[Rescue2001]

Here you hope you like it

Username: whisky
Pick either Coat color suggestions you don't want: grullo or dun, please !
Gender: suprise me !

Gender: stallion

Please give me halter color

[whisky]

Could I get a very light pastel blue please? Like a baby blue? ; v ;

Tysm for them ! I’ll start on my tasks and come up with a name today !

[Rescue2001]

OK if you want you can use the forum from the main thread for regular adopts for his regular info

[whisky]

I’ll do that as soon as I get home tonight, thank you, dear! <3

I N F O

Username: whisky
Barn name: Nugget
Show Name: CRF's 24 Carrot Gold
Gender: gelding
Age: 4 1/2 years
Height: 11 hh
Halter color (s): baby blue, or maybe a subdued red ?

T A S K S

1.F i r s t---e n c o u n t e r


I arrived in Nevada in hopes of a mustang, and went home with a friend...

On my way to Nevada, I couldn't help but read and re-read all of the notes I had written down from the National Geographic Channel documentary I had watched days before. I had grown up around horses, but I was a little nervous on getting a mustang. Excited and determined of course, but still nervous. My anxiety skyrocketed, and I tried to tame it by watching yet another documentary in an attempt to learn more about their history. I decided to take more notes, and made an attempt to share them with my more than unenthusiastic flight partner..:



Many people believed wild horses are nothing more than parasites that competent with the cattle for forage They supposedly damage vegetation and contaminate water. Ridding the range of these beautiful beasts soon became a common practice, and over time, a profitable enterprise. From open range to dog food, cow boys began to capture not only for profit, but for sport as well. They were treated inhumanely. Sought after by helicopters, chased by pick-ups and were even bound by ropes attached to a tire(s) in an effort to run them down quicker. Velma Bronn Johnston, also known as Wild Horse Annie, truly changed the face of the Mustangs for the better, even if her battle was long and tiresome, from it first came the Wild Horse Annie Act of 1959. Although this didn't do much on the prevention of inhumane treatment and slaughter, her efforts didn't slow to help these untamed spirits. Her unwavering determination for federal jurisdiction eventually paid off, and so the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burro Act was of 1971 was born. During her campaign for the help of the law, Annie enlisted the help of several school children. Annie once said, "I will remember that I used the word 'range.'....We've got to protect that range."
The above is some 'notes' I took from this documentary



When I was finished, the elderly lady just arched her brows at me and let out a grunt in response. I sighed just as a guy in the seat in front of me turned around smirking. "Wild horses, huh?" I was taken back by his sudden presence and laughed while he caught my gaze. "Yeah.. I'm going to Nevada for the Wild Mustang Roundup that's being sponsored by Rescue2001. They have a fe-" He cut me off smiling boldly now, "-A few wild Royal Kalt Ponies. Yeah, I'm going too. My name is Jay, by the way. Jay Via." He extended a hand towards me over between the seat and the window and looked a bit like a little kid in such a position. It was apparent the elder beside me had grown tired of mine and the stranger's conversation and asked to be moved up to first class, willing to pay the extra money to get away from our Wild horse talk. When the flight attendant came back with the news of the captain approving her upgrading, she led her away to first class and my newly acquired partner quickly transitioned into the seat beside me. "So why are you taking a plane to Nevada? Do you have access to a trailer?" I wasen't sure whether he was just curious or nosey, but decided to answer his question none the less.

"Ugh, nice to meet you, Jay. I'm Chris. I used to live in Nevada. My father owns a ranch there. I've been visiting my mother back in Tennessee for a few weeks, but I just couldn't miss Bear Run's event and the chance to get a mustang. Why are you taking a plane there anyway, if you're going, too?" He snickered a little when I said my name was Chris and addressed it as soon as my sentence was over. "So, wait. You're a girl though, right?" I rolled my eyes and flagged down an attendant as she passed. "Could I get a bottle of Jack Daniel's, please?" He nodded towards her winking, "Make that two." I scoffed once the flight attendant left and squinted my eyes at him, "Who do you think you are?" He smiled and tilted his head ever so slightly. "Well, i'm your father's farm hand for one. If you're the right girl, that is. He sent me a picture of you, though he didn't tell me your name was Chris. You are the right girl, right?"

