That great Ronda! Sounds like you have a gentle person to train Star for you :-)
Janelle

Ronda, Im sorry you had a stroke, but happy you found someone to work with Star for you. No appology necessary. I really hope you feel better soon and can get back to your horse.

There are persons with a special talent you can't learn. My daughter is also such a person. They get very easily a relationship to an animal without books, courses and theory...

Thank you guys and I am so excited to see Star being looked after.
She is such a gentle horse and deserves the best.
Ronda

I will admit there was one horse I wouldnt even have considered doing that with, he was a stallion that belonged to a friend of mine, and he was the only vicious horse I have ever seen, he bit, and would lunge at you with mouth wide open, he was dangerous to be anywhere around. He was a yearling when she got him, and already was dangerous. I offered to help with him then, but she refused, thinking I would hurt him. Later on, I wouldnt even try, he put at least 4 people in the hospital, was banned from shows, and nobody would take their mares to him. Last I heard, her husband told her to either take him to a trainer in Utah or he would get rid of him. I had told her to either sell him or geld him, but she said she had too much money tied up in him to even consider either option, which made no sense to me. She was convinced that all good stallions were that way, and mine was just a "little inbred mustang" with no spirit, even though she worked with another one who was no more dangerous than mine, and was a show horse. Every time she took him to a trainer, she interfered until the trainer told her to take her horse and leave. I dont know what happened to him, but I hope she doesnt have him anymore. I also didnt do that with Phantoms mother, she was 7 years old when I adopted her and very protective of her baby and very wild. So I stayed on my feet and didnt try to get close to either of them for awhile until the mare got used to me. Then I got them separated and worked with the colt for awhile each day, in plain sight of her, and she finally decided I wasnt going to hurt him. I would take him out, work with him awhile, then put him back in with her, he was only about 3 months old. The first couple times, she had a fit, then calmed down when she saw he was fine. He was such a scrawny little thing, but grew up into a beautiful coal black stallion and was my buddy for many years. She looked like Star, except for the white foot. And it wasnt a bit hard teaching her to lead, she just seemed to get the idea very quickly. Loved to get brushed and played with, but I never rode her.After she got used to me taking the colt out and bringing him back, THEN I would go in and sit with them. And she came to sniff me. Wasnt long after that I got a halter on her with little trouble. She had a very long mane and tail, and they were tangled and full of burrs, and I couldnt stand it, so had to get her calmed down enough to comb her out. She seemed to appreciate it, after a bit of convincing, after the first time, she didnt mind a bit. She was beautiful when I got her all cleaned up.

I was watching a documentary of BUCK and he had this woman bring him a stallion, beautiful looking fellow.
He was tne meanest horse I have ever seen.
Poor thing, this women nursed him from a bottle, because his Mom died.
Her barn burnt down so she brought him into her house and kept him there, she said he had no other place to go.
Da...outside...
She spoiled him so badly that he was unrepairable. He almost killed BUCK and his helper. His helper had his face bit so badly he had to have many stitches.
Then we find out when BUCK is asking her questions, she had 18 more just like him at home.
Buck was so angry, he said what are you trying to prove lady? No one needs that many studs and it is very obvious you do not understand horses.
It was sad they had to put him down because she was too proud to accept advice and help.
My husband and I groomed STAR a few minuets ago, he did her feet for me.
We tried crouching down, she came to us very curious and smelled us all over.
My hair is a bit course now that it is grey and she must have thought it was hay, she started to lip it. I said no , get back and she stopped.
It was the first time I have ever done that with a horse, different experience, for sure.
Ronda

I saw that documentary too, and it made me sick. Reminded me so much of BJ. And I cant for the life of me see why anyone needs that many studs unless theuy have a stud farm and know what they are doing. And as much as I love horses, they do NOT belong in the house. Although when I was a kid, my mom left the door open and one came in. She did that a few years later too, when sonme church ladies were coming over, and her pet pony came in and sampled all the cookies she had put out for her guests, they were insulted and left. I thought it was hilarious, but she was mad. Well, SHE left the door open, I didnt. I did try to being in my dads colt one time when I was 8, because Dad was joking around with mom and said he should bring him in, so I went out and got him and had him all the way to the door when dad caught me. It was all I could do to handle him, he was a big yearling and not very well halter broke. I hadnt realized dad was just joking. Dad sold him to a friend a year or so later, had only bought him because he was afraid the guy would kill him, he was so mean to his horses.

