Cargo is a good lookin’ 15h Liver Chestnut gelding. He turns six this year and is from the illustrious Sulphur herd in Utah. He was captured on November 14, 2008 and has spent 5 years in holding. Now he has a great opportunity to become somebody’s riding companion. He is eligible for registration with the American Sulphur Horse Association and possibly the California Vaquero Horse Association if his adopter is interested.
Update from his Adopter – 03/31/2013
This is the beautiful time of year here. June and on, it’s all dry and brown. I’m glad he’s with me. We seem to have done well together. I’m thinking the key with him is to just not push too hard. He always responds well and I wasn’t kidding when I said I learn a lot from him. You should be proud to have started a guy like him and you did a great job.
Day 51 – 03/03/2013
Today Cargo leaves for his new home in Catheys Valley, CA! He was a pleasure to have.
Day 49 – 03/03/2013
Cargo worked on the obstacle course. This time in the daylight! He was also introduced to the newest obstacle, a sheet of metal to walk over. He likes to take things slow with the new obstacles but at the end of the session he was confidently crossing even the new obstacle. We had planned to do a bath today but the high winds circumvented that.
Day 43 – 02/25/2013
Cargo christened our new bridge today. He was very brave and tried his best not to be scared. For working at night with a new object he did pretty well! The light I use to work with the horses at night died about 3/4 of the way through filming. We did get him to quietly put all four feet on the bridge and quit for the evening. Whole session was about 15 minutes or so.
Day 41 – 02/23/2013
Saddled Cargo a few times today. He was a little apprehensive when first approaching him with the saddle but I gave him the benefit of the doubt because he had not been worked in several days and the wind was blowing super hard. He did very well. We will try to get some more video of Cargo tomorrow. The light had failed by the time I started working with him this evening.
Day 40 – 02/22/2013
Worked on catching, approach and retreat and handling Cargo’s feet. He’s still shedding out so I did a lot of grooming on him with the rubber mitt today as well.
Day 34 – 02/16/2013
Cargo had some visitors today. A family came out to see him / evaluate them for their 12 year old daughter. He got to meet and greet with the family and had three different people spend some time with him at liberty in the 50′ pen. Mom was able to gain his trust and pet him on his neck. The girls got as a far as a scratch on the nose :D. There was lots of licking and chewing and I’m sure all parties involved learned a lot. Its hard for me to get these horses used to strangers, we don’t get much foot traffic through my place so, as long as the horse is safe, I’m happy to let others play with them. It was a fun day!
Day 31 – 02/14/2013
About 15 minutes of grooming for Cargo in his stall while he was eating…or at least trying to eat. While he is very comfortable outside his pen, the move to the smaller pen (12 x 24) has him worried about closer quarters. He’s fine by himself but worried when somebody enters his stall. He snorts and blows a bit, sometimes goes to the back of the pen (I didn’t have him haltered). The good thing about him is he doesn’t panic, you can tell he is worried but he is very respectful of both the panels and the person in the stall with him. We also worked on reinforcing picking up his feet. He’s still unsure about his back feet. He picks them up but he’s tense while he has them up. With more practice I am confident he’ll learn to relax.
Day 30 – 02/13/2013
This evening I hung out in Cargo’s stall for 15 – 20 min without haltering him. Asking him to yield his hindquarters, come forward and backward, give his feet, etc. Also worked a little bit with him on dropping his head in response to poll pressure.
Day 27 – 02/10/2013
Short session today for Cargo. I played with his feet some more. He’s still needs refinement on his hind legs but there is a little bit of progress every day. This video shows the first time I’ve asked him to pick his feet up outside the comfort of his stall. He could be lighter sometimes picking up the front but he gets it for the most part. I was even able to pick out his front feet today and brush them with a stiff bristled brush. I didn’t get my bridge this weekend but I did get a mini obstacle course setup. The video shows Cargo’s first – third attempts. He’s such a neat little horse the way he thinks about things. His continued plan is further desensitization with all four feet and lots of grooming and repeating day to day activities like being led, tying, etc.
Day 26 – 02/09/2013
Just some grooming, practicing leading and squeezing in between tight places. Nothing exciting.