I squinted my eyes at him, then punched him in the arm, smirking all the while. "Ow, what was that for?" "I know you remember me. We grew up on daddy's farm together. I didn't recognize you at all, Jay! How are you? How's daddy?" His smile faltered, but nodded anyway. "I'm real good. Of course I remember you. How could I forget the girl who toyed with my feelings even as six-year olds? I remember you real well." I was taken aback by his bluntness, an wasen't quiet sure how to react, although my first feeling was anger. "Why would you bring that up after so many years? You're just the same as the last time I saw you. An arrogant twit!" I crossed my arms over my chest and looked out the window. "I'm sorry." Even though he sounded apologetic enough, I didn't care. When the flight attendant came back with our two small bottles of Jack Daniel's, I snatched them both off the tray and downed them right then and there before Jay even had a chance. He shot a knowing glance at me, and apologized to the confused flight attendant when she walked away sulkily, he turned his attention back to me. "You shouldn't be like that. That was beyond rude." I closed my eyes and let the warmth of the whiskey fill me from head to toe.

We didn't talk after that, not when we exited the plane, not even when he clasped his hand in mine and led us to the baggage area. The sad thing was, I didn't even care. It was him that finally broke the silence. "Hey, our truck is over there." Imagine that. He had this whole thing planned out. I walked to his truck and threw my luggage in the bed before hopping into the passenger seat. He climbed into the driver seat and started up the truck quietly, and started for our journey towards the rescue pick up. The plan was to get there early so that we could get assigned quicker and not have to wait through long lines of people hoping to get a Royal Kalt Ponies. For the past few months of catching wind of the event, i've been eating, sleeping, and breathing Tolters. I fell asleep day dreaming about ponies, and was passed out for a good six hours. When I woke up, we were pulling in and there were already a few people there, and more still coming. We showed the guard our payed passes for our ponies, and were able to go to the RKP-loading parking lot. Some were only coming to look at the ponies instead of rehoming them, so the event had separate parking to make things move more smoothly and using passes as proof you purchased a pony. He went to the bed of his truck and grabbed all of the supplies we were going to need, and since I was still mad, I didn't even offer to help carry anything.

Once we got inside the fenced off area, it wasen't long before we found the designated booths and assigned our ponies. Jay snatched them both before I had a chance, smiling and clearly proud of himself. "Hey, look. I'm sorry. I really am. What numbers did we get?" I shrugged and considered ignoring him, but figured it'd be easier to just cooperate. "Numbers 25 and 26 in section c." Most Tolter's were riled up and running frantically in their holding areas while we passed by. It seemed as if we were never going to find our numbers until one stallion in particular caught my eye I panicked and prayed he was mine. I checked the number, and luckily, he was. He was a beautiful flaxen Palomino Pangare tovereo, I memorized every marking and admired his bright blue eyes, adored his two toned hoof, and committed every line in his brand to memory. I was in love. I was so in love, I would've pitched a child fit if this wasen't the pony that I received. I gasped loud enough for Jay to hear, and he glanced in my direction. "I'll take it as you like him?" I slowly walked up to the holding pen and tried to look deep within this wondrous beauty's eyes. I was checking him slowly, mentally running my hands along each muscle, each bone. "What're you doing?" I wiped that sweat off of my forehead and pointed to my new baby's pasterns and coronets. "I'm checking to see how well of a Trail horse he'd be." He nodded approvingly. "That sounds great, except this one seems to be pretty wild." I visably rolled my eyes at him, hoping he'd notice. By the grace of God, I had received the most handsome pony imagineable.

"Trail horses need strong feet and legs, sure-footedness, and an even temperament that does not spook easily. An even temperament, sure-footedness and sturdiness are more valuable on the trail than flash or style, although having a comfortable gait is a major plus. Look for a kind eye, look for large, clear eyes, not tight, slit-open ones. However, horses at adoptions are stressed, and may not exhibit big, kind eyes, although the horse will develop this countenance after settling in to the new home, being treated well for a period of time, etc. Another variable is how long the horse has been in captivity. Although still quite wild, horses who have been in the holding facility for several months will be much less "crashy" and skittish than horses fresh off the range. Wild horses have a much stronger sense of self-preservation than domestic horses, which must be understood in a training program. That's why going at the horse's pace and making sure everything is solid before moving to a more advanced step is important. That's why building trust is so important. Tolter's are capable of great loyalty, once they have learned to trust you. But until then, that sense of self-preservation will be challenging. A horse who has spent time in a social band is smarter, has a stronger sense of himself, and is more sophisticated socially than one who has grown up a in a stall. Such a horse already knows good manners, respect, the ability to function in a social order, how to get along with others. Wild horses understand leadership - what a good leader is, and how to follow a good leader. A wild horse has a deep ability to read and understand movement, energy, intent, and body language. It can read you loud and clear. We do not always read the horse well, however, and that's when the trouble starts. Like all horses, mustangs are honest, and will give you immediate and honest feedback. That is why working with horses is so useful for personal growth, and even for rehabilitating prisoners. There are no levels of 'wild', Jay."

