Update on Confetti

Just wanted to update you on how Confetti is doing and send you her Christmas pictures. She was auditioning for Santa’s team!

confetti-antler-2I am very pleased with her attitude and progress. She has learned to trust me and if something different happens, Confetti doesn’t have a melt down but waits for me to tell her what to do. With the cold winter and not having an indoor ring she has had lots of time off. But has not reverted to not liking the girth tightened or getting a hump in her back and refusing to move. When I get on and cluck, confetti just walks off.

Another big hurdle that has been passed is her first hoof trim. No tranquilizer, just patience and understanding on the part of Ron, my farrier. At first Confetti was very mistrustful of a strange man, but he won her over. Her behavior was not ideal, but that wasn’t expected and could have been worse.

As you may remember I have 2 Shetland ponies, mom and ‘baby’; age 41 and 38. In early November Coco started active lethargic. When she didn’t snap out of it I had the vet out. With her age and a heart murmur she has had problems with severe cold bothering her in the past. Unfortunately it was cancer. So we said goodbye Thanksgiving weekend.

It has always been one of my greatest fears that if I lost one pony the other would follow of a broken heart. Sunny was distraught at the loss of his mother. He would roam the pastures searching for Coco and crying.

Thank God for Confetti. She would go to him and give him her company to distract him from his grief. I do believe that with out her I would have lost Sunny also.

PB

Update on Aiko – FKA Unbridled Bob

aiko_unbridled_bobDear Hooved Animal rescue:

Just wanted to send an updated photo of Aiko (Unbridled Bob) He is doing very well, and is a very happy boy, he is also by far the best horse in the world (not that I am biased or anything!)

– Stacey

Sherman’s Transformation

When Sherman came to the Hooved Animal Rescue, the poor fellow was miserable. With ribs clearly showing through his dingy hair, you could almost feel his hunger. His head hung low, his eyelids sagged – as you can see in the “before” picture, he was clearly not a happy horse.

success_sherman_before

success_sherman_afterNow look at him! He’s alert, full of vim and vigor, and his coat is absolutely gorgeous! You’d almost think we had switched horses on you. (Well, we didn’t.)

It always delights us how, with the proper care and attention, a horse can turn around and look as magnificent as Sherman does today!

GUY’S STORY

Hello to all the MHARF people. So last spring, after I lost my event horse (who was also a Rescue) to severe colic, Drew pointed me in the direction of a horse named Guy. I took him in, not expecting much, and by this fall we were leading the pack in our last Beginner Novice horse trial (although a knockdown in Stadium put us in third place overall).

guyI have been so amazed by the progress this horse has made, and by the complete turnaround in his personality, that I wanted to be able to share with the world what a difference we can make in the lives of these animals, if we are only willing to try. The thing that has truly touched me about Guy is the absolute turnaround in his outlook on life – where he came to me dull, disinterested, and aloof, he now looks for treats and rubs and scratches, and gets the ‘I’m so proud’ look on his face when we put in a clear jumping round, and looks for me over the fenceline when I walk by. You all know this about Rescues – you’ve worked with one or many. To the right is a picture from yesterday’s schooling session on the cross country course with Guy. He LOVED it!!! (And so did I!) .

Here is the link to the video I’ve created about this special horse – please pass it along to anybody you think would like to see this message, or anybody who wants to make a difference in the life of a horse (and have that horse make a difference in your life, too!). Thanks to all of you!

– Rachel Walker, Walker Farms

Update on Buddy – FKA Gemini

Hello MHARF! I thought you’d like an update on Gemini (now Buddy). He has been a great horse.

buddy_gemini My family adopted Buddy in December 2008 as a companion (or “buddy”) horse for my other horse. I never thought that I would enjoy riding him so much! I was unable to start working with him in the summer of 2009 due to a wrist surgery, but this April, I was determined to get him ready to show in the Isanti County Fair. I had a lady help me by coming to my house for lessons, and we progressed great. I found out that Buddy has great turns and stops.

The fair was his first show with me (and the first time in a trailer and off our property since getting him). We weren’t quite ready; we did games but mostly trotted, and he was quite stubborn about bringing his head down, opening his mouth from the bit, and other small things. However, for his first time away from home, it was a lot of fun. My friend rode my other horse at the fair, and they were stalled by each other (Buddy also has “separation issues”..but getting better!) He was not scared from anything, and if you remember, he is blind in his right eye, but it hasn’t bothered him at all. I also showed him in the Sunday WSCA open show of the fair in the 17 & Under walk/trot games—we got reserve high point! I also put a poster on his stall at the fair about MHARF and many people stopped to read it and comment. They were very interested in his story and his blind eye.

buddy_gemini01I have taken it quite slow, but I want to make sure I get things right. I am a freshman in college now, so I don’t get to ride as much, but when I come home I ride him and he keeps progressing. I attached some pictures from the fair, and as you can see, he is wearing a tie-down and a cavesson, but doesn’t need either now. He gives his head nicely when I ask and doesn’t open his mouth much. I always have ridden him in a simple eggbutt snaffle with a copper middle piece, which he goes great in.

When I come home from college, I know I can just go and get on him without really any problems. He has never bucked or reared. We are still working on the separation—he always needs to know where my other horse is, so that is the “problem” now (not a bad one). I hope to ride even more next summer, and perhaps try some new riding styles with him for fun (maybe dressage!). I also enjoy riding him bareback. He and my other horse are in a wonderful pasture (about 2 ½ acres?) and they get it all to themselves, along with hay and a bit of grain. He is a lot of fun, and I always get comments on how “cute” he is! Thanks again for a great horse.

– Anna Smegal