*sigh* I'm loosing my touch. (Warning: Hi-jacked by Em)

[Bunnylady]

The pictures of Gus getting loaded jogged a memory . . .

A while ago, the folks that were leasing the barn bought a gorgeous big Quarter Horse with the idea that he was to become a lesson horse. He was 5 years old and still a bit green, but was kinda goofy and puppy-dog friendly. Within a short time one of the more advanced hunter/jumper students had a half-lease on him. He progressed very well; she even took him to a few shows.

Then the owner decided he was going to teach the horse to "go Western." Unfortunately, one of the first things he taught him was that bucking was a good way to get out of things he didn't like. Shortly, nobody could ride the horse without getting bucked off, and the girl cancelled her lease. The owner was determined that he was going to break the horse of this behavior, but all that got broken was several halters and numerous lead ropes when the horse figured out that he could sit back and break things. The horse also became very difficult to load.He stayed like this for a year or so.

Then somebody fell in love with his sweet personality, and wanted to buy the the horse. She persuaded her trainer to come get him. On the first attempt, the horse broke a lead, and we finally had to quit due to darkness after more than an hour. Incredibly, they came back a second time. The vet came out and sedated the horse, believing that would make him behave. He gave the horse the maximum dose, and it still took us 45 minutes past the time the shot took effect to convince the horse to step into the trailer. The horse whinnied as the truck and trailer pulled away, and I got all sniffly; I had become pretty fond of the big goof (the owner had tried to give him to me more than once, but I knew this horse's issues were more than I could deal with).

Fortunately, this lady is a good trainer, and she has been able to deal with all of this horse's issues. He is now being ridden regularly, and has stopped breaking things. Hopefully, the owner will stay with this trainer, and the horse will stay the good boy he was always meant to be.

 

[sourland]

As with every species, there are trainers and then there are trainers. As a kid I had a friend/mentor who had spent much of his life as a cowboy in Montana. When I got to know Burt he was caretaker on an estate for a wealthy family in Gladstone, NJ. We met through the dogs - I went there to buy a coon dog, and he refused to sell it to me because I was a kid and the dog really was not that good. (Trust me if I had been an adult, he would have sold that dog.) As good as he was with dogs, he was even better with horses. He was great at rebuilding the trust in abused horses. He would go to the auctions and buy the wild eyed, scared horses, bring them home and rehab them. I went there one time and he had two new horses. One whirling in the box stall all wild eyed and quivery the other calmly standing there and just eyeing us. I said, "See you got one good one and one that will have to be put down." Burt said, "You're probably right, but I'm betting you have them mixed up." The wild eyed Tennessee walker became his favorite and stayed there for a long time until he found the right buyer for her. Turns out that the calm placid mare had a bad habit of flipping back on her rider. Burt could ride her, but would not sell her because he knew she might kill someone - she eventually went to the slaughterhouse. He was a 'horse whisperer' and one of the 5 most important people in my life as a kid growing up. He also knew how to 'fix' broken people.

 

[EmtheFishLady]

Sparky is that way George. Alfred seems to be that way also. Sparky is getting too old to break horses...Alfred is younger and I'm not as fond of him as I am Sparky. I don't mind Gus kicking Alfred. Every time Gus made Sparky mad I felt guilty. So Gus is being trained by Alfred. We'll see how it goes. I'm very nervous.

 

[sourland]

Em, I think that all is going to be fine. I'd be willing to bet that Terry and you have correctly evaluated your trainer.

 

[EmtheFishLady]

We paid Alfred for two months...I'm thinking after that, paying Sparky for 2 more months...

 

[onedoodle3]

He'll do fine, Queen Em....you will go pick him up and he will be like a different horse. It's hard to let the babies go to "school".

Sour, my philosophy regarding snow is: If the snow plow on the ATV won't move it all in one pass, it will stay til it thaws...

I just can't handle shoveling it anymore. I had back surgery in 2009 and was still supposed to be taking it easy that winter. We got 2 feet of snow overnight. I had to go to work that night and was out there shoveling snow, shoveling snow, and everytime I thought I was making some headway, DOH would go up the road and back and put more in my way...I finally gave up and said the heck with it. Dad came out to help and I told him he was too old to be out there shoveling that heavy snow. I decided to back my Orangie (My little compact SUV) all the way up the connecting driveway and floor it. Twas a fine idea....until I hit a wall of snow....the snowplow had comeback....I didn't see him...and had to go in the house and call work and tell them my car was buried under snow...

I'm tired of snow....I want to complain about how hot it is!!!

 

[sourland]

1d3, I too am ready for too hot and humid.

 

[Orpingtons4U]

come on guys lets pack are bags chickens rabbits etc etc and move to FL with Em!!!!!!!

 

[Orpingtons4U]

*our i mean lol

 

[sourland]

Orps, are you packing your rabbits and chickens in bags for 'freezer camp'?

I have some excellent recipes for rabbits if you are interested.