Free horse - update (another pg. 2)

[DebbieS]

Well, I went and saw Rosa again today. I took a friend with me. I got her out of her stall and took her into the round pen. She didn't really know too much, but learns extremely fast. Within an hour, she yields her hind-quarters, backs, flexes to the left (the right was a little harder), moves off the forehand, will come in to you immediately if you beckon to her.

After an hour of pretty much no problems, I decided to go out to my vehicle and get my saddle and pad. As I left, she started whinnying to me and seemed upset. My friend said she watched the door intently until I came back.

So, I brought the pad/saddle into the round pen and she totally went nuts. She snorted and backed up. I put them in the middle, thinking she might smell them on her own, as she was still loose. NO WAY! I put the lead on her and started leading her while carrying the pad so it would go away from her. After a half hour, she finally smelled it willingly. It took another half hour for me to rub it on her neck. I figured that was enough torture for one day, and put her in her stall.

She kept whinnying at me - I hated leaving her there. I knew she had issues, but wasn't thinking it would be at this level. There was an older trainer there working with a horse and he said he's heard she was mis-treated by the last trainer. It makes me so angry!!

Poor girl. I haven't talked to the owner yet but I think she deserves a chance. She didn't do anything agressive or mean to me (although she did try to bite the pad). She's stuck in a dark, smelly stall with no ventilation. It's damp and cold there. I want her to be out in the pasture with my horses so bad.

BTW - she does have a winter coat. It's just not as wooly as my horses. Her hair lies flat. I gave her some treats and told her I'd be back.

Still not totally sure what to do :(

[GeorgeGuns]

Well I'm sure, after reading that, this horse wants YOU. Merry Christmas, you have been chosen! Methinks this will, with time and effort, be the best horse you ever have. GO FOR IT!

[pasoglide]

I think she's already told you where she's suposed to be .

[Fuego]

Sounds to me this mare is bored silly and starved for attention. Which means you could probably earn her trust quickly and she'd possibly respond quickly and willingly to any corrective training she needs.

Sounds like you made progress with her already on that 1 visit. It may not take more then a little time and patience to retrain her mind into realizing the saddle won't bring an unpleasant experience, which seems to be her current opinion of a saddle.

Might not hurt to have her examined before riding to determine if her reaction to the saddle is pain based.

Sure sounds she might have potential ......

[Linda Y]

If you have the space and the ability and desire, go get her. Just do it. You can always find her another home, even if YOU have to give her away too. She is a lovely horse. I know...I have room to talk. But you have no idea how many I have bought and then given away just to get them out of 'situations'. If she were closer and it wouldn't cost an arm and two legs to ship, I would take her just to get her out of that stall. Maybe SHE wouldn't beat up Desi.

[Helene]

Sounds like you got picked by the horse....
Just be careful. Sometimes horses have NOT been abused, but act as if. I had two such cases. Never could gain their trust and knowing their histories, I neither was abused. They were just difficult horses.
But Rosa sure looks pretty and all horses deserve a chance....I'd go for it, but would let her go straight to a trainer that I trusted.

[Andrea G.]

Debbie, she has chosen you. And you are probably the only one who could win her over. Yes, you might need help with her via a trainer down the road - but she is free - and might be an amazing horse. And you can always give her away if she is too much for you to handle.

I adopted a shelter cat at Petsmart last year that called to me - he was in a cage for the first 2 years of his life - and when I got him home he was so frightened of us and everything, he would hide for hours in the cabinet under the sink of my bathroom. When I picked him up he was frantic and scratched me up to get away. One year later - he is the best, loving cat in the whole world. He is so thankful to have been saved! He lets me carry him around the house and hug him tightly.
He follows me around like a dog - and must always lay his head and paws on me whenever I am sitting or laying down.

Okay - I know this was a cat - and not a horse - but, when they are miserable they act differently than when they are with someone they can trust. At least save her out of that place and rehome her. Give her a chance!

[dana]

This sounds like a Nike ad.
"Just Do It" :D

[CarolU]

Take her home. She's free! You can always get out of her what you paid for her! ;-) Start her all over from the ground and redo everything. If you get to a point you're not confident about, everyone here will help you, or you can then send her for training with at least her groundwork already redone.

I agree...she's an intelligent horse and hates being confined to a stall and lelft alone. She's in solitary confinement and she never did anything wrong.

BTW - I agree with Mitch. Her reaction to your saddle sounds like pain memory to me. I've seen it before. Start her retraining with a bareback pad so she gets used to a cinch and learns it doesn't always hurt. Then watch your saddle fitting very close to make sure you fit her correctly.

[Andrea G.]

Another thought - after she gets used to you - have an equine chiropractor work on her to make sure there is nothing out of place that might have caused her pain before putting a saddle on her back.

[Moniece Dickerson]

And not only what they said but also she probably only saw the saddle and pad when she was going to be ridden.Since we know she was "cowboyed" we know being ridden was,to her,one of if not the worst experience(s) of her life.He may have had heavy hands and may have used spurs as well and we all know how pasos are about their sides.We also know she has been aloud to just be a pet and not have to revisit all of those horrible fears for some time.She very well may require seeing the saddle and pad and being worked with around it without actually putting it on her for a good while before going to that step.Based on her reaction I would say the smaller the steps and the more time you give her before going to the next small step the better her chance is for success and reprograming.Although not to this extent because of her previous experience even with all the time and work she may always be anxious about being saddled and ridden untill you are on and riding and she sees she doesn't need to be anxious or nervous.You may have to show her that every time but who knows what an awesome ride she may offer once she settles.I still say this is a very special mare.Your friend,Moniece

[CarolU]

Moniece has a very good idea. I'd take an old saddle and leave it on her stall gate (or whatever you can) and feed her next to it for a while. Or you can put it near the round pen while you work with her and do all of her ground work again.

