Introducing, Rebel!

[elevenelevenxo]

He's got a way to go.....right now he's looking pretty rough, but I think in a few months, he'll be a different horse. :) Still not 100% about him, though it's definitely not HIM....it's more the fact that I'm apparently more horse-ownership-committment-phobic than I realized....LOL. I definitely want a horse, but as silly as it sounds, I'm afraid to own one. All the colic scares on here and my recent experiences in "real life" with friends dealing with colic....it's enough to really worry me. But I suppose the pros outweigh the cons and you can't live life in a bubble! :rolleyes:

So we'll leave it at he's 99.9% mine right now. :p LOL. My trainer is already calling me "horse mom."

But anyway, so here he is. Feel free to point out anything you see conformation-wise that worries you. I can pick out obvious things, but I'm not as good as a lot of people. Incase you didn't see the original thread on him, he's a 10yr old Standardbred gelding (ex-trotter....he has a lip tattoo but we're having trouble making out what it says) who the barn owner of the place I'm riding at right now took in because his original owner is in a coma and the family is trying to get rid of their herd (which apparently is a lot....) to focus on that situation. Do keep in mind that he IS about 200lbs underweight and that we ARE doing what we can to fatten the boy up! I'd like to do lower level eventing (dressage, jumping, hunter paces/cross country) with him someday, but I have no plans to do anything "seriously." I want to keep things fun.

Without further adieu....ladies and gentlemen, meet Rebel!

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Please excuse my hideousness....LOL.

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Oh yes, and some of the other critters that live at the barn....I didn't get a pic of the ostrich. :(

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There are cuter ones if you can believe it....4 day old babies and week old babies.....omg....

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A creature from Star Wars. Actually, a grumpy Alpaca. :)

All the hills behind him....there are trails back there with natural jumps, so in the summer, I'll be taking some cross country lessons (unless a miracle happens, the lessons will be on my trainer's horse....before anyone freaks out, lol). I'm so excited!

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Is there a camel at your barn!? :eek: LOL.

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He's really loveable...I've never petted a camel until today. :) But, well....can't say I've ever even really seen a camel except for twice at the zoo a long time ago...and he makes noises I've never heard come out of an animal before, and he's HUUUGGGEEE so he's really intimidating!! LOL.

No pics of the Freisian stud, unfortunately.....barn was too dark and he's obviously dark, so my camera wouldn't take a dang pic that you could make anything out! Someday though. :)

[Piper522]

I think he is beautiful! He doesn't look that skinny to me?? He is bigger than I thought! I think he goes extremely well with your pink HUR! :) (I know Jessica personnally so I am allowed to tease her! )

I can't wait to come out and see him. I am definetely not an expert by all means on anything but his legs look straight and good and it almost looks like he has some muscle in his butt! I know you have already fallen in love with him so I hope he works out for you.

[Palogal]

OMG your hair is pink! LOL

He looks like he needs you! Can't wait to see him with a little time put into him.

[elevenelevenxo]

It's hard to tell from the pics, but you can see and feel his ribs and his spine is pretty prominent. He's got like no muscle whatsoever on him..... I don't really know how I feel about riding him right now? My trainer and the barn owner both said it's totally fine for 10-15min rides, but I feel like even that would hurt the poor guy because he's got no "cush." But they said "that's what saddle pads are for!" Which I guess makes sense, but I still feel like I should wait until he bulks up a bit. What do you guys think?

And Piper - you totally have to come out soon!! :)

[WashingtonBay]

Agreed, he's not 200 pounds underweight in those photos. Could be a little rounder and a little more bloom, but he's not in that bad a shape.

[elevenelevenxo]

OMG your hair is pink! LOL

He looks like he needs you! Can't wait to see him with a little time put into him.

:p LOL Yep. Betcha didn't expect that, huh. ;)

[elevenelevenxo]

Agreed, he's not 200 pounds underweight in those photos.

Everything I've said about his condition has been a complete repeat of what I've been told by my trainer. :) This is my first experience dealing with a horse in his condition, so I really have nothing to compare.

The pics DO make him look a bit more "athletic" than he looks in person. If you were to see him up close and personal, you'd see what I mean.

[WashingtonBay]

I can see he's bony, but 200 pounds exaggerating it is all. :) He'll pick up in no time.

[elevenelevenxo]

That might have been it. I do it all the time ("I have a million things to do today!"). So maybe I mistook that, lol.

Yeah, I think he'll be a nice little horse with some time and love. He's a really intelligent fella!! He's just a sponge right now, soaking everything up.

The one thing I DIDN'T like was today when I had him on the cross-ties, he pathetically cow-kicked at me.....but in his defense, I was messing with his belly, trying to get him to raise his back a bit as I've read that's a good topline exercise to do, and I was curious to see how much he'll put up with. And I found out. :) Wasn't hurt, but now I know. I don't think that's something to walk away from him over.

[Piper522]

Does he have a little white back sock?
I want a baby goat now! The camel.....not so much!

