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New mare

4K views 41 replies 19 participants last post by  stevenson 
#1 ·
This is my rescue mare, Calamity Jane. She look a WHOLE lot better than she did a couple months ago! She's starting to fill out and overall is a happier horse!

But, I have a question. She was registered red dun and before her winter coat shed off, I had no doubt. But with her new coat comes some confusion!

She's got black (actually grey) everywhere. I've seen red duns with black in their tail, Annie has that. But Callie's whole mane and tail are black. And she's got grey feet and black areas on her front legs and between her back legs. Also she's got blackish tips on her ears.
And black zebra stripes. And then I added one of a couple weeks after I got her. He legs hadn't shedded out yet.
Here's some pictures:
Horse Leg Terrestrial animal Snout Bovine


Leg Human leg Riding boot Footwear Tree


Hair Ear Horse Mane Livestock


Hair Horse Skin Mane Forehead


Hair Horse Mane Snout Livestock


Hair Hairstyle Long hair Blond Liver


Horse Pony Mane Mare Stallion


Leg Horse Soil Grass Foal


Leg Tree Human leg Soil Livestock


Mammal Vertebrate Horse Foal Colt
 
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#3 ·
Kudos for rescuing this girl. Without seeing her legs, I'd call her a buttermilk buckskin but those legs throws that out the window. I do know that equine genetics is still in it's infancy and that some color genes are unknown so suspect she falls into that category.


Our TWH gelding has black hairs in his mane and tail, but is definitely a chestnut/sorrel since he's DNA's as ee.
 
#5 ·
Huge props go to you for providing her with a caring home.

I think when they're that malnourished it can do some odd things to their coat color and you won't see what true shade she's going to be until she gets healthy again. I thought I had a dunskin but he darkened up with proper nutrition and has never again been as light as he was when I first got him so he's actually a bay dun.
 
#6 ·
So I'm pretty mad right now.

The first time I saw Callie was on an ad. I had been looking for a couple months for a horse that would fit me, and be okay for my 8 year old cousin to be lead around on. I finally found a horse that would be a fit. So I called the guy and went up to look at her.

No, she wasn't what I was expecting to see, or what I really wanted, but as soon as I saw her I knew I would be taking her home. She was probably the skinniest horse I've ever seen in person. She had lice and bots in her mane, rain scald, three different types of worms, and her teeth were all like razor blades and some were digging into her jaw from being fractured and not properly taken care of. She had three knots on her face (bony infections, from the fractured teeth). He told me they give their horses (they have 57 different ads on horseclicks, plus who knows how many more that they're not selling) round bales during winter and the others wouldn't let her eat; "that's why she's a little thin."

After I paid and she was in the trailer, the story came out that her and about 20 other horses were dry lotted all winter with no food and little to no water. Apparently they were on the guy's brother's place for a few months and he was supposed to be taking care of them. The vet told me to get in that shape, it would have to be more than a few months. At least a year or maybe two.

He said she got the knot on her face (he didn't explain the other two) when she was a two year old but it doesn't bother her any.

So. I paid $1500 for her, and took her home. I started pumping the groceries in her (weight builder by Farnam is unbelievablely effective!). Once she gained a little weight I lead the kids (9,8, and 5) on her for short amounts of time. And she was the perfect horse. I was mad because they lied to me about her health, but I figured I came out better than I expected.

Well. She's finally fat enough for a full grown person to ride, so I saddled her up the other day and as soon as I sat down, I knew things weren't going to go well. I walked her about 5 feet and she reared up and just about laid on me. I checked the saddle pad and everything that could have irritated her and nothing was wrong.

When I bought her, I told him of my experience level (which I admit isn't high) and that an 8 year old little girl is also wanting to ride her, he told me she would make me a gooooood horse!

So my guess of her actual story?

He started her as a two year old (he told me that) and he got about half way and he got rough and made her hurt herself, (the fractured teeth and she's got a knot on her neck, like it had been out of joint or something) and didn't have the vet out, they just but her in the pasture with the other horses and she just became another horse. She couldn't eat because of her teeth, and she got skinny, so they put her in a dry lot so they could watch her, but then didnt. Went through their horses, deciding which ones to sell (one of their ads is for a herd reduction sale) and she made the list.

The ad said she was a 6 year old mare with new shoes, and she's ridden every day.

I got an 8 year old mare that's never had her feet messed with, it seems, and that's only half broke, if that.