Day 24 – 02/07/2013
Another excellent session with Cargo this evening. Only played with him for about 15 minuted because he just hit all of his behaviors spot on. Didn’t give me any trouble catching him, grooming him or picking up his feet. Usually it takes me a little work to get him in the right frame of mind for his back feet but today he was exceptional. I don’t know if it was the wind that was distracting him or if he was just happy to be played with. He’s shedding a lot right now, not going to do him any good if we get this storm in, but he’s got plenty of coat to keep him warm. I’m trying to convince my husband to build us a bridge to play with…hopefully by the weekend!
Day 20 – 02/03/2013
Saddled Cargo again today. Turned him out in the 50 x 50 paddock and he did well in there. Got him going on the lunge line. Ground drove him a little bit. He worked on tying today and got a hose down too. He only set back once and came forward pretty quick once he felt the pressure on his rope halter. Was tied for a good hour in several sessions and did very well. All in all a good, productive day for Cargo. Stay tuned for video.
Day 19 – 02/02/2013
We spent the majority of today at Horse Expo in Pomona, CA. Cargo did get a brush up on his basics today. Catching, yielding his hindquarters and forequarters, grooming, and picking up his feet. He knows it all already but it never hurts to reinforce. I am planning on saddling him tomorrow and doing some ground driving. Will be trying to get pics or video!
Day 17 – 01/31/2013
30 minutes start to finish for Cargo today and he learned about the saddle, banging stirrups, and the saddle slicker. Check out the video its the second time he’s seen the slicker…but you didn’t miss anything his reaction was exactly the same as the first time he saw it about 5 minutes prior. He didn’t buck once with the saddle. He was worried about it sure. But didn’t so much as scootch under himself either. Sent him at a walk and trot on a small circle in his pen. Asked him to disengage and reverse a few times. He never panicked or got worried. Lots of licking and chewing…got a picture of that too. Awesome session. His next lesson will be saddling again then time to go ahead and ground drive him.
Day 15 – 01/29/2013
Super short session today. Introduced the bareback pad and cinch pressure for the first time. It didn’t even phase him. Not one misstep, hump or buck. I thought was a fluke so I took the pad off, worked on his feet and catching and liberty work some. Put the pad back on and cinched it up tighter and sent him out on a circle. No reaction. He could care less. He was more worried that I was insisting he trot. Could care less that he had the bareback pad on. We ended our session on a good note as always. I could have done more with him but why push it. He exceeded expectations for everything I had planned for him today no reason to pressure him.
Tomorrow the plan is reinforcement of all of his known behaviors and I’ll also be introducing the slicker (which I had planned to do today but totally forgot about till just now!).
Day 14 – 01/28/2013
Just wrapped up another training session. I feel like a broken record but I am still amazed that I have walked away from every session knowing that both Cargo and I walked away with more knowledge and more respect for one another! He’s going to be a tough one to let go but is going to make one AWESOME horse for his adopter!
Cargo and I worked on catching. I “caught” him about 30 times at liberty from each time. He’s still wary on his right side but was 100% on both sides by the time we were done. Then I bridled him for the first time with a full cheek copper mouth snaffle. He shifted it in his mouth only a few times. A bit weird for me that he didn’t play with it more but to each their own I guess. We did lots and lots of grooming and brushing which was no problem. Great session. I’m hoping to borrow a bareback pad or surcingle tomorrow to get him used to girth pressure. Also bought a slicker for some more desensitization. Looking forward to tomorrow!
Day 13 – 01/27/2013
Today Cargo meets all TIP training program requirements. After two sessions today we are able to brush him all over and pick up all four feet. The video below is from our very short morning session. We continued later once it had stopped raining!
Day 8- 01/22/2013
Worked with Cargo today with the carrot stick and string. He did well as I expected. Today we continued to work on his back feet. He showed good progress today and did not offer to kick even once. He should be picking up his back feet soon!
Day 7- 01/21/2013
Start to finish this is Cargo’s very first approach (on a leadline) to the trailer and the first time in his life he hasn’t been loaded with a chute. He is very inquisitive and very brave. I guided him in the right direction but he figured it out pretty easy.
