That Little Red Roan... posted 12/15/2007 3:39:21 PM | 8 kudos what's this?     report abuse tagged: horses, trust, fear, understanding

redtigr

The most effective way to achieve right relations with any living thing is to look for the best in it, and help that best into the fullest expression.
-- Allen J. Boone.

It’s been three weeks since her arrival, and the roan mare and I have spent this time sizing up one another. On that long ago day in August, I’d watched her hurl herself backwards, until the nylon “training” halter burned raw places along her jaw and behind her ears. I’d seen her duck and shy at any quick movement near her head. I’d seen how she quivered if touched along her flank or hind legs. But I had also seen her former owner plop a saddle on her back, cinch it immediately tight, swing himself up and ride off. Under saddle, she seemed fine. She was a mystery, this little mare, and I was intrigued...

...maybe I could fix her...

Horse owners use different signals and have varying expectations of just how a horse should respond. Some are rough and impatient, some gentle – and many are just ignorant. A horse that has passed through many hands is likely to have become confused about what is being asked of them. Like a child who is constantly criticized, a horse may just “give up,” becoming fearful or sour and indifferent, if they are punished no matter what they do. One day the poor confused horse freaks; someone gets thrown or hurt; and the horse is put out in a field and forgotten...

I named her Rita.

We’ve made some progress: Rita allows herself to be caught - even following me around in the pasture sometimes. She likes most grooming, but threatens to bite if I insist on brushing her belly or handling her feet. It’s likely her shying originated from being slapped or smacked for nipping or biting; escalating to lunging if repeatedly beaten. We even took our first ride last week; just fifteen or twenty minutes walking around in the paddock. She chewed on the bit, but was otherwise calm and responsive. It wasn’t until I dismounted, removed the bridle and loosened the girth, that she lunged back so hard she broke the chain on the gate and her “unbreakable” halter. It’s quite apparent that her fear is of humans on the ground, not in the saddle.

If only she could explain...

It’s critical that a horse learn to tolerate having their hooves inspected and trimmed. Since it had been years for Rita, I anticipated the arrival of my farrier (Kevin) with some trepidation. I thought he’d want to tranquilize her as it had worked so well with my donkey Paloma, who after three sessions, no longer required sedation and now stands quietly without even being tied. Kevin opted instead to spend time touching her and talking in a soothing tone while repeatedly trying to get her to "give" him her feet. It started out okay, but when he picked up a tool to clip, she lunged away. At this point he put an unbreakable shipping halter on her and tied her to a dogwood tree about 6" in diameter: sturdy, yet flexible, to tire her if she kept it up.

At first it worked great. He was gentle, but persistent and she’d stand for a bit, allowing him to work. He had just started the “off” fore when she lunged fiercely - and there was a small cracking sound. Before anyone could move, she lunged again and that tree snapped off right at ground level! I couldn't believe my eyes. Rita kept pulling back and the tree came over onto her - with Kevin trying frantically to untie her.

The next few seconds took forever as she whirled, swinging that tree, falling, getting up and going down again, pinned beneath it and tangled in the rope. Kevin somehow managed to slip the halter off her head and she jumped up and shot off into the pasture at a dead run. After seeing that Kevin was okay, I went after the mare. She was standing quietly in some brush, breathing hard - but she let me slip a lead around her neck and she followed me back without protest. I couldn't believe she was so calm and I found only a small scrape or two - not even any bleeding. When I inspected the tree, it became clear we’d made a poor choice. Drought and fire ants had weakened the base and the roots just snapped from Rita’s repeated assaults.

Kevin managed to trim the other front foot without tying; letting Rita circle if she started to get upset. But when he moved to a hind hoof, she suddenly reached around and bit him full in the ribs. We all decided that was enough for one day! Released back with the others, she took a drink, a roll in the dust, and proceeded to graze as if nothing had happened. I, on the other hand, was completely wrung out.

"She's got some trust issues” Kevin says. Yes, I understand... She has tremendous strength, but without trust, she will continue to be fearful. For Rita, this new home might offer refuge and kindness - or misunderstanding and brutality.

She watches cautiously to see what the future holds...

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Blogs by redtigr: On Penning A Poem (for Unionman) New people... Comfort Zones and Danger Zones and Zoning in... To reap the whirlwind... In the South, February is April... "Forever is composed of nows" The real thing... I, for one, am not from Venus... Superpowers ...and supersculpture... email exposure... the tar pool... Let the rain come down on me.. That Little Red Roan... I seek... Illustrating a blog... November 9, 2007... a blog about life, without rancor Sunday morning... early. ...the quality of light... (a tardy repost) Ride the horse, not the saddle... Take a clean plate on every trip to the buffet... High jinx Scarred (no, not scared - just... not perfect) Mornings shouldn't be broken... Listening A lifelong love and a 22 year affair... part II