Abby - an update

It would appear that Abby's adopter has multiple disorders (both mental and physical) and has abandoned both of her mustangs at Jennie's place - remember how they were both supposed to go home after the gelding, Thor, was gentled?  Poor Abby, but at least she'll get to stay with Jennie.  This was Thor's third strike so he will go to long-term holding, possibly becoming a Sales Authority horse at some point.  I guess this is how it goes in the rescue game.

Mostly pictures

"Did you say 'cookie'?"

First day of 'pole work' this morning.  Nine poles, spacing about 10 feet pole-to-pole, in a shifting line, like so.  Walking only, total time about 10 minutes.

I expected a lot of attitude from Ruby, but I only received a little.  One of Ruby's best traits is that while she will tell you what she's thinking, she still defers to her rider when you say 'tough' - though you can bet there will be some sulking and 'you're an idiot' faces involved.

She isn't hard on the eyes, either :) 

And Abby?  Abby thinks that last week's weather was winter's last hurrah.  Yesterday I brushed enough hair off her to keep the neighborhood birds in nesting materials all spring.  As of this morning, she's almost completely shed out.

Sent this pic to her adopter this morning. 

And this is what she thinks about me taking pictures.

There are no plans for me to take on another mustang at this time, if you are curious.  Jennie only has two that need to be adopted out including Rango, the three-year-old gelding mentioned in a previous post.  Jennie has decided that he needs to grow up a bit more, so he'll get a 3-6 month break and then they'll try again.  Then there's Sally, the mustang that Jennie was trying to talk me into taking way back before she even took in Ruby.  Sally apparently 'hates people and hates work'...not that I blame her at this point.

Abby will be leaving on Thursday and her new mom will be out to visit her this weekend.  We've discovered that she was captured Sept. 7, 1996 as a yearling, and is from the White River Nevada, HMA.  No word on how old she was when she was adopted, or anything else unfortunately. 

Three days...

That's how long it took me to shave Abby's brand for her new adopter.  THREE DAYS...working for three hours or so each day with a small, cordless beard shaver thing. So, 9-10 hours total.  I have pressure-released us both nearly to death.  Why would it take so long?  Other than the 'it moves and makes noise' argument, I would assume that the entire branding process is fairly traumatic for a wild animal, and afterwards intelligent people would keep the damn clippers far, far away from the mustang...other than when they need to be able to read that brand.  So, here it is for anyone who's curious.

Birth year '95, serial # 556008

I could have twitched her and got it done so much faster, but I didn't want the process to be any more stressful for her than it had to be.  Now I'll just sit back and wait to hear what the adopter finds out about little Abby. 

It probably was pretty funny to watch if you weren't involved...Abby: I don't wanna. Really. No, I don't wanna. Okay...Do it, do it, DO IT!(bzzz) OMFG, STOOOOP!!!

Rinse, repeat.  I need a nap. 


ETA: Abby was captured as a yearling on Sept. 7, 1996.  She is from the White River Nevada HMA.  

Details

Okay, so let's rewind a few days...

It has been cold here, and by 'cold' I mean really windy with lows in the 40s.  Now, for all of you folks up north, I know what you've been going through but I am not used to weather like this - so I won't knock you for complaining when your summertime hits 85-90 degrees with 50-60% humidity.  Okay?  Okay.

I happened to be working with Abby when the started the day before yesterday.  She was already being a little jumpier than normal and we were just ready to ride when the wind kicked up and I decided that I valued my life more than making more progress.  It's not that she was bad, she was just getting wound up higher and higher instead of focusing and coming down to earth.  We ended on a good note and called it a day.

It was even colder yesterday...and I was feeling like a crazy (and possibly hormonal) female so I decided it just wasn't going to be a good day.  Might as well not even go there and turn Abby out, right?  Until we got to the arena and I could tell that she was going to snatch away as soon as the halter was halfway off.  I do not appreciate horsey rudeness, so I nip it in the bud as soon as it rears its ugly head.  I started working with her on it when she reared up at me, then bolted....oh honey, did you ever mess up.  See, that's fine because now you're free-lunging around the ENTIRE arena through ALL of the new puddles at whatever speed and direction I tell you to go.  For the next 20 minutes.  I'm not going to lie and say that I stood in the middle without doing any work - in fact, I had to get quite aggressive a few times to make my point, but I did make it. By 2-3 minutes in, Abby had figured out that her freedom wasn't all it was cracked up to be and started asking to stop - too late for that.  When I did let her stop, she stood quietly while I approached, then we practiced leading quietly and accepting and removing the halter politely.

So it was with some trepidation that I met with a potential adopter this morning.  For the last two days, Abby's been a bit full of herself.  I'm not sure if it's the weather, if she's in heat, if she's feeling better due to the MSM and B-L, or if she's just seeing what she can get away with.  All I could hope was that this morning, a normal, slightly-shy Abby would greet me when I opened her stall.

