[Terra Nova]

So when I first became a member on this forum I didn't have a horse, though I longed for it. Well shortly after I ended up joining a rescue effort to find homes for over 100 young horses that had been shipped up from the States to be slaughtered, weren't be cared for, had ringworm, worm infestation which some died of shortly after being rescued, open wounds, deformed legs, lame... the man admitted some starved to death, kept claiming they had all had medical treatment and spouted of lie after lie to the point he couldn't even keep up with them. Anyways, I picked out a skinny bay filly on that September day.

The man handed out coggins to some people and told the rest of us he didn't have any papers at all on any of the horses. Another lie seeing as they required them to get across the boarder, several fillies turned up pregnant as there were several stud colts and crypts in the herd even though they are required by law to be gelded. He now has another herd up here not far from where these guys were and they to are in a sad state but the man won't stop all we can do is call the OSPCA and hope they do something.

As of now she still can't be handled, is still nervous and unsure of people. But she's curious and it gets the better of her sometimes. She'll come over sniff your hand, lip at you. When she thinks your not paying attention she'll come up behind you and just stand there or follow you.

I moved her to a new barn today so I can visit her more often and these are the pictures I managed to take. Hopefully she'll come alot faster with her being much closer now.

This little snot is eating away my money. I do have her up for sale but I'm not expecting much seeing as she's unhandled. I'm not sure I even really want to sell her but if the right people come along I suppose I would. Until then she'll keeping nomming away on my bank account.

 

[western walking horse]

keep it up

 

[7Ponies]

She looks wonderful. Thanks for rescuing her.

 

[equus717]

Thanks for rescuing her!!!! Is there a reason why you are wanting to sell her?

 

[ShutUpJoe]

Awww I love bays!

 

[Terra Nova]

Mainly due to me worrying she won't get tall enough and because of money.

 

[justsambam08]

She's a gorgeous girl--shame I can't afford another! I know of a few people who would love to get their hands on her....but times are tough. Do you plan on doing some kind of training with her if she doesn't get any hits?

 

[Terra Nova]

I'll keep working with her, get her to understand the basic things a yearling should be able to do, lead, stand for the farrier, bath, load in a trailer etc. If I do keep her she'll just be my trail horse, possibly driving horse but no showing.

 

[sillybunny11486]

You usually never make your money back on a horse, board and feed/care is a sunk cost. Think about fund raisers or donations to help more horses, or at least your bank account?

I got a great deal on boarding my horses with a friend of a friend. I can keep both my horses for the cost of one horse at most stables around here. I just help out with the work (3-4 times a week.) It probably costs only a few dollars a day to actually feed a horse. But it really depends on how much you get hay for. If you have to board, well thats pretty expensive. (Usually)

She looks alot better. What are you doing with her training wise? My weanling took about two months to friendly up to people. He was never handled except to get a halter on him when he was born. He got used to me being there because I fed him myself. It looks me three weeks to introduce him to a brush and touch his legs and a about a month to get a new, bigger halter on him. It took about 3 months for him to understand the idea of picking feet. I got him in July. Now hes like my dog, he follows me around everywere. But it could take alot longer then this if she was abused.

 

[xxBarry Godden]

Be careful how you feed her. Not too much too soon.

Get some advice from the vet.
Then check for worms.
Then ask about a flue jab

Then ask the farrier to check the feet.

Then spend most of your money on 'tender loving care'. It can come at a bargain price with minimal impact upon your bank account.

Well done.

B G

 

[sillybunny11486]

Then ask about a flue jab

What is that?

 

[sandy2u1]

I have some good news and bad news for ya....
the good news...at some point all the love, hard work and money will pay off when that horse learns to trust and love you back!
the bad news...you are "horse poor". Unfortunately for us horse owners, they take a lot of money and even when you get some extra...they will find a way to get it from you :lol:
My boy is worth it though...and I'm sure yours will turn out to be worth it too.

 

[SpringWolf]

my very first horse was a yearling PMU straight off the feedlot, never been handled, not even halter-able.

when he came home, I sat out in the field with him for 3 days straight, just to let him get used to my presence, he would come and go as he pleased...unfortunately i gave myself sunstroke...should have sat in the shade!! after the 3 days I was able to put a hand on him, and he went into the shelter and i followed him, he was used to my presence, altho still nervous, he allowed me to love him up. He then followed me or anyone else else after that like a puppy. By the 7th day i was able to halter him.

 

[my2geldings]

oh you never get your money back. Unless you compete GP level at any discipline and you regularly do very well or you have a very large and successful company or horse business, horseback riding is not something you will ever make money in :lol:

What you can be happy with and tell yourself at the end of the day tho, is that you have had spent an incredible day with an animal whom you adore. You have been able to work on a bond that you wont get anywhere else and you know you have that way to escape and spend some alone time from the rest of the world.

I think thats worth more than the amount of money you spend.