Pippin Week One

Pippin has been at my friends for over 2.5 weeks now so this update is a little old. She put him up front in a covered area. It's a decent sized pen but still small enough you can catch a wily pony. It's also nearest the house so he can get a treat and pat everytime she walks out to the house. 

She often qts horses who come in scared and skittish. Her routine is to get them used to her in the smaller area to make sure they are easy to catch before setton them free. I knew I was only there for a few days so I spent most of day one sitting in the pen with him. I made him follow me around to get treats. He is a really curious guy and by day two he was reaching his nose over the fence begging like an old pro. 

After I left she worked on letting her mess with the halter and take it on and off. He got treats from everyone coming to the barn so he can see all people are good. He was still turned out with a safety halter and catch strap. She took the halter on and off daily until it was no big deal. 

By the end of week one the halter really was no biggie. He even met the farrier and was mugging for treats. I am a little embarrassed that it appears the "wild" horse stood better for the farrier than my tame trained pony. I knew pippin had a a amazing start at the rescue and my friend worked magic but I was shocked at how quickly he was adapting to his new life. I would have been happy with this profess after a month and was giddy it happened after a week. 

 

The Other Babies

You are probably wondering how the other fur babies are doing. Bre is as pretty and perfect as always. She is going to be 17 this year. I can't believe she's almost 20! I started working with her as a 3yo and still love her to bits. She goes on the occasional trail ride. 

When my parents died I asked my trainer friend to take over horsemomship of Dickie. I stop in for kisses but she's making sure he remembers how to be a respectable citizen. He's been loafing around like a semi retired gentleman since my surgery. Poor guy is back to boot camp and so he will be fit by the time I'm ready to hop back on. It's meant a lot to have her working him because I get detailed updates and I feel like I'm there. 

Everyone is seeing the big mean vet this month to get spring shot and toofies done. Dickie has been his historically a little shit to sedate and the vet reported he was a good boy this time. They were wonderful and took care of him on their own. He's been pissy lately over bridling and they did find some sharp points. Hopefully he'll be much happier now 😊

Goals Schmoals

After I droned on about how Pippin won't have goals and timelines likes most horses in training. Pippins goals might be simple and lack a time. He still has some goals though. Whether it's my horse or someone else's I want to leave them better equine citizens. Horses live in a world where they are one paycheck form a kill pen. Even the best owners could die tomorrow in a freak accident. The best thing we can do for any horse is make them as well rounded as possible. 

Pippins goals while living at pony treat boot camp are simple

1) he can be haltered easily every day and led in and out. He was being haltered at the rescue but preferred trusted friends. To live at a boarding stable he needs to tolerate multiple people walking up and haltering him.

2) he will let anyone walk up to him and halter him 

3) he will tolerate being in a stall overnight with our stress. 

Those are achievable goals but there is no rush. We want to make sure he can do all of this without too much stress. He's an obedient little guy and we don't want to take advantage of that. It would be great if he was ready to love to a boarding stable by the time I'm ready to ride again but if it takes longer that's just fine. 

Plan Pippin

Pippin has come a long way since pony up came to the rescue. When they brought him home he couldn't tolerate human touch. No one could get close enough to put a halter on. He didn't know what a treat was so bribing wasn't an option. But they never gave up. Slowly and steadily progress was made. They hired trainers when needed. He is a different horse today. He can be haltered and ridden. However, he has a long way to go. He can't be haltered by anyone. He needs to know and trust his handlers. To have the best chance at a good happy life he needs to be able to trust more people. 

We have a game plan and goals. However, with this guy there can't be any sort of a timeline. I'm always careful not to let my timeline adversely affect the horse but I do usually say "by June we need to do abc." Things need to happen on pippins time. He's a very kind horse and would put up with stuff even if it scared him. It's important not to take advantage of his kindness. Horses like this need frequent short interactions. Nothing ground breaking. Nothing the big showy "horse whisperers" would do. Just baby steps for as long as it takes. 

Pippin

Pinky needed a new name. He was named for his pink ball that he no longer has. While it is hitting that I have one horse named after boy parts Pinky needed something more fitting. Dickie is doofy and sometimes a bit of a dick (sorry baby it's true, and part of your charm). We handed namage over to other awesome horse BFF and ba da ba ....... Pippin! Pippin is the adorable sweet side kick from the LOTR stories. It also means "

a highly admired or very admirable person or thing." Pippin is the clumsy side kick in the books which doesn't really fit him (he's a careful gentleman) but he sure looks like a Pippin. And he is already admired by many so that fits. 

Wordless Wednesday

My Awesome Friend

I have many awesome friends but today I want to gush about one in particular. Several years ago I met her on a horse message board and pretty much said "You will be my friend. I will ride your horse and boss you around" and for some reason she put up with me. I make friends easily but I am also very happy being alone. Then sometimes I decide I like someone and am going to make them my bff right now whether they like it or not. So she was stuck with me and so was her poor mare. She has a gorgeous Appy Clydesdale cross.

The list of why she's cool goes on and on. She was always game for horsey adventures. If there were awards for getting deals tack shopping she would have tricolor blues all over her wall. She'll answer calls or texts at any hour no matter how ridiculous the problem. And best of all she's always up for happy hour (the kind without booze at Sonic)

I was heartbroken when she moved 3 hours away. Although sometimes I think it is best. We would probably collect fifty lame/starved horses and 30 ducks and everyone would have blinged out blankets. These girls like animals and we love to bling. We haven't met a saddle pad or half chaps that didn't need extra bling. 

When she left me, her awesome husband found a barn to lease. They have a cute house, an all weather outdoor, 8 stalls, Wash Rack, stallion pen, and two quarantine pens. I've watched her grow as a horse woman over the last few years and I'm so proud. I knew she had more knowledge than she realized and it's been cool to see her admit she's pretty dang awesome. 

She's been involved in rescuing horses for years and always wanted to offer more. Now she offers a stopping point for rescues coming out of then kill pen. She's fantastic with the horses who are shy and leery of humans. By the time she is done these horses are mugging for treats just like regular pocket ponies. She's also an expert in getting weight back on the skinnies. 

Of course she is the perfect partner in crime for helping a certain little appy become a successful equine citizen. Right now he needs unabashed spoiling. She can set boundaries if she needs to but her fave is a shy horse who needs constant treats and love. She might be far away but she's stuck with me. Horse rescuing, blinging, you can't keep us apart.