Horse Personality - Lone wolf

I appreciate the support - I really don't want to be a flake, but I also want to be honest. By sharing your stories with horses like Cibolo, it's helped me not feel so unreasonable in my expectations. I think you are all right - I can probably handle it. But do I want to?

So, who is this horse? Cibolo, it seems, is Lobo after all. Or not...

Like so many in blogosphere I took the online horse personality test. At first I got one result, but having watched him more closely I realize I was off. I took it again and got SLAA - Lone Wolf.

Here's what I got from online on Lone wolf:

Low key, low energy, low expectations, are what you need to work successfully with this type of horse. The Lone Wolf is not bursting out of his stall to try to fit into your program and to please you. He is easily content and can do a good job for you as long as it is not demanding physically or emotionally. He likes his world predictable and safe. He would rather be a little bored than stressed. If repeatedly put into pressure situations he can react seemingly unpredictably. If you can find a quiet solid job for him, he will perform it repeatedly and safely.

The book, Is Your Horse a Rock Star (which you can find here), has a few other insights.

If this horse does suddenly react, it always takes people by surprise as he's always"the good guy." (read my experience in Conception. In fact every time it goes badly it's so surprising!)

The best type of rider is tricky... the dominant will put too much pressure... the submissive will not be enough of a leader... (I'm having trouble here exactly. The mix is easy to get wrong)

Likes to be bored... (I see that totally. He is not adventurous. Unless there's a cookie)

Needs a job, but not an exciting one... Think research department...

Soft and sweet, but difficult to know... (so true. Lover, then Mr. Aloof. I have SO dated that guy)

He responds to efforts to engage him with either worry or disinterest. The line seems very thin... (yep)

Constantly flips from not paying attention to overreacting... (check!)

Job : probably would enjoy the predictability of flatwork, pulling a plow, low level hunter... (okay. So not endurance or trail challenges?)

With a Lone Wolf:

DO
Be a quiet leader (I am having trouble here. My quiet is ... too quiet?)
Keep them safe
Appreciate what effort they give
Repeat it until they are solid
Stay the course
Venture out slowly
Find them an easy, low stress job (can I have one of those too? LOL)

DON'T
Abandon them
Scare them
Compare them to others
Skip steps
Jump from job to job
Assume they can handle it (I hear that)

So do I presume that endurance and trail challenges (which is what I want to do) are the wrong job for this horse? I don't have a remuda and I don't have an interest in the repetitive work of showing that he might be suited to.

And how the heck do I lead this horse? I'm as strong a leader right now as I can be, but I don't think I'm quiet... I'm demanding. Real demanding.

What would make him happy? Besides being a pasture ornament, which he's way too young for?

Hmmm.