Sorry I've not been on much this week. I've been given the honor to work with Isla a beautiful 9 month thoroughbred x Arab mare, currently 14h. The owners had her for about a week, then came to me asking for help.
Isla was only halter broken after being taken from the field a day before she was sold. Loading her to the trailer and to get her moving forward consisted of lots of pushing from both the owners and Isla. They tried to introduce her to the rest of their horses, but the lead mare who's had foals herself rejected Isla quite aggressively, which took the owners by surprise.
A one week plan has been put in place,
Day one, just trying to get her to walk forwards without being pushed and what should be about a 4-5 min walk to the field took nearly 25 mins and I enjoyed every moment :D
I'm going to add it to my blog once this week is up and will post the link on here with youtube videos.
It was day 4 today she's walking on at request of 'walk on' and stopping on a 'woah' She's stopped pushing and is walking along in the sweet spot and the lead mare has started to accept her in the field. Hopefully in the next day or two she'll be accepted into the herd. Once she's there she'll be left to grow up.
Off to bed now, another long day coming up tomorrow with Isla.
Hope everyone is doing well?
xx
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Sounds like you've been having fun Mel.
it's been a great week :D
Today I've mainly observed and let the lead mare take over, which she has done nicely. the lead mare is slowly letting Isla come closer then sends away with just small gestures. I've left them alone now for a couple of hours so they can get on with it as they should.
put Isla's first rug on today and she did brilliantly with just a few mini bucks and that was it.
Good day for both of us then! It's nice to just watch sometimes and see the horses interact with each other.
Knew I shouldn't have said I'd had a good week. Isla did brilliantly, Barney however has suddenly gone scared and I don't know why.
When I left them this afternoon to take a friend to hospital Barney was in our field. When I got back he was in next doors. I went to catch him which normally he'll offer his bum for a scratch and stands until I put a rope around his neck. Tonight he was super hyper, charging all over the place like he used to when we first got him. Took 2 1/2 hours to finally catch him, but that was after myself and Romany another horse helped me to herd him into the field shelter. In the field shelter he went crazy, petrified and shaking all over, when I out my hand on him I thought his back legs were going to collapse he was shaking that badly. I calmed him down before he'd let me put the rope on, once caught he followed no problem, got him to his night pen and I didn't even have to ask for him to go in, he just walked in on his own.
I'll give him some quality time tomorrow, but really puzzled as to what happened.
Mel - well done with Isla. She looks such a little sweetie. Wonder what happened to Barney. Sounds like he has been really spooked by someone or something. Do hope he has settled down for you.
Hope he's ok Mel, let us know how he is.
Hi, Barney was settled this morning when I got there, kept him with me when I went to collect the foal and he followed no problem apart from a quick grab at some tasty bits along the way. Introduced him to Isla and they hit it off straight away. Isla didn't even do the mouthing that foals do, but gave him a quick bite on the nose.
strange thing though when I went to change their water, there were pieces of cooked chicken in the water., which can only mean someone has been in the field when I'm not there.
Thats interesting Mel, might explain what has spooked Barney, and what on earth are people doing putting cooked chicken in the water?? Maybe a bit of someones sandwich fell out....!!! I will be interested to hear what you find out.
It is so awful when we have to leave our horses to fend for themselves when we are absent and people interfere! Just wish I had enough land so that all my horses could be near me as I know strangers walk through the paddock I rent. Caught two young guys riding there push bikes through the other day as a short cut. They couldn't understand that it was private property and they should keep out!
there has only been me in our part of the field since last weekend, we're well away from the road and there's no reason for anyone to come into the field, no footpaths and we're about 800 yards from the main stables etc. I don't eat in the fields with the boys so it had to be someone who shouldn't have been there. I doubt I'll get to the bottom of it, but at lease Barney has settled again quickly.
wouldn't surprise me if kids have changed the meaning if private to public very much like the meaning of It's totally wicked means it's really good.
Isla this morning is settled after her first night out with the herd, lead mare is letting her stand about 15 feet away from them now. :D
have a good weekend.
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