Day 27- Reflection

Though it has finally warmed up again, a recent cold spell spurred us to find a blanket for Blue for the chilly nights and early mornings that his thin summer coat was not equipped to handle. It became apparent quickly that he had probably never worn a blanket before and it took him a few days to get used to the strange blue thing that was covering his body and following him around like a shadow. After those initial worries however, Blue accepted the blanket and stood quietly in the field while I came to put it on every night...almost like he was looking forward to the coziness that the sheet provided after the sun went down. Just like everything else we've offered him, he was cautious at first but always willing and accepting with some time and patience.

Not so sure about the new blanket

 

As we near the end of our first month with Blue, I can't help but look back and be proud of how much he has changed and how far he has come in his education and advancements. Sarah spends time with him every weekend and their bond continues to grow. They trust each other and she has been a vital and undeniable part of his progress over the past month. Blue is solid in his ground work and lunging, both with and without tack and is at the point where he's likely ready to accept a rider. His friendship with Lena remains solid and the evidence of his improving health is obvious to those who come to visit.....he's rounder, shinier and a more confident horse overall than the pathetic creature who walked off our trailer just a short twenty seven days ago. He enjoys his meals, stands patiently for his baths and always tries hard to please anyone who asks something of him. He is a wonderful little horse who is developing daily into everything we could have asked for and everything we had hoped he would come to represent.

 

 

Blue & Sarah bonding

 

 

For myself, this progress continually raises the question....did we just get lucky with this particular horse or will this type of patient and knowledgeable process work in the rehabilitation of any horse? Granted, we made a good choice in picking a horse that was young and relatively unhandled for this sort of initial project. In addition, we definitely got lucky because Blue's trusting personality and willing nature made working with him a pleasure. But those things aside, our methods and dedication to the project has produced results and this is something that I believe can be applied to any horse, no matter their background or level of handling. There will always be issues that arise....always obstacles that need to be addressed....but if one is committed to the end result, than these roadblocks will just be opportunities for learning along the way.

 

We made a difference for Blue so if we know our method works and can change the life of one horse....where does that take us next?

Day 17- Not so sure about ground driving

 

As I've been working out away from the barn this week, Barry has taken over a bit of the work with Blue in my absence. He has spent a few days saddling the horse and doing some lateral work, teaching Blue how to give his head from side to side and soften to the feel of the side pull. This training from the ground will give the horse a foundation for the future and acts as a building block for work later on from the saddle. On Thursday night, Barry did some ground driving work with Blue to begin his education around steering right and left, without having to be on his back. Blue was not at all a fan of this new activity and it took some time before he became comfortable with Barry behind him and the lines touching his sides. This is often the case when horses ground drive for the first time as the process is different from anything they've experienced before but by the end of the session, Blue became more comfortable with the method and settled....it remains to be seen how he takes to it the next time.

 

Blue continues to live outside with Lena but is always happy to come in for some attention and work. The two are such a good match...neither is overly dominant or aggressive over the other and while Blue moves out of the way when Lena decides she wants something, you can tell he does it out of chivalrous respect rather than fear.

 

 

 

Lena with Blue looking on

 

 

Blue is a gentleman through and though and as he gains confidence and develops a personality, those quiet and polite qualities remain, making him always a pleasure to work around. His size, demeanour and good nature will make him a very special companion for someone one day and I look forward to finding the right partner for him who will love, appreciate, protect and give him the life he deserves. Until then, we will do the same and will enjoy his company as he learns and develops.

 

 

 

Blue- Day 17

 

 

Day Twelve & Thirteen- Spa days & inspirations

 

Blue kept very busy again this weekend with a double dose of visits from Sarah, lots of attention from the weekend regulars and plenty of quality time with Lena, of whom he has become quite fond. On Saturday, we put a saddle on him for the first time and walked him around with the new object on his back. His obvious lack of concern for this process makes us wonder whether he may indeed have been backed sometime after he left his breeder and before he ended up at the feedlot. To our knowledge, nothing had been done with the horse but the three month black hole in his history leaves us guessing. It is possible that he just has that “not a big deal” kind of personality that is making everything incredibly easy. Unfortunately, it is equally possible that he may have been backed quickly and roughly and there are issues lying under the surface that we have yet to uncover. We will probably never know the truth but whether we're “starting” or “restarting” him our way, Blue will have the foundation Barry feels is necessary for any young horse and that knowledge will bring confidence for both horse and rider as we progress into the riding stages.