Jay looked at me in awe as if I had recited the bible or something, so I rolled my eyes in obvious annoyance. "I'm not as stupid as I may look." He shrugged, "I guess not." I punched him in the arm and he laughed jokingly. "I'm kidding, i'm kidding." I haden't even noticed that he sat down our supplies, but he grabbed one feed bucket, a halter and lead, and a few apples. "Hey, i'm gunna go try to find my Tolter." I murmed an 'okay,' and continued to watch this handsome stallion that I could now proudly call my own buck widly in his pen. I sang to him softly and he stopped bucking long enough to stare at me with wide eyes and pricked ears.



"...Hush a bye
Don't you cry
Go to sleep my little baby
When you wake
You shall have
All the pretty little ponies

In your bed
Momma said
Baby's riding off to dreamland
One by one
They've begun
Dance and prance for little baby
Blacks and bays, dapples and greys
Running in the night
When you wake
You shall have
All the pretty little ponies

Can you see the little ponies
Dance before your eyes
All the pretty little ponies
Will be there when you arise

Can you see the little ponies
Shining before your eyes
All the pretty little ponies
Gonna be there when you arise

Hush a bye
Don't you cry
Go to sleep my little baby
When you wake
You shall have
All the pretty little ponies..."



I smiled as he took a step forward and sniffed the ground. I held out an apple and he refused to come any closer, so I bent down and gently rolled it to him. It didn't take long for him to take interest and ate it relatively quickly. I pulled out another, but didn't roll it as far this time. Luckily he took the bait and took a few more steps forward. I repeated this step just once more before testing to see if he would walk up to me and eat out of my hand. When he got comfortable enough to come up to me, I slowly slid the halter around his face after he sniffed it while hastily eating his fourth apple, and didn't spook until the metal clinked. Thankfully it was snapped before he bolted, so when I offered him feed the next time he walked up to me, it wasen't very hard to clip on the lead rope and I already had it tied to the fence before he approached me. It spooked him at first after I clipped it on so close to his face, and when he figured out his movement was restricted he became furious. He was whinnying, kicking, and pawing at the ground angrily.

By the time he calmed down, Jay had walked up to me empty handed and with no pony in sight. "Where's yours?" He smiled, "I finally got her in the trailer. What about this guy?" I shrugged and rubbed his nose gently. "He's calmed down a lot, but it'll take the both of us to lead him out and into the trailer." He nodded in reply and slipped the slip knot I had done loose, slowly pulling him around to the front of the gate. I unlatched the gate for him to walk through and that's when he gave me the biggest fright of my life. He reared up and bucked wildly, Jay unwillingly let go, and we were thanking God by the time he was finished. Instead of bolting out of the gate, he did a turn-around and went right back in the holding pen. I pondered whether that was his safe place, or maybe where he felt safe. I wasen't sure, but what I was sure of was that this pony wasen't like Jay's, and we couldn't just walk him out like I had hoped. But what I did know was Jay's truck was going to be hard to maneuver back here with all of the holding pens and the crowd of people. He decided he'd give it a whirl anyway and backed up to the gate as close as possible while I made sure no one got ran over or was is in the way.

He was only a few feet from the gate, so we hoped it wouldn't be too hard getting him in. After another hour or so, he approached us to eat some of the apples that Jay's mare didn't eat, and we took the opportunity to slowly and carefully grab his lead rope. While Jay held the rope from outside the pen, I slide under the metal bars and grabbed the lead from the other side. So far so good. We approached the gate, and it took a lot of coaxing and reassurance, but he stepped up into the trailer and didn't put up a fuss until we tied him and he learned he couldn't move his head too far. I escaped unscathed while he was pitching a bucking fit, but Jay's poor mare was spooked from my pony's reckless behavior. I latched the ramp to the trailer and hoped in the truck where Jay was already waiting for me, and began the excruciatingly long drive to my dad's.