Ronda,
I'm so sorry to hear about your stroke, I hope you have a full recovery. I know how frustrating it is when your health keeps you from doing the things that you love.
Get better soon,
Kleinne

Thank you Kleinne,
This is my second one. Each one has left me with a little something but I try to maintain a positive attitude.
I have licked cancer twice and I will lick this too.
When I was in the hospital, the nurses asked if I were preparing for a marathon.
I was using a walker at first and going as fast as I could. then a helper then by myself. Paul brought in my walking sneakers.
I would rest, walk, rest, walk all day and all evening. They asked why, I said I am getting out of this jail and I did.
We have a lot of stairs in this old farm house and they wouldn't let me come home until I could walk stairs, the therapist couldn't keep up with me at the end.
Paul took a couple of pictures of STAR for me, had them framed and brought them into my room.
She is my inspiration, my Star.
I know I cannot keep up with her but I still groom her with my husbands help.
I think what I miss the most is not working with my husband, he does all of our jobs by himself and we are always together, so I miss him when he is gone.
I have so many interests and things I love to do. For years I have learned to appreciate what I can do and forget what I cannot. Each day is a blessing from God and I am thankful for them.
You have a great day and thank you,
Ronda
Ronda

Ronda I am so sad to hear about your second stroke too. You are such an inspiration and I am sure Star plays such an important role in getting you up and going again. All the very best now with your recovery. I am also pleased that you were able to witness first hand how phantommustang's suggestion works, to learn from it and to be big enough and generous enough to let us all know about it. Thanks for being you.

Hi Ronda, you had a stroke? I hope you are doing ok! I'm glad you have someone to help you with Star. You're in my prayers, I hope for a full recovery for you.

Hi Ronda
I have not been on the forum for a while - sorry to hear about your stroke, hope you are feeling OK now and getting stronger. Nice to hear you have found a good person to help with Star, it will be such a comfort to you knowing that she is happy with her trainer.
The funny thing about your comments is that I tried the very same thing the other day in the paddock with my spooky nervous gelding, the one who is headshy and suspicious due to being tied to an electric fence by a previous owner. I had not read about this sitting down business at all in the forum before I tried it, but for some reason the notion came to me to see what would happen if I sat down on the ground against the fence cross legged. My boy was so curious - he came right up to me and put his muzzle right next to me and gently sniffed my hair, the back of my neck, my back, my hands. I then stood up slowly next to him and gave him a nice neck scratch, and all the while he was so relaxed and did not try and walk off which he often does. Meanwhile, the other older and more bolshy gelding just totally ignored me and carried on grazing.

Ronda, I haven´t visited the forum for a while either so just read about your stroke. As everyone else here I wish you the best. Keep the good work up!
Christy

Hi Ronda, I'm so sorry to hear that you've been dealing with all of those medical issues :( Isn't it wonderful how an animal can give us such strength to go on :). A few years ago, we had a horse here, Gypsy, that passed away from colic. My daughter was so sad. Her little pony, Ike, was horrible to catch! He'd pin his ears and turn his butt to you (would never kick..he's really the sweetest guy..he learned this behaviour from his mom) Anyways, my daughter was so sad and she went out to the paddock and sat in the bale of hay and was crying...well, Ike came RIGHT up to her and just stood there with her, letting her pet him. It was amazing! After that, she would go out and sit with him when ever she was sad. For the longest time, she would go out and pretend to cry to catch him heehee, but he was so smart he caught onto the "fake crying". All I have to do is watch out in the paddock, and I can tell whether my daughter is truly sad or not ;)