New Addition: Rosie

After her trim!

Oh this feels so good.

First saddle ride. Took a break.

Sat March 7th, 2011, we picked up Rosie from Stillwater, Oklahoma. She is a beautiful Belgian and Quarter Horse cross. She resembles a chestnut roan. Rosie's estimated age is about 13 years old. She has had one colt to my knowledge; however, she will not be used for breeding.  She adores attention, likes her grazing and loves to be with the herd. With the addition of Hodges "H", she has taken on the role of mama and has high tolerance level. It takes alot to get her really upset.

Her previous owner inherited Rosie and Rosie's sister, Red, from his deceased father in 2007. Due to military service and personal reasons, he was unable to care for them and placed them in his brother's care. The brother for unknown reasons could no longer care for them and gave a short notice he will be getting these horses back. The previous owner wished her to have a good loving home that will not sell her. His fear is she would get into an abusive situation or sold to slaughter. Red would remain in his care with another companion horse he has; however, he is seeking homes for them.

I was contacted by Gentle Giants in Maryland, who my husband and I just visited for a pre screen adoption process for one of their rescue drafts. The director contacted me and got me in contact with Rosie's previous owner. There is no draft rescues in Oklahoma and surrounding areas. The comfort of going through a rescue sets a person more at ease than  just hoping the auction or the buyer from an ad would keep their word on the future care of the horse. We made arrangements to bring her home.

Rosie trailers amazingly. A few times we had to pull over to make sure she was still in the trailer and was okay. We stopped in Oklahoma City at the local Panda Express to eat. She stood in the trailer quietly and patiently. When we arrived home. All our other horses greeted her, but yet, she remained quiet and calm. This is a litte different from my other horses as they can attend to be noisey.

We have three 10x20 stalls. One for each of my horses. Now that we have a forth with Rosie, I needed to double up til Spring when we will add additional stalls. Wiatt and Abby best double up as Wiatt is Abby's offspring from 11 years ago. I placed Rosie in Wiatt's stall to let her eat her dinner. Chloe remained in her stall.

Rosie got her first injury when I let her out with one horse at a time. I knew Wiatt is more of the dominate horse and let him out last. He charged her and ran her into the barb wire fence on the back side of our property. (Only part that is barb).  She got minor cuts luckly. But we felt it was best to stall Rosie that night and evaluate the situation in the morning. After all, it was 1am already.

For a few days, we had Abby and Wiatt in the big pasture and Chloe and Rosie in the small pasture. As they got used to eachother at the fence line, I decided to halter Rosie to get her around Wiatt and correct him if he was too aggressive by making him leave our space. Within a half an hour of correction, I let her loose into the big pasture and she has not been bothered since then.

She got trimmed Thursday May 12th, 2011. She was excellent with no attitude problems. Later that day and Friday we did our first riding. She does know the basics of stopping, backing and stands quietly. She is abit lazy at the jog.  She is still green broke and just needs those hours put on her.

I am using a bitless bridle as that is what I train in now. She responds very well.  We are currently working on ques/commands on lunging in round pen, building her muscle, adding some weight and began to work on Craig Cameron's techniques of laying down and desensitizing.

Rosie will be ready for Lilly when Lilly is ready to ride on her own. We have a few years til that happens and we are taking our time with Rosie to ease her into things. By next year, I hope to test her out in the trail competitions.

100 Day Blaze Rescue Challenge has begun!

Saturday May 14th, 2011, Hodges "H" arrived to our Ranch from Blaze Rescue located in Jones, Oklahoma. This handsome Bay QH gelding is going to give a run for everyones money!  Big things come in small packages.

His estimate age is 4 years of age by teeth examination. He is small for his age that could be due to possible stunt growth or he just needs time to grow. Some horses have a big growth spirt later on than others.

 He looks to be going into a growth spurt with his hindquarters. This is a horse that requires a patient calm soft handler that gives no limits to ground work until he is able to handle an adult rider.

I will be doing a vet check at half way point prior to placing any bigger significant amount of weight beyond a saddle to make sure his knees and body is ready for that advancement. He does have some swelling in his hind left pasturn caused by a possible injury before placed in rescue's care on March 25th, 2011. So far, he has not shown any signs of lameness, infection or pain. It is a possible callcium-scar tissue, but will be examined to be on the safe side on June 17th, 2011.

I am learning right beside him. I already can see it now that I will cry when that time comes.

Things that this boy does like a pro:

His quiet and calm personality makes loading, travel and unloading from the trailer smooth and easy.
He leads very well with no jumping or invading space. Attends to be slow pace at the walk.
He is quiet and relaxed in stall for feedings and attends to be covered in his shavings from a nice good roll.
Grazing. A horse who loves his food.

Things that this boy is learning to do:

Being caught. "Neener Neener can't catch me".

Touching:  Don't like face, ears and hindquarters touched too much yet, but sure do like a good rub on neck and back. He is tolerant with his face and ears touched if touched slow, soft and give some patience to his dislike.

Spray:  Not a fan of some "magical smelly mist" fly spray going on his coat, but he is tolerant of the chest and shoulders now.

Legs/picking up:  He likes the five second rule. After five seconds, he wants his two front hooves back on the ground.

Escape Artist:  Round pen poles slightly too high. He figured out he is short and sneaky! (20 mins later my other gelding figured it is short enough to Jump his big butt over it. hmmm how do I figure this issue out? ).

Vocal commands: Whoa, walk, back up and turn fore and hindquarters away.

Curiousity kills the cat?: Tarps, Bobcat machine, hammering, chainsaw, radio, saddle/saddle pad, dogs. Lots of noises and exploring those noises in the last few days.

Goals to work on for week of May 16th - May 22nd:

Fly spray acceptance towards legs, under barrel and hindquarters.
Extend touching to his hindquarters and back legs.
Standing tied with out digging or pulling back.
Ground tie introduction to hobbles.
Walk and back over tarp.
Walk in puddle of water with no hesitation.
Continue vocal commands/ques for lunging/warm up.
Continue with obsticles: walking over/onto, going through/opening and exploring environment.
Come to me upon asking haltered and unhaltered (will be a continued goal).
Begin "pony leading" with H while on Rosie or Wiatt.
Begin introducting H to Wiatt in a controlled environment to limit injuries. Wiatt is a gelding that is dominate of my two mares and his "environment" until pecking order is set.

http://blazesridetotherescue.weebly.com/the-competition.html