| | | | | |  | Barn Name | Sour | | Location | Texas, United States | | Owner | Endiku | | Breed | Miniature | | Gender | Mare | | Age | 5 years, 2 months old | | Acquired | 09/15/2012 (About 9 months ago) | | Color | Chestnut | | Hands | 8.1 | | Head Markings | Mealy muzzle | | Body Markings | White hairs, White spot | | Disciplines | Companion horse, Pasture Ornament, Pleasure driving, Showmanship |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | About Sour |
A miniature horse filly was born on April 26th, 2008- the same day that I first began to volunteer, at age 12, out at that farm as a side walker for therapeudic students. I knew nothing but what books taught on horses at that time, and some riding experience, but I remember seeing the clumsy little filly minutes after birth- shakily staring at us as her mother began to dry her off. And I remember thinking...there was something different about her. I got sick that week, and by the time I made it back a few weeks later,the tiny chestnut filly and her mama had been sent to pasture so that she could grow up a bit, mama feasting on the rich green grass, and her on milk. I never forgot her, but I continued life. I began to learn more about horses, and as time went by- I began to move up in the 'food chain' of the farm. I went from a side walker to a leader. I loved where I worked.
That October, I was cleaning a pen for a 'new arrival' when a van pulled up and backed into the the gate of the pen- and a man opened the door. A frantic, squealing little filly leapt out of the van and onto the dirt- shaking and crazy with fear. I moved out of the way and watched as she streaked to the opposite side of the pen and stood, breathing heavily- and stared at us. Her eyes were anxious and fearful, and begged us not to hurt her. But at the same time, they glared angrily, boldly. She was no coward. Something about her made me want to keep watching her, to help her. I knew though, there was nothing I could do to comfort her. She was afaid of ME. So I left. I inquired about her, and learned that she had been in a big pasture all of her life, and had come here because no one else wanted her. They hoped she'd calm down and be a therapy horse. Her name, was Sour. As I watched her warily pace her pen, I figured that was a goal that was near impossible.
For the next few months, I left the filly alone- as did everyone else. Her life of solitude didnt seem to bother her, but I knew that someday she would need someone. The bold little horse would need a friend, and I decided that I wanted to be that friend. I began to bring carrots with me, and every weekend I would come and offer it to her- tossing it on the ground in front of her- a little closer to me each time. Eventually I got to where she would come up to me for her carrot. It overjoyed me to see that we were making progress. I then began to come into her pen, simply sitting and talking to her for hours at a time. She would watch me from a few yards away, curious but not willing to trust me yet. I didn't rush her.
Then, one day in early January- something happened that I will remember forever. She came up to me while I was busy sketching and nuzzled my hair, sniffing down my arm until she found what she was looking for- a carrot. She picked it up and crunched happily, not even minded when I stroked her nose lightly and greeted her. That was my invitation into her life.
We remained simple friends on until late spring, me sitting with her- petting her face and feeding her. She grew into a slightly disporportional but beautiful chestnut yearling- and a good friend of mine who began to fill the long empty hole in my heart. I was estatic.
Then disaster struck. In the early months of summer, the ranch owner decided it was time for her to be finished. The method they would use was a fast one, and it was called Sacking. They roped her and pulled her down to her knees, then straddled her until she laid on her side. A man then sat on her side- holding her down. The idea was to force her into instant submission, so they could teach her what she needed to know quickly. It is sucessful on some horses, but Sour was not some horse.
The little filly was terrified as she was forced to her side by ropes, having never had one around her except for once, to come here. To leave her mother. She screamed and thrashed, but was forced to stay down. By the time she was allowed up and back into her pen- the tiny little horse was exausted and a hate had been planted in her young heart. A hate for humans. For ropes.
Meanwhile, I didnt know all of this had happened- but when I came out the weekend after her 'training,' and saw the raw hate burning in her eyes, I knew there was something wrong. It didnt take me long to hear that the 'brat of a pony' had been 'trained' that week, and that she had 'failed.' I approached her carefully and held out my hand- and with a squeal she lunged at me. It was plain to me as she did so that in her mind, I was a hypocryt. She had trusted me and I had let her get hurt. 'MONSTER. Get away from me.' she screamed, barring her teeth. Saddened, I complied.
I didnt give up however, and although it took all of the summer and most of the winter of that year to convince her that I would never hurt her- she finally began to allow me into her world again. She didnt trust me, it was obvious- but she would allow me to be around. I was thankful.
Through the next five months I began to work with her, walking in the pen with her wherever she wanted to go, then leading her by her mane. Eventually, I got a halter on her. The leadline took longer, but eventually she let me clip that to her too. The progress was slow, but we began to bond again.
Now, two years later- Sour is a good companion of mine and although she doesnt have the typical horse and person bond with me. We respect eachother- and I am thus far the only one capable of handling her. Beginning as an unhandled seven month old who wouldn't even let people touch her, Sour now lunges both on a line and in a pen with only my voice as a prop, leads, catches, clips, bathes, worms, shods, yields to pressure, backs, pivots, disengages, jumps 12" inhand, ground drives, trailers, flexes, joins up, walks/trots/canters inhand and has upon occasion shown in costume, showmanship, and trial classes. We are still working on trusting men (she is no longer agressive towards them though!) and she often getes nervous when in a group of more than two people, but I have two preteen girls working with the two of us to introduce her to being worked by strangers. Thus far, we are doing very well as she now lunges with either girl and will let them pet her. We still have a lot of work to do, and being a mare- we often have days when it is all I can to do to insist that I am the alpha, but our bond is growing every day and I am very blessed to have her as a friend.
| | Activities | UPDATE: Sour was bought on 9/15/12 along with her beautiful mini mule filly by me, and I couldn't be more excited! I love this little girl and we have come SO far. I think she is finally out of her 'green' stage of driving and we're having so much fun learning new things. If you live in Texas, look for us in the Katy Rodeo Parade!
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| | Favorite Food | carrots, doritos, and mini wheats | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Click thumbnail to view full image. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Comments | Login to leave a comment. |
The one and only! xD and you'd better believe she is! Silly girl is always goofing off or getting into trouble.
haha her picture popped up, and I thought "I bet that's Sour!" Yup! :) She sure is quite the character, isn't she?
haha, nope ^^ she's only 34 inches tall and 230 pounds. I'd smash her! She is learning to pull a cart though, and she's doing well for a three year old!
I promise I would take good care of her though! ;) She is beautiful :D But, sadly you cant ride her... or... can you? :O
;)
Aww, well thankyou! I think she's pretty darned cute too. If I ever even thought of getting rid of her though, I'd be crazy and someone had better check me into an asylum! This girl is definitely my heart horse
Awe, she is ADORABLE! I have wanted a mini for so long now, and she is making me want one ever more :3 If you ever get tired of her, their is someone who would take her in a heart beat ;)
Now if we could just convince HER that she's better off with me than in her old situation! XD
Oh Sour, your story breaks my heart. I am so glad you have someone in your life who will fight for you.
Freaking cute, she looks like the queen of her castle:D
haha, thanks guys. She agrees with everyone that she's adorable, and she knows she's the queen! Send prayers her way for her pregnancy, she's got lots of odds against her!
AWWW Sour is so very pretty and cute! ^.^
i have two words:
soooooooooo
cuteeeeeee!!!!!
Sour has been doing excellent in the last few weeks, taking everything in stride. I think she's finally accepted that the world CAN be a fun place if she allows it to be. =]
Look how far she's come! I remember reading her bio a few weeks back, and now look at her with a fly mask on and everything! What a cutie!
AMH, or American Miniature Horse =]
what breed?
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