Horse Lovers Must Read

Leigh Anne O'Kelley

[dever412]

Again, my father who is a member and reads posts here all the time posted my article. I feel he was being a proud father and probably wanted to help me get the word out even if he does not always share my views. That is after all what parents do- support their children and instill values and the courage to fight for what you believe in. I joined after he wrote me and said he posted my article and I came here and saw some of the comments. Don't get me wrong, I do have lots of other issues and stands on political and social issues as well. I am pro animal but also believe in other causes as well as human rights. Some of us just choose to fight different battles in life. I have my niche carved out and work hard at what I do and there are others who do the same.

[HairOfTheDog]

An advanced Pony Clubber would be great.... but my trouble has been finding anyone skilled enough and small enough. I would free-lease her... heck, I would keep her here and help a kid take her wherever they wanted to go with her. I just don't travel in those circles.

[AnAmericanMother]

Tell you what I would do, I would call your district manager for Pony Club and lay the difficulty before him or her. Here are your local clubs. I would also call the Secretaries of any local hunts, she probably wouldn't be suitable for hunting, but the hunting kids are the real hard core and can ride just about anything.

[HairOfTheDog]

I will look into that!

Would love to find a kid that maybe couldn't afford a pony. I'd bankroll the pony care... just want someone to use her. She is only six... I fear she will end up with me her whole life and never be broke to ride.

[AnAmericanMother]

I'll bet there's a horse-crazy Pony Clubber who would jump at the chance to have a pretty pony "all her own", especially one that she could bring on from halter-broke.

Know I would have. (Whether my parents would have let me is another question, but most parents aren't as adamant as mine were . . . they would never let me get a pony or horse because they were afraid I would neglect my studies. They were probably right.)

[HairOfTheDog]

Would be a great deal for a kid! And she is a pretty little pony... For a kid that wants to go fast! And is not a afraid to get tossed a few times... I would build her a round pen with a soft landing if that would help!

My Dad was pretty slow to the horse idea.... until Mom convinced him it would keep me away from boys... Got my first one at 14. ;~D

[Rollee]

I'm glad you joined. Good for you for standing up for what you believe, you have backbone. Your father is teaching you wonderful lessons. Good luck to you, and I hope to read more of your posts.

[Dudoight]

We have wondered who could have done such a thing. She also had a traumatic wound to the throat, which would spray saliva when ever she ate. That did finally heal. If we knew where she came from, and who was responsible for her condition, we would have reported them. But she was in a bunch of horses with a horse trader....origin unknown.

[Dudoight]

A Sorrell...(sp) is a horse with a red colored coat. It is very pretty.

[Dudoight]

Well, I appreciate your opinion, but we are going to try the gentle method of 'starting' her. As soon as we get 'join up' in the round pen, we will go from there. She is not a mean horse, does seem to have affection for us and to some degree trust seems to be building. We have hopes for her and will give her all the time she needs.

[Dudoight]

Thanks, Earl, we are going to persist in methods which combine Parelli (we have his course, along with Monty Roberts, and John Lyons). We are determined to do all we can. We just can't find anything specific about 'abused' horses.

[Dudoight]

Thanks, Hair. The Vet who kept her for two weeks (to treat / surgically repair her throat wound) said it was obvious she had been beaten. So we do have to overcome her memories of humans doing that. I just wonder how many people have had experience in re habbing a horse with this kind of history, and if there are any special tricks to gaining her trust.

[Wumpus Hunter]

My girlfriend just told me that Ferdinand (Kentucky Derby winner in 1986), met his demise in a jap slaughterhouse last year. He made millions for his owners, but the bastards couldn't "afford" to put him out to pasture.

[HairOfTheDog]

All trainers have worked with and fixed horses that have been roughly handled at some point in their past... it is only about degree.

Time is on your side with this young horse. She has a whole life ahead of her.

Talk to lots of people, and listen for trainers who say things that sound right to you. It would be good to get her to the point fairly soon that you could handle her and halter and even work her in round pen or on a lunge line. If you worked her like that for some months, you would know a lot more about her than you do now... My pony was afraid of every movement I made when I got her a few years ago.... but I have now done a lot of work with her on the ground, and she will lunge and jump cavaleti and drive.... we had a few setbacks once in awhile where she would get frightened and blow up... but she has gotten better. And I have gotten better at recognizing that look in her eye that tells me she is too nervous and I better stop and calm her a little.

How do you catch her now for handling by a vet or farrier? Is she stalled at night or any other small place?

[Dudoight]

Thanks so much for your input! Our Gal will willingly go into and leave a stall upon request. She will also load and unload on a trailer. She just wont let us touch her. She obviously needs more round pen work. How often (per week, say) did you round pen and for about how long? Thanks again!

[FITZ]

just wonder how many people have had experience in re habbing a horse with this kind of history, and if there are any special tricks to gaining her trust.

The problem with horses is they have very long memories --- they will never forget but she can learn the abuse is over. I knew a horse who had been abused and became a great backyard pet --- but he couldn't be ridden --- it just brought back some bad memory for him.

[HairOfTheDog]

Won't let you touch her at all? Or only when she is not free to leave? If you approach her in the stall does she panic? Do you just run her in and out of stalls and trailers? Does she let you halter her at all? Can you feed her grain or treats? What are you doing about farrier?

Sorry for so many questions.... just trying to get the scope. She sounds like a complicated situation.

Round pen is excellent, and Monty Roberts is good for that. With her though, I think you are trying more to decrease her personal space, so I wouldn't drive her hard in the round pen (in fact, you can do the same thing with stall). I would work on getting her to approach you, using treats or whatever. When you can halter her, I would put a light leather halter on her (or a leather neck strap) and a short (10 inches) line and leave it there. I say leather because if she were to snag it on something in the barn or pasture it will break. Nylon won't. But get her used to you first feeding by hand and then holding that line. What she does after that when you try to lead her, whether she gives or rears back, will determine whether you are going to need help. She is too big now for you to win this alone if she is going to fight. But she must learn to lead. And a pro can help you teach that.

Considerations on round pen.... when she is moving, change directions often. Constant circling is hard on joints, especially if you are just going one direction for long periods. So round pen is not about being in there a long time.... I would set one minor goal that you want to see, like maybe a nice stop... or a nice calm trot... and when she does that one thing right, whether that is two minutes into it or 15 minutes... she gets reward and a treat. But I wouldn't work her much longer than that in a session. There is only so much concentration they can take, and you can learn to tell what her tolerance is and when to stop.

And I bet the mere presence of the whip will be too much.... don't lunge or round pen her with a whip. She won't need it.... use Robert's body language to move her out.

Another tip.... a product called Quietex.... available in a powder form is an herbal calming agent, added to grain. (it is real powdery so I add a bit of water and molasses too and mix it up).... You may want to try it. I give my pony a double dose of that when I am going to take my horse away on a ride to settle her seperation anxiety so she doesn't run the fence. It can be given as a daily supplement. It does not make her drowsy, only makes her not worry so much. They use it even pre-race on overly nervous racehorses. You shouldn't have to use it for life, but it might help de-sensitize her enough to get started without frazzling her emotions.