I have my horse that I've worked with since he was born off at the trainers now, and once he's back, I'm going to send her off.
 
#9 ·
I would have a good vet or chiropractor check out her back and neck before riding her. She could have enough damage that she will not be safe to ride.

I'm sorry you paid so much for her. Personally, I would have threatened to report the owner which could have led to hefty fines and loss of other animals. You should have been given the horse as I was given my rescue, since the feed and vet care are so cost prohibitive for many of these rescue horses, and you don't even know if the horse will end up too damaged or ill to be ridden in the future.

If you ever rescue another one, it can be helpful to outline for the owner all the costs you will have to pay in the first month: medication for skin issues, hoof care, dental care, shots, worming, grain, etc. You can mention that when they are reported for neglecting the horse, they will have to take care of all these costs themselves and possibly fines as well. It can make losing the purchase price they were planning on seem like a bargain, especially if they risk losing other horses that are in better condition and they might be able to sell.
 
#10 ·
Can't help with the color question but thanks for grabbing this girl. It may not seem worth it now but maybe she will reward you later when she's feeling better and has some training and confidence.
 
#12 ·
She's 8 so I would think the grey would have already showed up. But my knowledge is limited.

I'm working on getting pictures uploaded to photobucket. Her color is still changing!

I don't know if he was reported or not, if so, it wasn't by me. This was my first time actually buying a horse, and I've certainly learned a lot! Haha. I don't know of any horse chiropractors in my area, but I'll talk to my vet.

I think after everything she'll be a good horse! She is super sweet, and has never showed any amount of meanness. My cousins (10, 9, and 5) help me brush her almost every day and she's wonderful with them! She's just not broke!

What color test would I do? Is there one that could just tell me what color she is or do I have to test for everything I suspect and decipher the results?

I would think agouti would tell me if she's got any black, right?

Like I said, my knowledge is limited!
 
#14 ·
Good for you for taking her although I'm sorry it's been such an ordeal. People make me wonder sometimes... I know if it were me selling, I'd be too embarrassed to show my horses in that kind of condition and would probably just ship them to an auction... then again, I suppose I'd also be too embarrassed to let my horse get to that state before selling anyway.

Anywho, as far as colour, she looks bay dun to me, maayyybe dunalino. The white hairs on her belly perplex me and I wonder if there's a possibility of roan, if just minimal? If you're really curious, you could pull some hairs and get her colour tested. The ones you could probably do would be to test for black, agouti and dun. That would give you a pretty good story on her colour. As she continues to improve in health, her coat will probably change some more and become more obvious. Good luck with her.
 
#15 · (Edited)
Meh, I wouldn't bother color testing. If you really do want to you will test for E (red) meaning black/bay vs chestnut. Agouti is black vs bay and is irrelevant on a red and she's obviously not black. Then dun, which I think is pretty obvious for her, so wouldn't bother. Cream can hide on a dun, so if you were curious you could test that but not sure how much it matters either way. The only thing worth testing if you feel like it is black and cream.

I still think her color is very standard ;) The ONLY part that looks off is her mane, which is STILL normal for a chestnut! She doesn't have black points, just a darker than expected mane and her body is washed out due to her condition.

Here's a bay dun:
Look how much BLACK he has! That is what black points means, not any color other than the exact same color of the coat (and the dun will cause slight points too).

Don't you have an adult red dun and a bay dun in your pasture? Go out and look at them and see which she looks more like forgetting about the "black points" rule people get stuck on ;)
 
#16 ·
Yes, know. I figured there was variation between each color. And I'm sure this isn't the color she'll stay, it's probably a lot to do with nutrition!

I probably won't color test unless I just have a lot of money I don't know what to do with... 😂😂

Thanks everyone for your help and support!
 
#17 ·
"I probably won't color test unless I just have a lot of money I don't know what to do with... 😂😂"

There are SO many things I will do at that point!!! LOL!

DO post some updated pictures as she gains conditions and congrats on her. Forget about her past right now you have a really great horse that simply needs a little work under saddle and sounds like you have a good trainer lined up!

*Not important at this point but I meant to say I would never directly confront someone with animals in that condition. Good way to get yourself in trouble or the animals in even worse trouble. I would however report it immediately and maybe the OPs vet already did. I'm sure if he has 50 head for sale someone has! Most situations aren't purely because the owner is aware of their condition but is lazy.
 
