She Is Coming Along Pretty Well!

This is my first attempt at posting a video, I think...

Sorry Mindy, I stole this off of you You-Tube account....

This is the kill pen horse that Mindy got from her friends that rescued her.  I did not post this for critiquing on a vicious level.  I don't care if you don't like how long/short Mindy's stirrups are, I don't care if you think she holds her hands too high/low, and I don't care if you think she should be wearing a helmet.  What I DO care about is how well this horse seems to be doing!  She is obviously high headed, but we know from Mindy's investigative work that she was a rope horse and wore a tie down.  So to me she looks like a horse that is used to setting it's head against a tie down while working. 

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on this.

Mindy had her seen by the Chiropractor late in January and she was only out at the pole/axis.  That makes me really believe that her high headedness is from a tie down or actually lack there of.  The Chiropractor said that she was in great over all shape and had excellent range of motion.  More good news.

So far things that the mare doesn't like aren't that numerous.  She doesn't like the barn.  At all.  Takes a load of work to get her in.  We will of course work on that when she gets here.  But right now, it is not all that important.  Give her a wind break and she is fine.  She likes to eat, but is polite when being fed.  She needs grain to be caught right now.  Although Mindy says its getting easier without it.  She still worries about being caught.  Once you have her though, she is on task and ready to work. 

There has only been one real "wreck" with her so far.  

 Mindy had her at this little race this last weekend and had her tied to the trailer next her mare Chix.  Chix decided to rub her head on the black mares flank.  The black mare decided she would kick Chix for intruding on her personal space.  Mindy was watching from the front of the truck.  As the black mare got ready to fire both barrels at Chix, she reacted like most of us would.  She hollered and smacker her hands together and the black mare 'bout lost it.  She tucked her butt in and started pulling as if her life depended on it.  Mindy got behind her and made enough noise she finally took a step forward.  She untied Chix and tied her to the opposite side of the trailer and went back to check on the black mare.  The mare was standing in the same place she had jumped to when Mindy finally got her mind off of pulling the side off of the trailer.  She was standing like her feet were glued to the ground and she was sweating and shaking.  Mindy said not a single muscle on that horse wasn't tense and bouncing.  She said she sweet talked her and rubbed and petted on her until the mare finally showed signs of relaxing.  She then offered her some water and left her to soak on the "good" feeling.

Mindy said the next morning the black mare was happy to see her and probably would have loaded up and went to work again.  Good news!  She seems to be adjusting to her new life.  We are all pretty happy about it too!!  She is going to haul my butt around the local shows this year and also pony Fiona the Monster Pony! 

Fiona is still really having a hard time with space when being ponied at anything slower than a long trot.  The faster you go the better she stays focused on what she is doing.  As soon as we start walking she is touching, bumping, pulling, and trying to rub.  This has been quite taxing on Tari and after just one day of ponying Fi, it takes me two weeks to get Tari traveling straight again.  Horse girl can handle the baby antics, but she is so hot, I have to ride her down before I take on Fiona...  

And Horse Girl is having off and on soundness issues.  The frustrating part is that they aren't all from her broken rear ankle (which has long since healed and fused.)  They are in the front shoulder.  I have her on Legend Shots, and have considered Adiquin (sp).  But don't really know what the right way to go with her is.  She is such a dork and I just love her to death, so whatever I do with her this year, I suppose it doesn't really matter in the long.  Maybe she will just work as a nanny for Tari this year...

I am hoping that once we get Fiona working correctly on the end of the lead at all gates and the baby's weaned Tari can pony without messing up her whole way of going.  Fingers crossed!!

The black mare will be coming home with Chad and I this weekend.  We are heading over to Mindy's for Wyatt's first birthday.  On our way home we will be hauling a load of horses back with us.  The black mare, Sally, and Chix.  Why are Sally and Chix coming over you ask...well that's a whole different post!  (0: