Inside the Barn With: KT Forest

If you happened to see a handsome gray gelding turning in clear round after clear round in the low amateur-owner jumpers with the True North team this winter at HITS Ocala, you’ve seen KT Forest!

Marisa Malevitis purchased the nine-year-gelding in the summer of 2018, and since then, the pair has been pretty unstoppable – thanks largely to all the time and effort Marisa has devoted to him!

 So, while we could tell you a few things about KT Forest ourselves, we thought it would be better to go directly to the person that knows him best! Here’s what Marisa had to share about KT Forest “inside the barn!”

Q: If KT Forest were a human, what do you think he would be like?

Marisa: I’ve actually thought about this before. I think he would be on the track team, and I think he would jump hurdles. I feel like that’s a typical thing to say about a horse that jumps, but he literally could do it with his eyes closed. It’s so easy for him. He’ll jump the moon for you. Someone who jumps hurdles has to jump high, be fast, and keep up the stamina, and he’s all of those things.

Q: Does he have any funny quirks or personality traits?

 Marisa: If you hook him up to a lead rope and you’re taking him back to his stall, he’ll want to lead himself, so he’ll put the lead rope in his mouth. He won’t want you to hold it; he wants to hold it.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about Forest?  

 Marisa: His personality. It’s kind of like mine; he likes to be silly. He always likes to have fun,do his job, and win. I know that he always wants to do well for me when I’m on his back and always wants to protect me, so I think that’s what I love most about him. He makes me feel safe 100 percent of the time.

Q: Aside from “Forest,” does he have any other nicknames?  

 Marisa: Yes, definitely! The typical one is “Fo Fo.” Then that varies with “For For” where you add the “r.” Then, over the summer, my friends at the barn and I came up with “Trees” just to be silly because, you know, Forest, Trees. Fo-Daddy is one that’s a really silly but good one. Those would be the main ones, and Fo Fo is the most popular.

Q: Do you have a favorite moment with Forest?

Marisa: There are actually two. One is when we moved up to our first low amateur class in Kentucky, and we were double clear. I had just bought him; that was a big moment for us together. The second would be more recently in Florida when we went double clear in a really competitive low amateur-owner Sunday classic. It was probably one of the best rounds that I’ve ever had in my life, and that day will stick with me for a long time. That’s definitely a favorite moment of me and him.  

KT Forest is now offered for sale. Find out more here or email Inquire@TrueNorthStables.com to request additional information and videos.

Photos by Fine Art Horses