particular about the number of lessons he gives and the time and temperature during his lessons. Magic is also on a special diet to manage the Cushing's syndrome so we ask that people ask before giving treats as he is on a low sugar, low starch diet. There is no cure for Cushing's syndrome but it is manageable.
Magic loves to give lessons and loves his occasional bareback gallops through the orange groves with his owner, Emily when the weather turns cool. He is Mr. Personality and loves attention.
His best buddy is Emily's other saddlebred, Gus, and they can often be seen standing side by side during turnout time.