 

 

Desensitizing with the saddle blanket

 

 

Barry & Blue with his saddle on

 

Because every good summer long weekend should include a “spa” day, Blue had his on Sunday. Hanging around the barn after our morning hack, Sarah & Devon took the notion to spoil Blue rotten and brought him out of the hot sun and into the barn for some pampering. Accompanied by their jar of Horsecotti treats, they brushed him and fussed over him for some time. At one point, they decided his thick, unruly locks needed a new look so they spent at least a half hour braiding the whole thing over to one side.....poor Blue. Though he did get a bit impatient towards the end, I could tell that he loved every minute of the attention he was receiving and would have put up with them for longer if they hadn't both decided they needed to go home to nap away their afternoon.

Devon & Sarah braiding Blue's mane

 

It's so nice to see a horse who has never really had anything get so much love and attention....I wonder what he thinks of it all? Horses really are such social creatures, with such unique personalities. They are so smart, talented and willing, yet so simple if you really understand them. To watch a horse like Blue learn to trust again so quickly, it really makes me think about people. How many people, after being abandoned, uprooted from everything familiar to them and discarded as worthless, would bounce back to love and trust the next half decent person who came into their lives? Maybe some would? I know I definitely wouldn't but maybe that's just me? Blue's willingness to open up again so quickly continues to drive home the notion to me of just how powerful these rescue horses could be as a source of therapy for people. How many people out there fit into the description above? Individuals who, for whatever reason, are afraid to open up....afraid to trust again or to be loved because they have been hurt? How beneficial could Blue be to someone who needs an example to follow... an inspiration to get them started on the right track? Blue may look like just a horse to most people, but he is so much more than that. He has a accepting mind, an open heart and he operates every day from a blank slate.....

 

How many of you could honestly say that?

Day Eleven- More improvements

Blue had another big day on Friday complete with a pedicure and a new space to get used to. Barry worked on his feet for some time, and while Blue wasn't a huge fan of the process, we got the job done and made a huge improvement on his badly overgrown toes. It was the final upgrade, besides continuing to put on weight, that Blue needed to look his best and it definitely made a difference to the overall appearance. Thursday was Blue's last day of quarantine so when his feet were done on Friday, we turned him out by himself into a large new paddock to begin the process of integrating him in with the rest of our horses. Blue didn't run or carry on....didn't act silly or get himself worked up....he simply just explored. He walked from corner to corner to see just how big his new digs really were and proceeded to check out the square footage thoroughly for some time. I imagine it's been awhile since he's had that kind of space and he wasn't going to miss a thing....

 

 

 

 

After Blue had spent some time alone in his new space, we added Lena to the mix. Lena is a six year old quarter horse mare who belongs to Barry and is a member of the herd of which Blue will eventually become a member. She is the least assertive of the three so we thought she would likely be the best choice to introduce to Blue first....we were right. After ignoring each other for some time (Lena looking for her friends and Blue exploring), they buddied up and became close quite quickly. There was no aggression and both horses seemed pleased to have a new friend, travelling around the big field and eating together. They spent the rest of the day in this fashion and will continue as a duo until we think it's time to add another member of the herd.

 

 

 

Blue & Lena

 

 

Though Blue never showed any signs of being lonely or wanting to be with the other horses, it was really nice to see him with a companion and to have so much space to roam around in. Horses are meant to be with other horses and Blue settled into his role in the partnership very easily. He stays outside over night now but is always eager to greet me in the morning and definitely never forgets about breakfast! He has found the happy balance between “free” and “pampered” and seems to enjoy his lifestyle just fine!

Another big weekend ahead for Blue....stay tuned for new developments....

Day Nine & Ten- Changes, Challenges & Choices

 

Blue spent day nine enjoying some much deserved time off. Even though the past week may seem like not a big deal to someone unfamiliar with horses, it has been full of changes, challenges and choices for a horse who spent the first two years of his life doing relatively little. Blue has had to cope with a lot of changes: new environment, new horses, new food, new handlers.... as well as a lot of challenges: grooming, leading, ground trying, grazing in hand, plastic bag, lunging and bathing! But above all, Blue has had to make a lot of choices....whether to eat and drink, whether to be brave, whether to try and ultimately, whether or not to trust again. Despite everything he has been through, Blue has clearly decided to trust again and it's his willingness to do so that makes this whole process possible. In just one short week, Blue has decided that people are okay again and goes as far as to lean towards me when he's unsure about something nearby, as if to say “are we afraid of that?” He is a friend, a companion and a source of enjoyment for me every day and when I watch him interact with people, I can't help but thinking how much the world would have missed out if this little horse had gone to slaughter as planned. He is a gift and has so much to teach us about second chances and deciding to give life another go....even if his story touches one person, he has made a difference.

