Chestry has a delightfully sweet and innately cooperative temperament, and was born with noticeable talent.  Although she is definitely her own unique and separate self, the qualities we appreciate so much in her dam Winny shine through in Chestry's disposition and intuitive sensitivity.

Chestry has no idea she was bred to be an athlete, nor that formal dressage achievement runs deep in her dam's ancestry.  She only knows that she loves her family, that she likes to explore new places (quintessential mapmaker!), and that she and Gwen are exceptionally well-suited to each other.  The strong, easy, and comfortable bond between Chestry and Gwen continually elicits exclamations of awe from all who see them together.

In addition to pursuing Chestry's natural knack for trail-based activities, long-lining, and liberty work (all of which Chestry considers "play" and "fun"!), we are exploring and developing Chestry's other talents (non-competitively) according to her interests and maturity level.  Chestry is receiving age- and fitness-appropriate dressage training in the French Classical tradition, which will continue throughout her life, both in-hand and under saddle — because the whole point of dressage isn't achievements nor competition; it's the appropriate physical preparation of any horse for other athletic endeavors.

For a host of reasons, Chestry will not producing foals on commission for anyone.  If we ever decide to breed her at all, it will only happen if we are able to retain the foal.

Chestry enjoys getting attention, going places and doing things with Gwen, practicing her teaching skillset on Nyota and Roslyn, and earning her mom Winny's approval (something that is a lot harder for Chestry to achieve than it sounds).

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Chestry's name comes from the Kate Seredy book The Chestry Oak. One of Gwen's childhood friends thought the name would be perfect for a chestnut mare ... and indeed, it is!