And she did.  She wasn't perfect but she was trying again and made a great impression on the girl who came to see her.  Abby's adopter is not worried about the fact that she may not be totally sound, as her plans are for Abby to participate in an informal mustang education program.  V (Abby's adopter) has adopted another mustang to be her future riding horse.  This other mustang is currently at Jennie's being gentled and learning the in's and out's of working with people.  When he is ready to go home to Georgia, Abby will go with him.  In the meantime, the plan is to have Abby stay with me until the first, at which time she'll go back to Jennie's so that when her adopter visits, she isn't having to drive between two barns.

Woohooo!!!

So it is not official yet, but it looks like Abby is going to be adopted!  I'm so excited for this little mare!!!

More details later, but for now a couple of pictures from early this morning.

First the pretty picture.

And a goofy picture - I couldn't resist :D

Bobbing for apples

Just a quickie here, a story that I want to be able to look back at and chuckle.

We had a barn party yesterday.  Nearly everyone that boards at Heather's showed up for good food and good times.  We had a ride through the pastures (I led Abby - she was such a good girl!), an obstacle challenge (again I led Abby through, and even though there were obstacles she'd never seen, she was a rock star), a BBQ, lots and lots of alcohol, and finally, horses bobbing for apples.

Ruby was second in line for the apples.  She'd already seen Storm trying to get an apple, so she seemed to know what was up.  Honestly, I figured that Ruby would give it a shot for a few minutes, then get disgusted with the whole situation.  She walked up, very keen on all of those apples and went for it.  So funny - she seemed to be trying to grab the tiny apple stems, very ladylike, with her lips.  I think she would have had more success if she'd just focused on ONE apple, but she'd try one for 10 seconds, then move on to a more appealing apple for a few seconds, then another.  I couldn't help but laugh at her, and luckily that didn't seem to disrupt her focus.  For 10 or 15 minutes, she tried and tried but just couldn't figure it out.  She did try to bite them a few times but never opened her mouth wide enough to grab them.  Then Ruby stopped, put her face inches in front of mine and stared me in the eye for 20 seconds or so.  I could almost hear what she was saying to me - "Human, what good are you if you can't reach down and grab me an apple?? I compel you to get me an apple!"  I reached into the water and supported an apple for her - Ruby grabbed it and munched on it happily all the way back to her stall.

I wish I'd thought to have someone capture it on camera, but I tend to lack foresight like that.  It's moments like these, when she clearly expresses herself and expects me to understand (she is dumbing it down for me after all), that show me what a special horse I have.  I don't think it's possible for me to ever get this lucky again...which leads me to occasionally consider breeding her.  But it seems irresponsible to breed a rescue horse, and there is no guarantee that a foal of Ruby's would be as amazing as she is - in fact, I would probably do that foal a disservice, expecting awesomeness that he/she may not be able to give.  So, I'll just enjoy our time together, thanking my lucky stars that we found each other. 

And PS - do I even need to mention how great my hubby is, to forgo usual V-day festivities to hang out at the barn.  He's the best :)

Abby - soundness issues?

I've been wondering about this for a while, but it became truly apparent today.  Abby may have something going on with her stifles or hips.  I would think it is mostly likely arthritis, considering her age.  This is what has been going on.

Our first round-penning session, I noticed Abby's short, choppy movement.  She seems to move okay at the walk and canter, but her trot looked awful even though she moves evenly.  It just doesn't flow, but I thought it was perhaps just her way of going with those short, little legs.

I have been doing a lot of mounting practice with her (from a mounting block to give her back a break).  A few times, I've had a fellow boarder come out to watch and say, "She's so relaxed she has a hind foot cocked" when I've settled into the saddle.  This seemed odd to me (horse is so scared she is trembling, but has a foot cocked???) and definitely didn't jive with the giraffe head we had going on until very recently...I didn't say anything but I suspected then that she was trying to take pressure off of one of her hinds.

Today, we round-penned again.  It was a very cool morning and geez, was she full of it.  Again, I watched her moving and could see something odd but couldn't pin-point what it was or where it was coming from.  No head-bobbing or limping, it was just that her stride seemed to be shortened even when she was really moving out. 

When she calmed down, I walked her out until she stopped blowing and she seemed to be moving fine.  Heather came over in case I needed help while I mounted up.  I wasn't able to get any forward movement on my own so she came and grabbed the halter to lead Abby around for a few steps.  As soon as Abby moved forward, I knew something was wrong.  It was like she was snatching both of her hind feet forward when it was time to move them.  I climbed down and we both watched her walk.  It is not obvious, but there is something going on here. 

I hope it's only a little arthritis.  I let Jennie know what's going on and I've started Abby on both MSM and B-L.  There is no heat or swelling anywhere that Heather and I can find.  Her feet seem solid.  She's going to get the next two days off, hopefully she'll be moving better by Friday. 

Ponying Abby

It went well so I took a very short video. 

 

I have to run errands tomorrow.  If she's good on Wednesday, we'll see how she does by herself.

Lots of Abby pics

Earlier this week, while updating FB with Abby's progress, her initial rescuer contacted me and sent me the following photos.  These pics were taken the day she took Abby in.

I have no idea why her eye looks weird in this pic. 

So sad, and it happens all the time...

Abby before our session today.