2,780 words.



2. -A d j u s t i n g---t o---t h e---n e w---h o m e


Once we got to my Dad's, we were tired, and truthfully didn't want to mess with the horses right that second, but I was so thrilled to call my pony my own that I didn't even mind. We parked his truck as close to the barn as possible. He always has small runs leading from three of the stables to serve as holding areas for Mustangs, ponies, and also a foaling box. The rest of the stables didn't have pens and were just walked to the pasture to be let out. We didn't quiet trust our new babies with the rest of the herd yet though, so we decided to use the stable-runs. We could block the pen's run off if we needed with a gate, but we figured they'd appreciate the room to run though, so we left it open. The fences in these three areas were 6 1/3 ft high, so we figured they couldn't get out unless they were just really good jumpers. After preparing the stalls, we walked them one by one to their temporary holding areas, just long enough until they became accustomed to interacting with people and didn't act as feral.

They weren't all that bad, behavior wise. Which we were very grateful for. We We decided to call it a night and walked into the house side by side. "I think i'm going to name my mare Lady Bug" I snickered in response and shrugged. I had no idea what I wanted to name my beautiful stallion, but Jay elbowed me in the rib and proudly suggested the name 'Nugget.' The more I thought about the name, the more I fell in love with it. I went to sleep that night dreaming of how lucky I was to have such a beautiful stallion, and how challenging it was going to be to tame him. It was going to be worth the while, though.

I rubbed my eyes sleepily and awoke that next morning. I looked around me and got up out of bed and downstairs into the kitchen. "Want some breakfast?" I smiled brightly and pulled my dad close. It's been way too long since i've last seen him. "Of course I do! How could someone possibly want to miss your delicious breakfast?" He laughed his usual hearty laugh and pointed to a plate on the counter. "I figured you'd say that." I thanked him and sat beside Jay. After eating we went outside and set in our separate ways to begin today's task. It isn't much to someone else, but to us it's a big deal. We're going to attempt to give them baths. We didn't put halters on them yesterday before setting them loose, and with much head thrashing involved, decided it'd be best to just leave the poor excuse for a halter-rope that he came with. Anytime a horse is walked by Nugget's stall he makes a big ordeal out of it as if he's pleading for them to set him loose. Not only does this rile him up, but it spooks our calm and patient horses who aren't used to being around ill-mannered stallions.

I took one deep breath and opened the headgate to Nugget's stall. He stared back at me pensively with eyes that pierced my soul. I held out some sugar cubes and he sniffed the air in the general direction of the foreign objects now being offered to him. He had no trouble adjusting to our food, it seems, as the little bit of oats we put in his trough upon arrival was now gone. I tossed a cube towards him, and he inched forward and licked it tentatively before enveloping the whole thing.

I smiled as my patience wore off. After fifteen minutes of waiting he finally came up to me and ate the sugar cube. I knew he'd buck and throw a hissy fit if I touched him, so I quickly clipped a lead around his head with ease. I unlatched the bottom gate and calmly walked him out. I shut the barn doors and most horses were out training or on a trail ride right about now, so I didn't have to worry much about him bolting out the barn doors or getting hyped up passing another equine's stall. He fought me a little, jerking away and stomping; and kicking occasionally. But for the most part, he didn't mind. He walked fairly decent, though I feared the trouble would come during the bath.

It wasen't hard to get him into the concrete laden floor. I tied his head lead to the side and slipped a halter on him to keep his head restrained. His poor-of-an-excuse rope-halter would do no justice for this task. He fought me getting it on, and after writhing for awhile, he calmed down. He had run out of energy, and I prayed that this would aid in giving him a bath.

I stood a few feet away from Nugget and sprayed him with the water hose gently. He was tired and oddly relaxed, so I took the opportunity to get closer. He was so handsome, and didn't mind our close proximity. I rinsed him gently, and decided it'd be best not to bother him with a brush or comb today. This was the most calming that I had seen him since i'd met him, I didn't want to ruin it just by brushing him.