He returned to work on day ten with a renewed brightness and enthusiasm for work. I spent some time with Blue in the arena reviewing his in hand lesson from day eight and had a much better response. He trotted willingly beside me, respecting my space and halting promptly when cued. He was light, responsive and attentive for the whole lesson and I was very pleased with his improvement from two days earlier. Next came the saddle pad....we desensitized him just like we had done with the plastic bag earlier in the week and when he showed no objection, we placed it on his back and did the same with the surcingle. Blue stood still like he had experienced this a hundred times before and showed only a little uncertainty when we gradually fastened the surcingle loosely around his girth area. After we let him stand and contemplate the new situation for a few minutes, I took him for a walk with saddle pad and surcingle on his back....no issue. I gave him a light lunge .... no issue. Blue is so cool about everything, sometimes you forget he's as young and inexperienced as he is. I put him back outside, sat there and watched him for a few minutes and considered again just how lucky we had gotten with this horse. Though I know we could have managed with anything and would have worked through any issues that came up, Blue really is so easy.....and still, someone gave this “easy” horse away for some reason.

 

 

 



Trotting in hand

 

 

 

 

Saddle pad & surcingle

 

 

 Since I hadn't brushed him while in the arena earlier in the day, I book Blue out for some grass and a brush after dinner. Unlike the first few attempts, this time he put his head down confidently to munch the grass and continued doing so until a couple of the barn's boarders came back from their evening hack. He raised his head to see what was going on and then stood beside me quietly as I talked to the ladies, leaning towards me every once and a while to see if we were still to be “standing quietly?” They had not met Blue before so they had many questions about his story, complete with the usual astonishment as to how such a nice, young little horse could end up in a feed lot in the first place? Everyone who meets Blue generally has the same reaction....I guess it's a natural one? I still ask myself the same thing every time I look at him and hope that he is a unique case, though I know this unfortunately isn't true. When the conversation was over, I returned Blue to his stall and said good night.

 

 

Enjoying some evening grass

 

Day Seven & Eight- Two different sides of Blue

Monday marked the seventh day and completed Blue's first week with us. Sometimes I watch him outside and wish we could fast forward to the point in the story when he's once again fat, healthy and restored to his proper self but I know that in doing that, we would be missing a lot of what's important about this special little horse. We would miss his recuperation and the process of him learning to trust in people again. We would miss the transformation from the horse we picked up in Bradford to the horse I know he will become. As much as I want Blue to be 'better' again now, I know that this part of the story is important for him and even more important for those following it. People need to understand what it takes to bring a horse back from this sort of physical and mental neglect so we're strongly reminded to do what we can to make sure that no horse in our care gets to that point in the first place. Even though I don't like to see him go through it, a lot of what is so inspiring about Blue will come from this process.....

I worked with Blue outside in the grass ring for the first time on Monday. There's always the potential for the Hyde side of a horse's “Jekel & Hyde” personality to emerge when they work outside for the first time.....wide open spaces seem to have that effect. Of course, Blue was a complete gentleman and took to the work with no excess silliness. We lunged and walked over some poles and afterwards, went for a walk around. Blue seemed to enjoy being outdoors and returned to his paddock content and relaxed.

 

First lunging session outside

Tuesday, however, brought forward a different side of Blue than any of us had seen before. Sarah returned, eager to continue where they had left off on the weekend with the goal of getting him to trot beside her in hand. Unfortunately for Sarah, Blue had a different plan. Whether he was tired or unsure, Blue was having none of the process and made every effort possible not to move his feet. After our efforts produced no return, we called Barry in for assistance and he worked with the horse for some time, sending him one way or the other to “unstick” his feet. By the end of the session, Blue had it figured out and Sarah was able to complete her goal of getting him to trot in hand. Blue finished his day with a nice bath, for which he stood with no issue and returned to his stall squeaky clean and shiny.