Abby was great today - she rocked the obstacle course like she's done it a hundred times.  We walked over and stood on the tarp, stood in the kiddie pool, drug the empty (and very loud) jugs around, rubbed her with the terrifying pom poms, walked over poles, etc.  She did better than one of the domestic horses that were doing the course with us. 

'Hey nice lady, see my feet?  I think you owe me something now.'  Notice the white scars on her nose.  She has some on her cheeks as well - looks like she had an embedded halter at one point.

She has astoundingly gorgeous eyes. 

The point of all of the obstacles in the last few days was to build her trust and confidence in us both. We'll find out tomorrow if any of it transfers to our time under saddle. 

Progress

Abby is doing well.  I've been on her twice now.  Each time, I kept short and sweet because the poor thing is terrified to the point that she starts shaking.  The first time, we just practiced mounting and dismounting until she was nearly falling asleep.  The next day, I had Heather come out and lead her around with me riding.  At first, she would stop every few steps, then nearly jump out of her skin when I gave a little squeeze.  She also jumps each time I pet her from the saddle (though we have practiced this ad nauseam with me standing on the mounting block).  I had Heather let go of the lead rope a few times while leading us around but Abby would stop a few steps later, not sure how to proceed.  We'll practice this, then I'll have Heather move to the middle of the pen in the future.  In the meantime, we are also adding obstacles (from the ground) in order to increase her confidence in both her handler and herself.  I ponied her through a few obstacles this morning, then walked her through an empty kiddie pool all by herself.  This was a big deal for her, so we called it day immediately after.

Which brings me to Pony #2.  Miss Ruby.

All dressed up.  I haven't bitten the bullet and added Velcro to the new saddle pad yet, hence the pad underneath to protect her from rubbing.

Ruby started off this morning by ponying Abby through some obstacles and finished off by taking me for a short ride down the road.  Love my girl! And I can't tell you how amazing it was to climb up on a horse without feeling the need to take a deep, calming breath first.  She was a little bit of a butthead coming home (after something rustled in the bushes behind us as the mail truck drove by), and tried to start trotting so I opted to walk her the rest of the way back to the barn.  She is rusty let me tell ya, but that is only to be expected.  I can't wait to start hitting the trails with her regularly again. 

Abby - first real session

Today was Abby's first real working session.  She did well.  She's stubborn but still sensitive - odd, I know.  She's been allowed to take control of round-penning sessions in the past - she will randomly slam on the brakes, stop, and face me without being asked.  She's terrible at picking up her feet and has been asked to yield her hindquarters way too many times (ever worked with a horse who moved their butt away from you every single time you walked past their withers?  Yeah...)  She also likes to do the leading, instead of allowing herself to be led, and doesn't like to be caught.  But, it's all good. That's easy stuff.

She has muscle atrophy along her topline.  I'm not sure if this is from being completely out of shape, due to a poorly-fitting saddle in the past, or just a side-effect of her being starved before rescue. 

She's small (seems to get smaller every time I see her, actually), out-of-shape, and has no topline...all of which makes me nervous to ride her for any amount of time, even if that is the whole reason she is here.  But I only have a month with her so our first ride will be tomorrow, assuming any of my bridles can be taken up enough to fit her.  Today we worked on ground-manners: standing still for grooming, tacking, and mounting and giving to pressure (dropping head, turning head with nose pressure, backing up, picking up feet).

So little and cute - her name should be Button. 

A few small updates

Fairly quickly before I head to the barn in the cold (it is a bone-chilling 46 degrees outside...).

Vegas -  Yesterday morning about 8 am, I received a text from Vegas' adopter.  She was saying that Vegas had broken out of her pen that morning before they had a chance to let her out.  She had a scrape on her right hind and would not allow them to lead her back to her pen (where she gets fed and has water).  She was also being difficult about being caught, was calling frantically when she couldn't see their minis, and was being dangerously pushy every time they tried to lead her to the pen.  I told her that it sounded like Vegas was reverting and the behavior needed to be nipped in the bud - I was willing to come out that evening.  We made plans to meet at her place around 5:30 in the evening.

Abby - an 18-year-old pony mustang mare.  Jennie brought her to me for an under-saddle refresher the same day that she picked up Vegas.  She might be 13.2.  She's been with the rescue for over a year now, but without a lot of interest due to her size and age.  In case you're wondering, pony+mare+mustang = stubborness to rival any mule or donkey.  We had our first round-penning session yesterday and I was honestly beginning to wonder if she would rather collapse than yield/submit/join-up/whatever you want to call it.  This was after she threatened to run me over when I went to retrieve her from her stall in the morning.  It took me 15-20 minutes of work to lead her out of the stall safely *sigh*.  Apparently, though broke, Abby has some fear issues under saddle.  I will be attempting to work through those issues in the next 30 days.

Notice that although she is dripping sweat, she still has an attitude. I let her rest for a few minutes anyway because I was worried about her.

After barn chores, Heather and I headed over to Brandon to see the mustangs at the mustang adoption.  They were scraggly, dirty, wild, and scared but there were some beautiful horses there. 

Will finish updating in a bit!