24/10/2026
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST — SPARKY
✨ Formerly known as Lovelorn ✨
If you love your Standardbreds big, chunky, full of character and with personality to match, then meet Sparky! 😍
Sparky is a 2017 Standardbred gelding, standing approximately 16.3hh, with a substantial frame, solid shoulders and plenty of horse underneath you!
A former trotter, Sparky retired sound with clean legs in August 2026 and is now thoroughly enjoying his new chapter beyond the racetrack.
This boy is certainly not lacking in size or substance! He’s a big, chunky fellow with a beautiful solid build, and he’s an extremely good doer, holding his condition exceptionally well.
But there’s much more to Sparky than just his impressive size. Behind that big frame is a loveable, cheeky character with plenty of personality and a wonderful attitude towards his new adventures.
🌿 A LOVELY FELLOW TO EXPLORE WITH
Sparky has now completed two outings to the forest, and it’s safe to say he’s taken quite a liking to life on the trails!
Throughout his outings, he’s been exposed to sheep, kangaroos and traffic, handling these experiences beautifully.
He has walk and trot established, with his canter coming along nicely, particularly out in the forest and up hills.
Despite being such a big, substantial horse, Sparky is surprisingly comfortable to ride. He’s a lovely fellow to sit on and enjoy, whether you’re heading out for a leisurely wander or something a little more adventurous.
One of our favourite things about Sparky is his willingness to match the ride you’re asking for.
Want to turn it up and enjoy a good gallop? Sparky is more than happy to oblige!
Prefer to drop the reins, sit back and wander along on the buckle? He’s equally happy to do that for as long as you like!
He doesn’t feel the need to rush through every outing or constantly be doing something. He’s perfectly content taking in the scenery, enjoying a relaxed stroll and letting his rider enjoy the experience.
But when you ask him to pick things up, he’s happy to get moving and have some fun!
We absolutely love that versatility in a horse, particularly one we’re hoping to see enjoying life as a trail or pleasure mount.
🪵 AND THEN THERE ARE THE LOGS!
For such a big, chunky fellow, Sparky certainly knows how to pick his feet up!
This boy absolutely loves to jump and has shown some fantastic natural scope over the logs throughout our forest outings.
He’s more than happy to pop over obstacles along the way and seems to genuinely enjoy having something different to tackle.
Whether it’s a log across the track, a canter up a hill or simply exploring somewhere new, Sparky has been showing us just how much he enjoys getting out and about.
For someone who enjoys a bit of variety on their trail rides, this fellow certainly brings plenty of fun to the table!
😛 PERSONALITY? THIS BOY HAS IT BY THE BUCKETLOAD!
If there’s one thing you need to know about Sparky, it’s that he’s certainly not short on character!
He’s a big, loveable goofball with a cheeky side that keeps us entertained.
He’s quite the character and certainly knows how to make you laugh with his funny little antics.
His habit is to hang his tongue out during the ride, will also hang his tongue out whilst waiting for his dinner 🫣😂
There’s never a dull moment with Sparky around, and his personality is just another reason we’ve grown so fond of him.
With his round size, cheeky personality and affectionate, loveable nature, he’s a pretty hard fellow not to fall in love with!
🐴 EASY TO HAVE AROUND
As much as we love his personality under saddle, Sparky is also a lovely fellow to have around on the ground.
He’s an easy horse to manage in his everyday routine and has been straightforward throughout his time with us.
* Easy to catch and handle
* Good to float and travel
* Ties up well
* Stands for mounting and dismounting
* Sits in the middle of the paddock pecking order
* Extremely good doer who holds his condition beautifully
* Barefoot
* Up to date with teeth, feet and worming
He’s a big fellow, but certainly doesn’t need to make everyday handling a big production!
We love horses who are enjoyable both in and out of the saddle, and Sparky has been a pleasure to have as part of our team.
🏡 THE HOME WE’RE LOOKING FOR
We would absolutely love to see Sparky find a wonderful trail riding or pleasure home, where he can continue enjoying the adventures he’s discovered since retiring from racing.
We think he’d be a fantastic partner for someone who appreciates a substantial horse with a bit of personality and enjoys getting out and exploring.
Whether that’s leisurely trail rides, wandering through the countryside, popping over the occasional log or enjoying a good canter when the opportunity presents itself, Sparky has plenty to offer.
While he’s shown us a lovely attitude throughout his education, he’s still relatively new to life after racing, and we’d love to see him with someone who can continue building on the foundations we’ve established.
A capable rider who can provide consistency, guidance and plenty of opportunities to get out and about would be a wonderful match.
Big, chunky, comfortable, willing, full of personality and just as happy cruising along on the buckle as he is enjoying a gallop or jumping a few logs!
And let’s not forget that tongue! 😛
There’s a whole lot of horse to love with our Sparky, and we can’t wait to see him find his very own person.
📧 Expressions of interest are now open!
Please complete an expression of interest form through our website 🤩
https://silvershadowsrehomingandeducation.com/our-application-process