 

Blue's first bath

 

 

 

 

I'm not sure how Sarah felt about the whole process but it was an important lesson for her to experience. Generally speaking, when we arrive at the barn with A PLAN, our horse almost always has different one and we need to adapt and adjust.....welcome to horses Sarah :) It was interesting to see Blue with such a difference of opinion than he had shown on previous occasions but it was bound to come out at some point. What I did like was that, even in his uncertainty, he never once became mean or rude and Barry was able to reason with him to accomplish the goal. Blue has a wonderful mind and that will continue to aid in his training going forward.... he wants to please and wants to learn and this makes for an easier project.

We head into our second week with a different horse than the one who arrived last Tuesday. He's brighter, more expressive and even has some covering over his ribs. His coat is definitely shinier and he's more confident overall. He will remain in quarantine for a few more days to be sure all is well and then we will begin introducing him to the rest of the herd, many of whom have expressed interest in him over the fence for some time. When I think about the time he's been with us, it seems much longer than a week......he has become part of our daily routine, part of our family and part of our story. I barely even remember what I did in the evenings before Blue gave me something to write about! I'm very happy with his progress and hope he continues steadily along the path to good health, wellness and what lies ahead in his future.

 

Blue & Sarah

Day Five & Six- A Busy Weekend
 

The past few days proved to be very eventful for Blue. He spent lots of time outside, had a few new visitors and even decided that treats weren't such a bad thing after all! Of course, knowing my luck, he took a fancy to the Stud Muffin and Horsescotti calibre of treats rather than the boring grocery store variety carrots and apples or Bulk Barn scotch mints that my horses have grown used to. As long as the generosity of his regular visitors doesn't wear off, Blue shouldn't be too disappointed by the mediocrity of my usual selection. It's very possible however, that I won't be his favourite for long....at least not on the weekends when the treat ladies show up!
 

In addition to the above developments, Blue also made a new friend this weekend...a relationship that I think may become a special one for him. One of my students arrived at the farm on Saturday morning for our morning hack. Sarah is a nurse who has been riding with me on a regular basis for about a year now and for some unexplainable reason, continues to come all the way from the East side of Toronto to ride with us twice a week, despite our recent move from Stouffville to Orangeville, which as many of you know, was not a favourable change in geography for her. She has been a consistent student who works hard to improve her riding and horsemanship skills and is always eager to learn anything and everything she can about horses in her time with us, even if it leaves her mentally exhausted and physically sore for days following her lessons. After our excellent hack, I took her to the bank barn to meet Blue and was very pleased with her enthusiasm towards him. She took an instant liking to the quiet nature and kind eye of our little bay gelding and almost immediately asked if she could help with his training program in any way she could. We have been working to find a good horse match for Sarah over the past few months and, while she's always game to try anything we suggest and has learned from each mount we've given her, I think she's still waiting for that special connection that all horse people remember as their first real equine partnership. For this reason, I was quite pleased that she and Blue hit it off as well as they did and I accepted her offer.

Under Barry's watchful eye and coaching, Sarah worked with Blue on Saturday afternoon and returned again on Sunday to do the same. As a matter of fact, she spent most of the weekend at the barn learning the groundwork steps and filling in as Blue's groom. She put as much care and time into combing out his tangles and making his coat shine as I like to and I found it very moving to watch the pair together. There was something about their mutual uncertainty and patience with each other that made me more than willing to step aside and let these two enjoy their time together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've been lucky enough to have owned numerous horses and have had strong partnerships with more than one over the years. I know what it's like to sit and watch my horses in the field and have no desire to be anywhere else in the world but there. I know the feeling of teaching a young horse something new and watching them progress or having an older, more experienced one wait on me kindly while I fumbled through the latest challenge of the day that he, of course, had learned years prior to hooking up with me. I know that my horses rely on me every day for the necessities of life and trust me to be kind and compassionate to them while still providing the leadership they need to be confident. These are responsibilities which I gladly fulfill every day because the payback of the relationship with each and every one of them is worth it and makes me a better person than I would be without them. I know what it means to have that kind of partnership and I want Sarah and Blue to know the same trust, satisfaction and comfort that a real relationship between a horse and human can provide. I look forward to seeing what will develop there.....

In the meantime, Blue continues to brighten physically and mentally every day. Though, he still gets tired from his daily activities, he is starting to put a little weight on is developing a personality of his own. It's hard to believe that it's been less than a week since Blue came into our lives and he's already made so much progress in such a short amount of time. It's amazing how much of a difference can be made with a little kindness, a lot of food and a positive environment! Everyone who spends time with Blue benefits from their interaction with him....I think his potential for contribution is infinite and I'm so grateful that we can be the reason why he has a chance to make a difference in the world.