I led him back to his stable, admiring his new found beautiful, sheen coat the entire way there. The way he moved was so perplexing, I couldn't help but think he was made only of aesthetic grace.



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3. - I n t r o d u c t i o n---o f---t h e---h a l t e r


I looked at Nugget trotting loosely throughout his run and smiled. This should go just peachy. "Whatcha doin?" Jay's voice. Of course. "Nothing much, about to call Nugget up here. I'm going to put his halter on. I've been introducing it to him for the past couple of days, but i'm going to be leaving it on." Jay nodded, "Nice strategy, I guess?" I rolled my eyes and called for Copenhagen.

After just a few weeks, he knows his name, and comes to me now, but only because he knows, or thinks, I have treats. He trotted up to me in his beautifully, masculine manner and nibbled the carrots out of my hand. I slowly showed him the halter, and being used to it by now, let me slip it onto him. I fastened it quickly and let the bucking begin. Now, although he's used to having the halter on, he still doesn't like it, so he feels the need to buck around as if it's going to come of. Little does he know, it's not. He's been doing very good lately with his attitude, so me and Jay decide to turn him out into the pasture. For now, he will be alone, but soon he will be able to go and frolic with the others.

"Do you really think that he's ready to be turned loose into the pasture?" I nodded, "Yes, I wholeheartedly believe so. How is your mare coming along?" Jay shifted his feet and spit to the side. Ugh. Dip. "Well, she's pretty calm when someone's around her, but when she's in the paddock by herself she thrashes around violently and ends up scraping and hurting herself. She's got a wound or two right now. Nothing that won't heal properly with time and patience, but they're deep." I looked at Jay confused, "Do you think she might have separation anxiety? Nevermind that, we should get her a friend- Nugget too." He looked at me kind of shocked, "Yeah, like what? How do you know that Copenhagen isn't going to hurt the animal we put in there?" I shrugged thoughtfully for a moment. "We could always introduce them together slowly, besides, I think he'll do great. Your mare, too. " He thought it over for a moment and shrugged. "Okay, I guess. My friend has a few nanny goats he's been dying to get rid of. Want to go over there and check them out?" I agreed, and we took the trailer over to his friend's, just in case we decided to buy one or two.

"Randy, how are you?" Jay jumped out of the truck and extended his hand towards this 'randy' fellow. He seemed to be about in his late forties, early fifties. He had a beer gut out of this world, with a pretty long beard and deep, hearty laugh. "Hey, long time no see. Bronchitis got me down again, but i'll be alright. How about yourself? " Jay smiled, "I hope you get to feeling better soon. Well, we'd like to look at those nannies you got, actually." He nodded and turned around waving forwards, "Just follow me." I walked beside the older man, my stride matching his with ease. Although he has longer legs than I and i'm sure he could out-walk me in his younger days, he's not as able anymore. Like walking is a struggle for him. Well, he more so wobbles than walks. "Who are you, miss?" I smiled, "Chris." He gave me a sideways glance and kept walking. "I knew a girl named Chris once." I look at him smiling curiously, "Oh?" He sighed deeply, "Yeah, I met her in a bar. She was a one-night stand." He laughed his deep, hearty laugh and elbowed me in the ribs. I laughed a little too. It was a little muddy to where he was taking us, and I kinda hesitated. It looked to be a large shack on the outside, but once we were inside there were three little stalls inside. Each containing a nanny goat. I walked over to one and held out my hand slowly. She lipped it gently and I scratched behind her ear. "We defiantly have to get this one. I like her." Her horns were oddly twisted out and back like a Kiko goat, but her ears were long like that of a Jamnapari goat. "Do you know what kind of breed she is?" Randy shook his head, "No, i've just had them as pets for years." I nodded and stroked her long ears. Her face stopped abrubtly like a Jamnapari goat, but was elongated like a Kiko. She was beautiful. Her tail was curled and fluffy, and in color she looked to be a red dun minimal overo. I scrunched my brow together, do goats even have the same terminology as equines? I doubt it, but that's how she looked in color nonetheless.

We bought the goat the I absolutely fell in love with, and then a goat of Jay's choice. "Your goat looks as if it's a purebred Boer goat, Jay." Jay shrugged his shoulders, "I don't care what she is, I just wanted a goat to help my mare." I mocked him quietly and rolled my eyes, "Whatever."

