KISS MY SILVER | 14 YEAR OLD PAINT GELDING | CORPUS CHRISTI,TX

Frankly, Kiss My Silver, is a Dressage Paint Gelding. He currently resides at CEC Elite Training, and is for sale.

Frankly is such a sweet boy, he is very kind and loving. He adores having a “person.” He is currently being ridden by Danielle who is training and showing him. Danielle says he is very chill, and a fun horse to hang out with. He LOVES to be sprayed right in the mouth with the water hose while you are rinsing him off, he squints his eyes and puts his mouth right on the hose just to let the spray hit his face, always keeping one ear forward.

Danielle first found Frankly when she moved to Corpus Christi from Montana in March of last year with her Fiance. They are originally from Virginia but have moved around quite a bit the last few years for her finance’s work, the first thing she always does when she arrives to a new place is find a barn to ride at. Danielle came across Chloe after a recommendation through a farrier, so she scheduled a lesson. When she first arrived, Chloe let her know that she would be riding Frankly who they lovingly refer to as “the resident dressage llama.” While hearing this would probably scare off some people, Danielle was up for the challenge. She has learned through 18 years of riding to never underestimate a horse based on they way they look, their breed, height, or background.  “Now, I’m not going to pretend that when I had that first lesson that day I was able to come in and transform Frankly from dressage llama to Valegro. Because I didn’t, and Frankly will admittedly never be Valegro (and that’s perfectly okay). Correct dressage training takes time and consistency. But I liked that he responded when I rode correctly, and I could catch a glimpse of moments where he swung in his shoulders and his movement became quite nice.”

“Chloe graciously let me continue to work with him since he is for sale and it wouldn’t hurt to have him in more consistent work. And I desperately needed something to ride. With several months of working to get better and stronger (both Frankly and I!) under Chloe’s correct training and guidance, I can safely say the phrase “dressage llama” is no longer suitable for Frankly. He just keeps getting better and better and he never gives up. He tries so hard for his rider. That willingness is something I think is really important in order for a pair to be successful in dressage.”

In his two outings at shows this past season (his first time showing at a recognized dressage competition), Frankly scored AA High Point of the show at HDS Laborious Days with a 74% at Training Level, placed 6th at SWDC Training Level Championships in a large class (of mostly warmbloods), and had a strong debut at First Level scoring a solid 66%. Frankly is ready to come out swinging this year at First Level and is already schooling all of the second level work. “Whoever buys Frankly is going to have an awesome, kind, and willing partner, but I will gladly enjoy riding and showing him in the meantime!”

Danielle shares her favorite quote on dressage comes (surprisingly) from a non-horse person in an article that ran in The NewYorker about Charlotte & Valegro – “The mysteries of dressage are many and not unrelated to love. Young horses mature well or badly. Riders fall and lose their nerve. There is always a search for the feeling of connection, and no guarantee that you will find it. Horses impossible for one rider will dance for somebody else. Mediocre riders flourish on horses given up for the same reason. There are relationships that make everybody better than they ever were, and there are horses and riders that simply never meet.”

For Danielle, meeting Frankly (and the entire team at CEC Elite training) is one of those relationships that makes everybody better than they ever were. “I do believe that everything happens for a reason, and I hope that the time I have spent working with Frankly has a purpose in helping him find his new “person”. Because I know he is a special and kind horse and will make someone an excellent dressage partner.”

When I asked Danielle for one word to describe Frankly she said, she would call him “The Wild Card”, not because he is wild, but he surprises a lot of people by how fancy and awesome he is!

Oh and one last thing, Frankly LOVES raisins!

Karinda K Equine Photography is a Texas equine photographer located in Montgomery, TX. Karinda creates timeless portraits of you with your beloved horses, and other farm animals. Serving locally Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin, Texas communities. KEP also serves Wellington and Ocala, Florida, Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky, Aiken, South Carolina, Tryon, North Carolina, and Norco and Woodside, California and their surrounding communities.