Ladyann
11-14-2008, 08:05 AM
It has been a while since I was able to be here...it has been a very busy time for us...9 baby goats arrived over the past few weeks, one died over night and one requires to be bottle fed and I have been working with Sunshine...the good news is she has come around and is doing so well. It took us having to lasoo her and then to be able to stop her, having to drive the truck tire over the end of the rope...neither my husband or I could hold her. She fought for quite some time but gradually calmed down and we were able to get a lead rope on her. We gave her the sedative the vet gave us and was able to work on her cut foot and give her a tetanus shot and equine flu and get her up into the round pen.
Every day I went into the pen, at first I had to run her around the pen until she stopped and I was able to take hold of the lead rope...I talked to her and petted her and ran my hands over her until after several days she no longer moved away when I came into the pen. Everyday I went in to cleanup her droppings and talked to her all the time until at last she stopped moving when I approached her and would lead when I picked up the lead rope. She went from a nervous little girl to quite settled and would eat out of my hand. Two days ago we took her back to her pasture...she led easily and seemed happy to be back in the larger space. The next morning I went into the pasture and called to her.....she actually came to me...of course I had a treat for her! Last night we took the lead rope off of her and this morning she came right up to me again...in fact she follows me around now. I am so happy with her and she is such a sweetie. I can work on her cut leg with no problem and she does not mind being brushed or having her mane and tail combed. What a change in just three weeks. It proves that patence and gentleness will ver come fears. Poor girl had never had any contact with humans that had been positive. I was even able to give her some dewormer a few days ago...of course it helps that it is apple flavored. (she loves apples).
Princess our TW mare has also calmed down a great deal....I still have a healthy respect for her hind quarters but she is so much better...she has not come into heat again so this must have been why she was so nasty...the change is so good, plus she has learned that she is not top horse in the pasture...in fact she is the low man on the totem pole.
All in all I am so pleased with how both girls have changed. I will continue to work with Sunshine...we need to trim her hooves as they are splitting a little so must work with getting her comfortable having her feet and legs handled.
It amazes me how much a horse can change with just gentle handling and soft talk...earn their trust and nothing is impossible.
Thanks for all the advice and suggestions I got a few weeks ago...hopefully I will be able to keep everyone up to date with her progress more often now.
Happy Day,
Ann:):):)
Every day I went into the pen, at first I had to run her around the pen until she stopped and I was able to take hold of the lead rope...I talked to her and petted her and ran my hands over her until after several days she no longer moved away when I came into the pen. Everyday I went in to cleanup her droppings and talked to her all the time until at last she stopped moving when I approached her and would lead when I picked up the lead rope. She went from a nervous little girl to quite settled and would eat out of my hand. Two days ago we took her back to her pasture...she led easily and seemed happy to be back in the larger space. The next morning I went into the pasture and called to her.....she actually came to me...of course I had a treat for her! Last night we took the lead rope off of her and this morning she came right up to me again...in fact she follows me around now. I am so happy with her and she is such a sweetie. I can work on her cut leg with no problem and she does not mind being brushed or having her mane and tail combed. What a change in just three weeks. It proves that patence and gentleness will ver come fears. Poor girl had never had any contact with humans that had been positive. I was even able to give her some dewormer a few days ago...of course it helps that it is apple flavored. (she loves apples).
Princess our TW mare has also calmed down a great deal....I still have a healthy respect for her hind quarters but she is so much better...she has not come into heat again so this must have been why she was so nasty...the change is so good, plus she has learned that she is not top horse in the pasture...in fact she is the low man on the totem pole.
All in all I am so pleased with how both girls have changed. I will continue to work with Sunshine...we need to trim her hooves as they are splitting a little so must work with getting her comfortable having her feet and legs handled.
It amazes me how much a horse can change with just gentle handling and soft talk...earn their trust and nothing is impossible.
Thanks for all the advice and suggestions I got a few weeks ago...hopefully I will be able to keep everyone up to date with her progress more often now.
Happy Day,
Ann:):):)