Once we got home, we unloaded the goats into a stable of their own. Surprisingly enough, mine walked fine on a lead, it was Jay's that was giving him problems. "Looks like you need to halter break your goat there, Jay!" I called out to him and laughed. Let the introducing begin.


953 words.



4. -F i r s t---f r i e n d


I smiled excitedly as I clipped Nugget's lead onto his halter. He's gotten much better about being calm and allowing me to lead him where ever I please, and was finally able to be transferred to a normal stall. Today, I please to lead him to his, hopefully, new friend. Since our foaling boxes are rather large and roomy, I decided to use it to my advantage for the introduction. The goat, whom I decided to name Nadir, was already there waiting for us. She happened to be a very friendly goat, and runs to you in hopes you have a treat or two in your pocket for her.

I opened the stall and lead Nugget inside. It was Nadir that noticed him first. She bound over to sniff the new creature, and Nugget let her. There wasen't a single problem between the two so far. I decided to take a chance and unclip his lead. Nadir walked away dissatisfied with her hunt for treats and lay down in the hay. Nugget used this moment to sniff her all over, and nudged her a little too hard. Nadir fell over in the hay and bellowed out. I think that they'll become mighty fine friends.

No longer feeling the need to supervise them, I lead them both to Nugget's stable and restocked it with food and gave the two of them some well deserved treats. I planned on keeping an eye on the two of them just in case, but for now, they're doing great.



A little while later...



I checked on the two, and they seemed fine, however it was time for me to take Nugget for a trail walk. I did this to not only squeeze in some extra exercise for the both of us, but also to strengthen our relationship. So far, it's proven to really work. However, when I clipped on his lead and shut the stall door Nadir started bellowing frantically, clearly not happy about me taking away her friend. I wasen't sure of what to do, so I decided to tie Nugget to a post, and attach a lead to Nadir as well. I grabbed the two and they quietly walked all the way to the trail.

Nadir was more than happy to follow, even if it got a bit rocky at times. She bounded over boulders while Nugget rolled in the grass. Life was great. The two had made friends and Nugget was more mellow than ever. Although Nadir has done his some good, she can't always follow us. Soon trust exercises will have to be completed, and she can't be there.

Trust is vital to mine and Nugget's relationship. Without it, i'll never get him to the riding stage. He doesn't know it yet, but I will get him to that stage. Even if it takes me two years, I promise you as sure as the sun is shining down on us in the meadow, that I will get him to that stage and I will ride him. And it will be glorious.



512 words.



5. -G a i n i n g---y o u r---p o n y ' s---t r u s t


I stared at Nugget content in his stall, Jay walked over and looked too. "He's gotten a lot better about being calm." I nod in agreeance and shrug. "Yeah, he has. But we still have a lot of training to do." Jay agrees, mutters something about needing to do something with his own pony and walks over to his mare's stall. I look into Nugget's beautiful baby blue eyes.

Such a beautiful baby, I think. I sure hope you learn to trust me soon. I had checked the weather forecast today, and it's supposed to be raining all day. A quick peek out of the barn door tells me that it's already sprinkling, so I use this to my advantage and halter up Nugget and take him to one of the small loungeing pens that we own. He is spooked by the rain at first, especially the harder that it comes down on us.

I speak to him in a very soft voice and finally calm him down, and I think he's finally learned to trust my judgement. Because even though the rain has us soaked from head to toe and the dirt is now a wet, sloshing, muddy mess, he's still trotting slowly for me. I think that next, we will work on introducing a saddle. Jay will be thrilled when he sees that I've gotten Nugget on this level of trust. So many weeks of trust exercises have went into this moment, and i've never been more proud.


254 words.



6. -F i r s t---t i m e---w i t h---s a d d l e


I decided that today was the day that I would attempt putting a saddle on Nugget, and I have pretty good vibes about it. Me and Jay talked it over, and we think that a breast clip would be a good idea. We figured that for his first time if the saddle slips it would most likely leave a negative connotation and just leave a bad taste on Nugget's tongue about saddles, and months of training would be thrown away in an instant.

I have a very basic elasticated breast girth with snap clips on it so I can put it on quickly and easily. I begin the introduction with the saddle pad, gradually unfolding it to its full size, and allowing Nugget to sniff it before placing it on him. Next, the saddle is placed in the center of the pen and, again, the horse can sniff and investigate the new object.

