WOODOCK VALLEY FIRE’S AMBER | 5-YEAR-OLD PERCHERON MARE | JOPLIN, MO

Woodcock Valley Fire’s Amber, fondly known as “Amber,” is a 5-year-old Percheron mare bred by All Star and Belle View Percherons. She lives in Joplin, Mo., with her person, Jimi.

Amber is a tall, dark, and gorgeous driving horse. Her breeders run a combined hitch which was recently named 2016-17 national champions in the Six Horse Hitch Classic Series finals in Oklahoma City earlier this fall.

Jimi says Amber “has the most calm personality of any horse I have ever met,” which was no doubt a pleasant surprise since she was bought sight unseen from Pennsylvania three years ago.

“She instantly fell in love with my hubby, Wayne, the moment they met,” said Jimi.

Amber is still young and just starting under saddle but has already been to her first driving show earlier this year.

“We placed in every class, we actually took highpoint in our division for the day. We are very proud of her,” said Jimi.

Although Jimi grew up with horses, she didn’t have anyplace to keep one of her own for about nine years. Her husband suggested she get back into horse ownership about three and a half years ago. As we all know, horses are like potato chips, so one turned into three, which have since turned into 11 in their backyard.

In addition to being sweet, Amber has a goofy side to her as well, and Jimi said she has also proven to be very clever.

“When Amber was a little over two years old, we were doing groundwork and she decided she didn’t want to continue,” Jimi remembered. “She pulled the line out of my hand and went and stood in the cart shafts looking at me like I should hook her up and we should go. I laughed but couldn’t hardly get her to move out of the cart shafts.

“Turns out two years later when we broke her to cart she was already broke. She was the easiest mare to break to cart ever. She seemed to already know the drill just from watching the others.”

Amber’s favorite treats are green apples – yum!