NOCTURNE’S WATERMARK | 17 YEAR OLD WELSH COB CROSS GELDING| WALLER,TX

Patrick, Nocturne’s Watermark, is a Welsh Cob Cross gelding. His sire is Sydenham Nocturne, who was imported from England in 1984 and he was a Welsh Cob. His grandsire on his dad’s side was a top showing Welsh stallion in England in the 70’s.

Patrick is a very only large Welsh – Quarter Horse cross. He is very goofy and pony like in his personality even though when you first meet him the last thing that crosses your mind is a pony. I was super surprised by his size when I met him. He is retired from showing. But Erica shares that he only performs as well as he does because the pair is a team, adding that he has saved her a number of times while jumping over the years.

Erica found him over the internet,  he is the only horse she went and looked at had a picture online. “I actually really didn’t like the looks of him when I first saw him since he was so far but he was amazing to ride, extremely smooth trot and very calm. Though he was really hard to get to canter because he was so lazy.”  She describes him in one word, “Goof,” which goes along well with that horse like size and pony personality. He loves his alfalfa.

Back in his prime when the pair was showing he won numerous shows but the best run they had was when they won their last 4 straight shows before the pair stopped showing due to time constraints.

“I always wanted to ride and I started to take English lessons when I was 8 at a barn down the street in the city. I started to work for my trainer when I was 10. Just the feeling of freedom when I get to ride and the companionship that I get from having a horse. He’s my best bud.”

I love Erica’s best tip for owning a horse, “Always do a good grooming to keep the coat as nice as possible. Suave shampoo and conditioner for the tail, vetroline shine spray for the body. When ever you feel frustrated try and find the humor since horses don’t understand anger. Also think in weeks to months not days when training things since it takes that long to develop muscle memory/true understanding of a movement.”

Patrick has been through a lot in his life including, 2, year long lamenesses separated by about 2.5 years but the first was only after owning him for 5 months. They had to go through so much including and MRI and bone scan.

I love Erica’s favorite story about Patrick, I think he all have great stories about barn cats but this one tops them all, “There was a gray and white cat named Milo at a barn we used to board at that he absolutely loved. He would stick his head out the window while she sat in the window sill. One day when he had a blanket on I walked past the stall to find her curled up on his rump.”

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.