[cristy]

Carolu you read my mind, that is exactally what I would do!

You have to get her though! She is special and she needs you.

[Carol Nelson]

Well...you have a pretty good trainer fairly close that you know and trust...our own Carol U. ;-)
Although she really does seem to have "adopted" you!

It's weird how these horses are...I traded a gelding for a mare several years ago. The mare came with a Pinto colt at side which I sold at Christmas, 2001. The mare was stand-offish, kinda weird, and I knew she had been abused at some point in her life. She just wouldn't warm up to us no matter what we did. She particularly had disdain for men.
Well, I went to wean the colt and the mare started taking down fences (they weren't very good at the time here) in order to get back to her colt. So I called the guy back and offered to sell him the mare too for a cheap price, and told him he could wean the colt. He took them both home.
So to make a long story short, I ended up buying that mare back at a later date...because of the nice foals she produced mainly...and she ultimately gave me an awesome colt, our Devante, who will be our next breeding stallion. But when we brought that darned mare back, man, it was like she said, "oh thank God you brought me home again..." and she is now a pocket-horse...she LOVES everyone. Of course, she's older and I've promised her she can stay the duration now, and she knows it!
And she simply LOVES Doug, has gotten over her thing about men, and even almost mowed down a stranger who'd come looking at horses, just to get a scratch! Go figure! :roll: ;-)

[Linda Y]

And they say horses don't have the ability to reason. HA!
They certainly do have that ability, although we may not understand the choices they make sometimes. And they have definite likes and dislikes in their people.
I had a Coral LaCE mare that was one of the silliest horses you ever saw. Standoffish, like Carol's mare. She liked me and barely tolerated anyone else. We had a guy come give us an estimate to dig a pond, and when Cori saw him, she came over and literally wrapped her body around that man. She was following him so close she was almost knocking him down. I never saw anything like it! He wasn't even a horse person.
Yep, they chose their people when they can.

[PASOFAN]

Wow, I think everyone is saying go for it..lol No one is on the other side... If I had a pasture I would do it to, even though I am not a mare fan, atleased take her and learn about her so you can sell her to paso minded people...

I almost cried hearing she whinnied for you and waited for you, such a touching thing to have a horse do that, especially one that has only met you 2x's for a short time...

[DebbieS]

Everyone has been so supportive and encouraging. Thank you, everyone. I've received offers for training, transport, etc. You are all such good friends.

John and I had talked and we decided I would take her and let her be a horse for awhile - enjoy the outdoors, being part of a herd, etc. Then I would decide in the spring.

Well, I called the owner today to tell her I would take Rosa and received heartbreaking news. A girl and her 'cowboy' boyfriend came to look at her last night, while the owner was at the barn (she's never been there when I was there). She said, she liked the way the mare and the girl bonded and told her she could have her! I've felt bummed all day. I worry about this mare, and I know I shouldn't but I've felt very attached to her. I just hope she doesn't end up in a sale barn next spring because nobody understands her. :cry:

Edited to say - I'm contacting the local humane society regarding the conditions those horses are living in. People are paying $$, and the lights are always off, the fans are always off. It is dark, damp, and stinks like urine. I sure hope something is done to remedy this. I would never make a horse live in those conditions. :mad:

[PASOFAN]

Oh bummer!! What I would do is make sure the new owners get your name!! Let them know if it doesnt work out youll take her!!! I sure hope she is gonna be ok...

[Linda Y]

Oh, crud! :(
I was sincerely hoping that you would get her and we could hear the stories of how well and quickly she progressed.
I will pray for that mare.

[Moniece Dickerson]

Debbie,I am heartbroken over this news as well so you're not alone.Your friend,Moniece

[Brigitte]

Aw..That stinks

[motorgypsy]

:( :( :(

[Pasogirlz]

Maybe you could get your contact info to the girl in case....she needs help w/the horse?

[Barbwire]

Why is everyone so bummed out? Can't anybody even dream that the mare went to a great home and she will live a very pampered life from now on with people that love her?

Geesh, quit being such downers, you are killing my new horse buzz.

[Fuego]

Look at the bright side, Debbie still has a entire side of the barn empty. Plenty of room for the next one....

[DebbieS]

Aw, but my barn doesn't have a bay horse yet ;-) I was telling John we would have 6 horses and no two are the same color.

Barb, you're right. I hope she does have a good home and is pampered the rest of her life.... kind of like a weight's been lifted from my shoulders - much better. Thanks Barb :D

[Terry Wallace]

Oh Debbie.... I have a dark bay for you! Not free but "cheap"!

[DebbieS]

Yeah, I really don't need another - but free I would have taken. I have lots of room and lots of hay. She was bigger than Listo! So, very sellable to larger folks who want a smooth ride (in case I ever needed to find a place for her).

Thanks Terry! I'll keep that in mind ;-)