[FatSpottedAppy]

Holy bright hair! I love it!

He is such a cutey.. Good luck with him! can't wait to hear updates and see progress pictures.

[oursarge]

He's so cute. He has a nice face, he looks kind. I love the goats, I want goats but my man doesn't want goats!!!! Our friends have llamas and alpacas but not a camel! He's pretty cute!

Have fun with the horse, I know all the colics are terrifying, seems I never stop worrying but at least I know if I have them they'll get the love and care they need and will never be abused like so many poor horses so as nervous as they can make me when it comes to them getting sick or hurt I figure they're better off here than somewhere else where they might not get what they need.

[elevenelevenxo]

Does he have a little white back sock?
I want a baby goat now! The camel.....not so much!

LOL, yeah, a little coronet band that I guess I missed the other night because I was thinking he didn't have any white on him. :doh:

You haven't even seen the BABY goats. That one's just a Pygmy. :) There are some itty bitty ones out there.....I would've snapped pics but my camera does poorly in dim light...

Oh well, guess it just means you'll have to come out sometime! LOL

[zoel_222]

Love your hair. ;) Mine was that color at one point.

Owning a horse can be TERRIFYING at times, but more often than that it's really rewarding and fun and just a downright good experience. :) Rebel is SUCH a cutie! I hope you have fun with him.

[shewasmyshadow]

He's cute. He looks like a special horse. :D

My gelding cow-kicked at me one time when he was new. Looking back I know he was just frightened and had just come out of a terrible experience (being jack-knifed in a trailer and abused before that). This horse needs to learn to trust/love you. Bring him some carrots and give him LOTS of love. He'll come around. :)

[elevenelevenxo]

Not sure! We're supposed to get snow the next couple days and Melanie will be out of town from Thurs-Mon. I think it's ok if I go out there whenever....but I'm not so sure. The barn owner is nice, but "tough" and she intimidates me, haha. I'd hate to go out there and find out I'm not supposed to be messing with him... I don't know, Friday is looking nice, so maybe I'll swing by then.

[PoniesRock101]

awwwe.......He's so cute! I can't wait to see him with some weitght on him! :D

[Remali]

Ahhhh I like him, he's a handsome boy! And he has such a sweet face. With some TLC and more groceries he'll fatten right up for you.

Love that grumpy alpaca! And that camel cracks me up!

[ImaBronsonBear]

He's a cutie! But i have to agree with WB. When i looked at the pics i was thinking, huh? 200 lbs more to gain? That would make him fat! Have fun with him.:)

[Me'N'Chic]

Awww! Congratulations! I love him! Try not to worry too much---I always have a fear of my horses coilicking too--I look out the window every morning to make sure they are standing out there! Kinda like having kids--you don't just not have any even though there are all the "what-ifs" to worry about!

[Gypsy Rose]

He's a cutie! Love the animal menagerie there- pretty interesting!

[Steelhorserider]

Congrats....I like him a lot. I don't see any major conformation flaws and he has a kind eye. You have the right idea...keep it fun. PS I like the hair...very unique.

[Vibe]

Aww, big congrats on your part!! He is a total cutie pie. And a camel!! So cool! You barn looks like fuuuun!

[TheRedHayflinger]

that is one nice looking standy :)

total cutie! Bet he picks up weight in no time :D

[FoxFireEMT]

I did not read everyone's posts, however, I think he looks adoreable & just wanted to say congratulations!

[Sundays Man]

I LIKE HIM!! I agree with WB and others, 200 more pounds and you'd have to paint a stripe on him to tell if he was walking or rolling down a hill. He's going to do just fine with just a few more pounds of muscle and cushion. When he becomes officially yours, just monitor closely what he is fed, when he is fed and how much he is fed. Colic is a scary thing but there is much that can be done to prevent. Buck had 2 episodes within a few months when we had him boarded. He has had no problems since moving him to our own place. In spite of a bo's best efforts and intentions, with a lot of horses around and limited staff, it's hard to monitor what a horse gets into and how they are fed. The guy we bought Buck and Mira from has raised, bought and sold and keeps a LOT of horses and swears that he has never had one to colic. He attributes that to he and his wife making sure that they are fed properly, regularly with the right amount and monitors his pastures for bad plants, etc. Some horses seem to be more prone to it than others, but just being aware of that can help in preventing I think. Quit worrying, just be vigilant and enjoy your horse.

And just so's you'll know, he'll always be a sponge, especially in the love department.

[cloedoll]

I LOVE your pink hair! <3 It's awesome.
Rebel seems like a cutie, I hope you decide you want him because yeah, he's realllly cute. xD

[elevenelevenxo]

LOL, well, I'm headed out to the barn tonight for a lesson with my trainer....and while I'm out, I'll be finalizing boarding, etc. with the barn owner...

Because I definitely would like to be his "horse mom." :)

I'm glad you guys all seem to like him!

[jeezitsjacki]

aww he is adorable, seems perfect! congrats