South Santo: 1* Eventer 115 SJ Elementary Dressage

Introduction: Santo is a fabulous young 1* eventer. He has been produced by his current owner, under professional guidance, since he retired from racing. Santo has the talent and youth to progress up the star levels and also the experience to teach a confident young rider or amateur. He is only for sale as his owner’s work requires significant overseas travel and this isn’t compatible with competing at the higher levels.

Education, skills and experience: Santo’s owner has brought him on, slowly and correctly. He is currently competing and placing in 1* eventing. He could easily compete 115 showjumping and elementary dressage tomorrow! He is training 120 and Medium level dressage. It has been suggested that he has the talent to progress to Advanced level or beyond! 

Dressage: Santo is well established in dressage with three even paces. He consistently produces calm and accurate tests. Santo has a comprehensive dressage education, he willingly collects, is balanced, light and soft to ride. Santo has all laterals established, including half pass and is training flying changes. In dressage, Santo is always a stand out, consistently scoring over 70%. 

Showjumping: Santo is responsive and adjustable, competitive against the clock. He is brave and trustworthy around the course and doesn’t stop.

Cross Country: On cross country, Santo is super calm in the start box and bold and honest across the course. The only time he ever had a country jumping fault was at his first ever official event. He is ready to go 2* with the right rider and he is training, at this height, with ease.  Santo absolutely loves jumping, and is a ‘point and shoot’ cross country horse. He is very clever and quick with his feet, will jump nearly anything off any angle and any stride. Santo can always be trusted to bring his rider home safely. 

General demeanor under saddle: Santo is a wonderful example of the modern performance horse being compact, athletic and refined. His paces display elasticity and activity suitable to progress up the levels. Santo is a willing and responsive gelding who is honest and aims to please. He is straightforward and trustworthy to ride, compete, take off the property, and he works well in a group or on his own. 

Santo is generally very quiet but not completely unflappable to ride. He can occasionally have a look at something but he doesn’t spook. He is good with dogs and copes with the noise and nonsense of children within his vicinity.

Santo does work more quietly, if lunged at the start of the first few rides after a spell. He is safe but it just relieves the tension.

Likewise, Santo doesn't love a very busy warm up - he is very settled if you do a long and low stretchy pre ride, then a short 15 min trot and walk before his test. If he is just taken straight into a chaotic warmup, for the first few events of the season, he may do one pig root with excitement. This is likely due to his age and something that he may grow out of. It isn’t at all dirty and is easy to ‘sit’.

Current workload/ fitness: Santo is in work 4 to 5 days a week and is competing. He could easily drop back to 3 rides a week without any issues.

Handling and general behaviour: Santo LOVES people! He is safe and easy to manage - easy to catch and handle - lead, rug, tack up, wash, shoe, clip, float/ truck etc. 

Feeding and management: Santo loves his food. He is currently stabled at night and in a grassy paddock during the day. He is hard fed and given hay. 

Medical history: Santo was found to have mild navicular changes in his front feet - this was an incidental finding but he has had arthramid injected every 12 months since 2023 as a preventative (latest injection was 26.3.25). All xrays are available and the vet reported minimal change in 2 years. He is completely sound as per lunging video added to portfolio 23.4.25 and pre sale vet check, which included flexions and lunging, on the 8.5.25.

Santo had a ligament issue as a racehorse which has not been an issue since. This has been declared for the sake of full disclosure and is not uncommon. He is sound and requires zero day to day maintenance.

Rider Suitability: Capable and confident - Santo will be perfect for a capable and confident teen or young adult looking for a kind, competitive and talented partner.  He has the rare ability to teach his rider and to also go up the grades in any discipline.

Reason for sale: Santo is only for sale due to his owner’s work commitments requiring significant overseas travel. 

Pedigree Tree

 

moonlark

sire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mrs shine

dam