#18 ·
Finally, Callie is off to the trainers! Im excited to get her back and see what kind of horse she turns out to be. She spooks at nothing on the ground, and she doesn't mind anything being done. Nothing phases her, so let's hope for the best!

I got some pictures before she left, and I figured I'd put them on here as an update!

I'm going to guess that the little speckles on her back and rump are caused by her rain scald? She had it pretty bad, and they're in the spots where it was worst.

I can't believe how good she looks!

Horse Mammal Vertebrate Mane Mare


Close-up Textile Metal Fur


Horse Mammal Mare Mane Foal




Horse Vertebrate Mammal Mane Mare


Tree Soil Trunk Grass Plant


Rock Horse
 
#20 ·
I was also going to ask, does anyone have any tips for growing out her tail? When she had worms, she rubbed her tail and now she's got this big fluff ball of short hairs on her tail head.

I have some MTG, but I hate how it gets everywhere and makes them look greasy.
 
#23 ·
I told him what I feed her and gave him what I had left of her weight builder, so I'm not TOO concerned about that, but I'll keep in touch with him throughout her training.

I think she looks awesome, too!

Yogiwick is right about the black points. Hers are more gray than anything. I'm supposing I've just got a very unique red dun.

And besides that, who knows what color she'll be next year? Well just have to wait and see!
 
#25 · (Edited)
It seems I'm going to have to find a new trainer... Not a happy camper at the moment.

So I first sent my 3 year old colt to this guy for 6 weeks training at $500. The whole time he's texting me telling me how great Riley is doing and how awesome of a horse he is. I was pretty excited to get him back, as I've raised him from a foal, and I had been the only one doing any training with him. I had him where I could do almost anything and no flinching at all from him. I could rub my coat all over his body and a tarp. And he'd walk over the tarp and anywhere I asked him to go. Once he was old enough, I started searching for trainers in my area. I could find anyone for awhile, only people that start horses for friends and family. I finally found this guy. We discussed Riley and I decided I would go with him because he would take him and because he seemed to know what he was doing.

So. While he was there, Callie started acting up, and I was satisfied with the updates I had been getting, so I asked him if he'd take her when he dropped Riley off. Which was another thing I thought was odd. He picked up and dropped off both of my horses. He lives about an hour away.

When I got Riley back he told me all the things I couldn't do with him. He's cold backed, I have to flex him for about five minutes before I get on, don't tie him up when I saddle him, because he gets "stupid," he's bullheaded, and it'd be best if I "run him around with the saddle on for about 10 minutes before I got on." He said that should get all of his bucking out.

He was also supposed to put new shoes on him, and he never messed with it.

Well, I had some things come up before I got a chance to ride him. It'd been a week and a half or so. I came into his pen with my saddle pad and he acted scared to death! Riley is an in your pocket horse, always has been, and if I had a saddle pad, I couldn't catch him for nothing, and if I hung it on the gate, he wouldn't eat his food, which is in a bucket tied to the gate. I just don't understand. When he brought Callie out today, he was gonna "solve" my problem real quick (after a quick text telling him how HAPPY I was with his training) and spent 20 minutes trying to catch him. It's just not my horse!

Anyway, he brought Callie back out today (a week early, I paid for 30 days) and told me that Riley is 10 times the horse "that mare" is, and hed spend all his time on Riley if he was me, and don't even mess with her.

He said some days she's worse than others, and she's never good. Said she kicked him 4 times (which she has NEVER tried with me, she's such a sweetheart) and there's nothing you can do with her.

When she gets mad she rears and then sits down.

Now she's back, and she looks like she's lost some weight, but not like I expected her to, and she just looks sad. She came back pushy and disrespectful.

So I'm at a loss. I'm $750 in just with training and I still don't have a horse I fully trust.

My question is, do you all think nothing can be done with Callie? I've been searching again for trainers and I've found some actual breeding farms and training facilities that actually have references and success stories. Would I be wasting my money sending her there?
 
#26 ·
Did the vet say absolutely the mare is sound and fit to ride? It sounds like her history is so traumatic, and if she's trying to say she's hurting but went through a rough trainer who tries to force horses and not listen, it might have made things much worse.
The trainer sounds terrible. I'd be very careful working with your horses for awhile because he may have created all kinds of new issues such as pulling back, bucking, rearing, and others. Even if you can only find someone who trains horses for family and friends, but they turn out nice horses that people can ride, you would be better off than hiring a cheap trainer that tries to break horses using methods like having them buck things out.
 
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