Ruby is an 11-year-old mare that checks an awful lot of boxes people call us looking for every single day. Sweet, forgiving, good minded, and experienced enough to have seen just about everything you can throw at her. If you're looking for a horse that you can actually enjoy without having to worry about what kind of mood she's going to be in every time you saddle her, this girl deserves a serious look.

Let me tell you something about this mare. She spent her ENTIRE summer working at a children's camp. Not just visiting for a weekend, not being led around once for a photo opportunity, but actually earning her keep packing children of all ages up and down the trails. Whether that meant having the littlest campers being led around on her back or carrying kids who were learning to ride independently, Ruby showed up and did her job. I don't think people always appreciate just how much that says about a horse.

If you've ever been around a summer camp full of kids, you know it's anything but a quiet environment. Kids screaming, running around, bouncing balls, swinging ropes, flying tarps, and just about every other thing you can imagine. Some horses would lose their minds in that kind of environment. Ruby? She spent the summer right in the middle of it. There is something to be said about a horse that can tolerate that kind of commotion and still have a willing attitude every day you pull her out.

And I can personally speak to just how forgiving this mare is. I've had some of my own friends come out to the farm who had quite literally NEVER sat on a horse in their lives. Guess who I put them on? Ruby. She packed them wonderfully down the trail, took care of them, and let them enjoy something they had never experienced before. I don't take that kind of responsibility lightly. When someone who has never ridden a horse trusts me to put them on one, I want to know they're going to have a good experience. Ruby has given me exactly that. That's not a sales gimmick, that's something I've personally experienced with this mare.

What I really appreciate about Ruby is that she isn't just a horse that walks down the trail with her nose in another horse's tail. She has some motor when you ask for it and is happy to step up and go do something. She's the kind that can pack a kid around on a quiet afternoon but still be enjoyable for someone who wants a little more out of their ride. Quiet doesn't have to mean lazy, and Ruby is a great example of that.

This mare is also incredibly easy to keep. She does wonderfully living outside on pasture, doesn't require anything fancy, and is simply an uncomplicated horse to have around. Sometimes I think people get so caught up looking for the fanciest horse, the prettiest papers, or the most impressive set of buttons that they forget how valuable a horse with a genuinely good mind really is.

I will take a kind, forgiving horse over a fancy one any day of the week. You can put more training on a horse. You can teach them new things. What you can't always teach is the kind of temperament that allows one to spend an entire summer surrounded by inexperienced riders, children, and constant commotion without making things complicated.

Whether you're looking for a horse to build confidence on, something the family can enjoy around the farm, or simply a dependable trail partner that has already proven herself in a busy environment, Ruby deserves a serious look. At 11 years old, she's mature enough to have some real-world experience behind her and still has plenty of good years ahead to enjoy.

I don't think everybody needs a reiner, a barrel horse, or something that's going to win a world championship. Sometimes you just need a horse that makes you excited to go to the barn, throw a saddle on, and enjoy the afternoon. I've personally watched Ruby give that experience to people who had never ridden before, and that's something I think is worth an awful lot.

Please call, ask questions, or set up an appointment to FaceTime us and meet this gal. We'd love to tell you about her.

We are located in Lester Prairie, Minnesota, but we can arrange shipping absolutely anywhere needed, so please do not hesitate to ask for a quote!