Louisville Kentucky Equine Photographer | Jasper the APHA Gelding
Jasper, Apache’s Wild Dervish, is an APHA Gelding. His sire is Two Eyed Jack, his Dam is an own daughter of Sunny’s Amigo Bar who has The Investor, Go Man Go and Doc Bar. Jasper was bred by Parker Ray Phoenix at what was previously Ridin’ High Ranch in Buda, Texas.
Jasper is a solid Paint who was originally supposed to be Catherine’s western performance horse, but is now considered her husband’s, Adam, horse. Jasper is kept at Austin Equestrian Center located in Cedar Creek, TX. Jasper was trained and ridden as a youngster briefly but a hidden spinal condition made him a dangerous ride and was painful for him. The condition was unknown until x-rays revealed a rotated spinal process. Jasper now no longer bears weight. Catherine performed all of the training with Jasper and he is still used to teach ground driving and ground work to students. Catherine did not let the condition stop Jasper from performing though, her husband is currently conditioning Jasper to pull and drive so that he still can have an activity with him.
Catherine shares that, “Everything is unique about Jasper 🙂 he has his own way of looking at the world. He is the sweetest horse I’ve ever owned!! He wants to cuddle and have a 1000 kisses on his nose everyday! Jasper has a blue scar in his left eye that was a freak accident! He was outside in early March and a mild wind storm blew through that day. At dinner feed he looked 100% fine. At nignt check I was on the phone with Dr Chris Huddleston (on call vet) in minutes. He and his amazing wife, April came as fast as they could and we assessed the eye which had a cut and Uveitus. By the next day we were headed to A&M. Jasper ended up staying 6 weeks at the hospital and we almost lost his eye twice. My husband and I joke the only overnight trip we’ve ever taken together was to take Jasper to the hospital! #equestrianproblems. He has an estimated 83% vision in the eye and when you work with him he lets you know where his field of vision is limited. Jasper was also born in rough circumstances, his joints were extremely inflamed and he wasn’t breathing. He has developmental delays and slight confirmation issues due to this. He is an amazing boy and we are blessed to have him.”
When Catherine found Jasper he was a wild colt running around 120 acres. Her friend was trying to revive Catherine’s love of horses when she was at a low point. Catherine has had Jasper for eight years this August. Catherine met Jasper on an early August day, it was horribly hot and he was plunging into a pond.
Jasper is described as a Lovebug who will vacuum up any treat you put in front of him. Catherine credits Jasper with turning her non horse boyfriend into her horse husband. Jasper has taught Adam so much about himself, life, and the joys of horse ownership.
Catherine has been riding for 26 years. She has owned horses for 24 of those years. Catherine says that she “couldn’t be here without horses, most of us equestrian people have that need. Jasper is a special horse to me and he came to me at a time when I didn’t have horses and had walked away, or at least so I had tried to convince myself. A wild, questionable health, 13 month old restored my faith and confidence in myself and gave breath to a new chapter and paved the way for many more in my life.”
Catherine’s favorite memory of Jasper is that “Jasper has always loved to run! One night out at the big property where he was born we called the horses in for dinner and they came acoss about 90 of the 120 acres. But Jasper stayed behind just casually grazing and watching occasionally lifting his head. When the horses were about 1/2 way to me up at the barns, Jasper let loose and came thundering across the low hills he blew past the herd easily and kept gaining speed as he came closer up to the barn. He ran right up and slid to a rough stop about 20 ft before me, blew air out of his nostrils so strong they squeaked, he threw himself into a roll back and took off toward the herd where he leaped two big circles around them and still made it back before the last ones trotted up.”
Karinda K Equine Photography is a Louisville Kentucky 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.
