"Mi Absinthe"

A truly special mare for a discerning program

 

Ava is a rare and deeply cherished mare, offered only to a long-term, knowledgeable home that values quality, correct development, and partnership. She is not suitable for beginners. A buy-back guarantee is important to us, as her future matters greatly.

 

Purchased in 2019 with minimal prior handling, Ava has been thoughtfully and professionally developed from the ground up. Started later in life, she initially presented as tense and reactive, and was therefore given the time, patience, and correct foundation she required. Her early education focused heavily on extensive ground driving and double-lunging, followed by time spent in a professional barn and indoor environment, and then six months in a full training program, ridden by both a professional and a capable youth.

 

She went on to become my daughter’s heart horse—lovingly referred to as her “emotional support pony”—and proved herself as a reliable, kind, and incredibly versatile partner. Ava has been used for lessons, clinics, shows, and cross-country schooling, and has travelled extensively across Canada with us.

 

Her life experience is extensive:

• Mountain trips to Ya Ha Tinda

• Trail riding at Campbell Valley Park

• Confident crossing water and swimming

• Beach riding in New Brunswick, travelling as far as Nova Scotia

• Multiple trips to British Columbia (Delta/Langley and Vancouver Island)

 

Due to family life changes, Ava had lighter schooling through 2023–2024, enjoying regular hacking and pleasure riding, with minimal winter work. In 2025, she returned to work through a careful reconditioning and training program. While she found the initial return to full schooling challenging—as many sensitive, intelligent horses do—she has since regained fitness, relaxation, and strength, and is now going beautifully.

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• Extremely polite, kind, and respectful

• Very soft and sensitive to the aids

• Quiet and sane, yet forward and responsive

• Not hot with time off; may be slightly tense on the first ride back

• Best suited to a consistent program (a few days per week is sufficient)

• Excellent ground manners: hauls and ties impeccably

• Friendly, easy to catch, and a pleasure to have in the barn

• Nice movement and a correct way of going

 

Previously jumping .75M, free jumped to 1.20M. She is currently focused on dressage (schooling First Level), poles, and cavaletti work. Ava offers excellent potential in multiple disciplines:

• Dressage

• Eventing

• Hunter/Jumper

• Trail & pleasure riding

• Working Equitation

• Driving (CDE) potential

• Also suitable as a quality broodmare

 

Ava is a mare for someone who appreciates a sensitive, intelligent, well-traveled pony with depth, life experience, and heart. She will thrive in a program that values correct riding, softness, and partnership.

 

Serious inquiries only. Exceptional home is paramount.