Jaxx enjoys being demonstration horse

April 14, 2021 | Reprinted courtesy of the Santa Fe New Mexican

In 2014, Jaxx, a 16½-hands-high thoroughbred gelding, arrived at The Horse Shelter not knowing that he would soon be living his best life. Jaxx was surrendered when his family could no longer take care of him.

Gilly Slayter, a local horse trainer and barn manager at Via Nova Training Center in Lamy, heard of Jaxx’s surrender and stepped in to adopt him. Having helped train Jaxx for his former owners, Slayter said, “The timing could not have been better. Knowing Jaxx’s sweet disposition, it wasn’t a hard decision to make.”

When Jaxx arrived at the barn in Lamy in 2018, “We began to ride him and realized that his career under saddle was nearing its end, but his career as an ambassador at Via Nova Training Center was only the beginning,” Slayter said.

“He loves positive reinforcement and seems to be quite proud of himself after every session,” she said. “His gentle demeanor has made him a great horse to work with participants. He never gets frustrated and shows this utmost patience with everyone.”