Day 6- 01/20/2013
Cargo got a bath today and came out of his pen for the first time. He was SUCH a good boy. Video to come soon but here is two pictures of him after his bath for you. What a difference some soap and having your mane and tail brushed can make!
Day 5- 01/19/2013
He did excellent with the tarp and saddle blanket. The video is kind of long. Shows his second introduction to the saddle blanket and first introduction (aside from being fed on it last night) to the tarp.
Day 4 – 01/18/2013
Cargo was excellent today. I introduced the saddle pad and he had absolutely NO problem with it not even initial fear. He was good on both sides and carried it with no problem. I worked with him today on leading and approach and retreat. He did very well. I continued to work towards desensitizing Cargo to having his legs touched. No way I’m getting near them till he has had lots of desensitization. But he is coming along nicely in that regard. This evening I have a short clip of him and I working before the camera battery died. At the close of our session I was able to pick up both front feet and rub them down while he stood calmly. Before leaving his stall I decided to drag my small tarp in there. He was very curious, never tried to bolt and followed wherever the tarp went. I never moved it toward him so as not to turn his curiosity into fear. I wound up feeding him on it and when I checked on him a few minutes ago he was happily munching away. I’ll work on fully desensitizing him to it tomorrow. He is light and soft enough on the lead that I think by the end of the weekend he will be OK to go outside his pen!
Day 3 – 01/17/2013
Finally got a working light setup so I can work these guys at night. Cargo did phenomenally. He is still wary for me to catch him so still wearing an old lead rope in the pen. Once I have him caught he is very light to lead. Still really cautious of me petting him but comfortable with me at his shoulder and neck. Today I rubbed him all over with the carrot stick and was using my savvy string all over his body to desensitize him including his leg. He kicked out a couple times with his back legs but figured out really quickly nothing was going to hurt him. He was really worried about the carrot stick touching his belly but came around really quick for that as well. I spent some time continuing to desensitize him to my approach and retreat and also teaching him that it is OK if the carrot stick / savvy string are swinging from side to side hitting the ground on each side of him. He did really well. I am continually impressed on how hard this horse tries to be good.
Day 2 – 01/16/2013
Again I was working at night with little light. I wanted to get a height on Cargo. First I caught him. First try I pushed to hard and he left. Second try I was able to grab his lead rope without him thinking he needed to leave. I reinforced his leading again then started desensitizing him to the height stick. Almost every horse I have used the height stick on freaks out about it at first. Cargo was familiar with this type of lesson from the carrot stick yesterday and let me rub him on his neck and shoulder with the height stick. It took me another few minutes to desensitize him to the level opening and closing, but pretty soon I was able to measure him. He is at least 15 hands, possibly 15.1 if I get him squared up better and on more level ground. But he is definitely a nice sized boy. I rubbed on his neck and shoulder a bit and let him get back to dinner.
Day 1 – 01/15/2013
Cargo was really easy to halter at the facility. He was worried and shaking but didn’t fight. Once we got home, I noticed that our shelter ties had come loose. I had to climb up on our six foot panels to re-tighten them. I was sure Cargo would freak and bolt to the farthest corner of his pen but he didn’t! He stood right square in the center of the pen and just watched. Later that evening, even though I had very little light I decided to just get in with him and see what could be done. Wow was I amazed at what a good boy he is. He tries to be SOOO brave. He really tries to think about whatever is being done to him. I was able to get within four feet of him consistently just using approach and retreat and gauging his body language. Eventually I was able to crouch and grasp his lead rope. I started asking ever so slightly for him to give. Instead of fighting he took a step towards me. Within about five minutes of first touching his leadrope he was leading circles both ways around his pen following me like a puppy dog!
Touch was the next step so I grabbed my carrot stick. I touched his nose first, then his neck, then his shoulder. All while gauging his body language. I used approach and retreat and eventually gained his confidence to where I could consistently walk up to his left side and pet his neck and shoulder without him flinching or stepping away. That was good enough for me and I quit him on a good note! At no time during our session did he try to flee or leave me. What a nice little horse!