The saddle is then placed on the horse and the cinch and latigo strap are eventually tied and the breast strip attached. At first, he is bucking all over and is quiet erotic, but I went back to our training exercises and he trusts me. Jay is standing by the fence, just in case Nugget decides to rear and buck wildly, but he's doing great. He kicked and bucked a little, but for the most part he's used to it already.

Although he is kind of kicking his feet out quiet dramatically, this experience is going great, and I have high hopes for his first ride. But first, we must do much more training and much more trust exercises. Today has made me realize just how good of a pony that I've chosen, but he still never fails to astound me with the way that he moves with such beauty and grace.


583 words.



7. -t r a i n i n g


Since he stays calm in his stall, I try to enter his stall frequently, and put a halter and lead rope on him. After doing so, I rub his neck and shoulder and just stand with him for a few minutes while speaking to him in a soft, positive voice. Then I remove the halter and give him a treat. By doing this, i'm letting him know that he won't have to work every time I enter his stall, halter in hand. This teaches him to trust and be more comfortable around me. Grooming is a great exercise for increasing bond. He also enjoys the attention while i'm promoting a healthy coat! Nugget and me have been working on foot work as well, such as lifting his feet without resistance.

Desensitizing him to having his legs and feet handled is also a part of bonding, and will help his farrier and veterinarian work on his feet down the road anyway. I start by lightly rubbing his foreleg, a few inches above the knee. Then gradually work my way toward the hoof. As long as he's relaxed, I continue lightly rubbing down his leg. If he gets upset I stop, go back to the point where he was relaxed, and start over and try to rub farther down each time. I try to end on a positive note: Tell him he did well, and rub his neck. He understands how to lift his leg on cue now, as well ! I taught him by squeezing a couple of inches above his fetlock, cluck, and lift up his hoof. I repeated this until he learned to lift his hoof when I gave these tactile and verbal cues.

I desensitized his rear legs too, starting on his left side and placing my left hand on his shoulder and my right hand on his back, a few inches behind his withers. With my right hand, gently rub down his back to his left hip. Replace my right hand with my left one, then use my right hand to slowly rub down his left rear leg. Now that he allows me to rub down to his fetlock, I've been using my thumb and index finger to lightly squeeze his leg a few inches above it. As soon as he relaxes while i'm holding his leg, I gently put his hoof down to reward him.

In the Barn Aisle we've been working on ground maneuvers. We've been doing quite a few maneuvers with just a lead rope and halter. For instance, to work on his backup: forward motion at a walk, and stop on cue. Longe your horse helps a lot, i've learned. We happen to have a large enough area that's on dry, level ground so we started longeing together recently. This works on his gait transitions to keep him tuned up for when I finally introduce him to a saddle. I send him in both directions, and use my verbal cues. I'm hoping this will reinforce his foundation training and deepen our bond.


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8. -F i r st---r i d e


Our first ride was magical. He was calm and didn't buck, not after practicing with this saddle for so long. I have a little trouble with the bit, he can't stand it. So must of the time I ride bareback. But he truly is a pleasing horse to be around. I have had so much fun this past few months training him, and me and Jay became closer than ever. But most importantly of all, me and Nugget have a friendship that can not be broken. He is mine and I am his. His baby blue eyes scream love and fearlessness. He may be tamed now, but part of him will forever be wild.

The moments when we go to the meadow, and I let him take lead and we just run and run, I can feel his blood pumping and hear his strong heart beating. Just because Nugget is now tame, does not mean that he is broken. No, he is not broken. The only difference is now, he knows the difference between being wild and being shown human love and compassion. Do not geet me wrong, I am sure he misses the vast open lands of the desert with his herd, but i'd like to think that maybe, just maybe, time here with us at the farm isn't so bad ethier.


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9. -F r e e---s p o t


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[whisky]

Please don’t adopt them out with the other RKP’s :(

I’ll finish his last task ASAP!!

[Rescue2001]

I said on the thing you have forever to get the tasks done but you can't use them until there done and I can't put him up for adoption unless you say so its OK take your time lol

[whisky]

Okay.. I’m sorry to bother you dear I just wanted to be 100% sure is all. Thank you so much for your reply !! I was just a little nervous with the current readptions !!

[Rescue2001]

Those are all from people who don't want their pony or won't be able to get the tasks done so