February 26, 2014 - Day 9
Super quick 10 min review for Peaches. Haltering and picking up her feet. She is now halter free in her stall!

 

February 25, 2014 - Day 8
Review session for Peaches this AM. Following up on approach and retreat. I was able to walk up to her and simulate haltering in about 25 seconds. She did great! She MAY get her halter off tonight. We’ll see how things go!!

Great evening session. Once again haltering simulation was almost perfect! Worked on reviewing grooming. I don’t know how but this mare always manages to undo her braids! Worked on picking up feet. Front feet were perfect. Went ahead and tried the back feet. NO problem. She picked them up nice and soft and light! Didn’t offer or threaten to kick once! She now meets all program requirements and can’t wait to go home! We’ll be continuing to refine foot handling and trailer loading. Such a nice mare and I’m sure her adopter will be thrilled with her!

February 24, 2014 - Day 7
Great night for Peaches. I had planned to start off with foot work but Peaches needed more approach and retreat so that’s what we did! Once she had regained her confidence we did some leading and grooming. I braided her mane again. I had the lead rope dropped on the floor and that is about all she needs to ground tie. She wants to be so light, just the pressure / drag the ground creates on the rope is enough to convince her to stand still even as I went back and forth between her stall and my tack room. She is such a good girl!

After her mane was done I decided to re-visit leading by a front foot. She did very well! No major issues, she just got it. Once she was leading well by both front feet I worked with picking up her feet. First using the rope, then my hand. By the end of the session I was able to walk up to her and pick up both front feet with no issue!

February 23, 2014 - Day 6

Trailer loading practice this evening for Peaches. She did very well considering it was evening and light was starting to fade. Peaches really likes to explore new things with her feet so she did lots of banging around the trailer entrance with her feet before she decided to get in. Then we loaded and unloaded a few times without issue. She was very patient coming out of the trailer and didn’t rush at all. She’ll need some followup but overall it was a really great session!

February 22, 2014 - Day 5

Great day for Peaches. She met with some visitors in the morning and we are happy to announce she is now Adoption Pending! Her adopters took her for a walk all over the property. It was only her second time leading outside her stall and she did great! Later in the afternoon Peaches helped with a Wild Horse Training Demo. Even though it had only been 5 days since we picked her up from BLM she behaved perfectly like any other domestically bred green horse! We showed participants how we cinch up a wild horse for the first time (Peaches doesn’t mind sporting her red bareback pad!).

After the demonstration Peaches had her first experience with the obstacle course. She was AMAZING. She had no issue with any of the step on / walk over obstacles. Check out the video…I find the part with the plastics box very funny. It was her first time through and she steps on a 2-liter bottle and sends it flying out of the box and doesn’t even care! Her first experience over the bridge is also pretty funny…she kind of clumsily climbs over it but never panics. That’s what has been so great about this girl, she doesn’t panic! Just thinks her way out of sticky situations. All in all a great day for Peaches!

 

February 21, 2014 - Day 4

Peaches got the morning off. Still made a super quick cute video and took some pictures for her fans!

 

February 20, 2014 - Day 3

Well, maybe taking the lead rope off of Peaches was a bit premature. She was a little bit hard to catch this morning. Not too bad but still definitely needs a “catch rope” left on her. I have a few broken trailer ties that work well for this, they don’t drag the ground so she’s not stepping on it but gives me a way to be able to get a hold of her without having to get right up under her jaw which concerns her a little.

Got the height stick out this morning. She’s 14.3 - 14.3 and a half. Just a hair under 15 hands. Depending how she stood I could get the stick to say 15 hands. Nice sized mare.

 

Worked with Peaches some more in the evening. Plastic bag = No Problem. Navajo Saddle Blanket = No Problem. Got her halter switched from rope to Nylon = No Problem. Brushed both sides with a soft brush and re-braided her mane without issue as well. She has absolutely zero reaction to having her feet touched by objects, plastic bag, etc. No pawing, kicking, striking so I thought I’d try to pick one up. She wanted to paw out when I did that so I looped a rope around her front left foot and started her on the very basics of leading by a front foot. She did well, no tantrums and once she figured out she couldn’t get the rope off she gave pretty willingly. Needs followup but a good start!

February 19, 2014 - Day 2

Cleaned stalls this morning. She just stopped and watched me. Then decided she needed to investigate the cart. Going to be a really nice mare! Then as I was feeding she and Quiggly both right at the front of their stalls waiting for their turn to get breakfast!

 

This evening I worked on braiding her mane. I used coconut oil (from the ethnic hair section at Walmart) as a detangler. Great product. Feels like Vaseline going on due to the cold weather. I warm it up in my hands and apply. Really helps get the tangles out and put a nice shine on her mane too! Trying to tame it all over to the right side. The lower half wants to be on the left. With time it will stay! Very pleased with her tonight. So much so I decided she could have her lead rope removed. She is doing very well with her leading and I can’t wait to take her out of her stall for the first time. I could have done so today but its not safe with no daylight. Great day for Peaches!

 

February 18, 2014 - Day 1

Peaches is a super nice mare. Naturally quiet and curious although still standoffish. The first day went GREAT! I am very happy with her! She’s not a spooky horse. She has a very level head. Even though she still isn’t sure about me she allows me to touch her with the stick and string ALL over her body including her legs. She never once offered to kick or strike. She’s comfortable with me behind her which is really a big deal for a mustang especially on day 1. My own mustang Malibu was adopted 6 months ago and STILL has issues with people being behind her. This mare is going to make somebody a super nice riding horse!