Task 1 - Unloading;Share a story in the unloading from the trailer
(50-100 Word Story)The Team and I just got done capturing some of the Meadowdale Grelifcents.
We were headed back to the Agency to prepare the Grelifcents to go to their new homes.
I decided that I wanted to keep one of the Mares that one of the others had gathered. So I
took the mare home, and got the round pen prepared before backing
the trailer to the opening of the round pen. I backed the truck,
and had unlatched the trailer door. I backed away to see if the mare would come out on her own.
She stood staring then slowly walked her way into the round pen.
Task 2 - Taming;Share a story in how you started taming, to be able to gain a bit of trust
(50-100 Word Story)I let the mare settle down in the round pen for a bit before starting.
The mare was trotting circles in the round pen, constantly, rotating.
After the mare had settled, I decided to keep her feet moving. So I entered
the round pen, and had started making her move around the pen.
I repeated the steps a few times of making her take 3-5 laps, and turned my
back to the mare. About after 5 tries, the mare started to take interest,
and had moved in.
Task 3 - Introduce to a herd;Introduce the Grelifcent to your/one of your herds.
(50-100 Word Story)After a bit more work, I decided to try and gain enough trust to slip a halter onto her.
After I managed to get the halter on, and warm her up to the halter, by walking her around.
I had lead her out of the round pen, to greet the herd I was releasing her with.
As I arrive at the pen with the herd, The herd Leader came running.
Soul Reaper was the leader of the herd, that
the mare is being assigned to. She gave him a small nip at the neck with his fast approach.
With that I decided her name will be Sugar'N Spice. After that though everything was fine,
so I released her into the pen with Soul Reaper's herd.
Task 4 - Brush & Bathe;Share a story in brushing to clean the Grelifcent
(50-100 Word Story)After I had allowed Suger'N Spice to settle in with her herd for a few days,
I prepared her for grooming. I spent about an hour trying to brush her down,
as she's filthy and had no idea what the tools were being used on her.
I then allowed her a break in the round pen as I prepared the stuff to give
her a bath to get the rest of the dirt out of her coat. I walked up to the round
pen and allowed her to come to me first. I stood with my back to her, facing the gate.
I felt a bump on my back, so I slowly reached to her and then slowly slipped her halter on.
The bathing took about an hour as she was nervous of the water being sprayed on her,
as she had only naturally taken baths herself.
Task 5 - Fully Tamed;Share a story in how you connected with the Grelifcent
(50-100 Word Story)After I had got her nice and clean I released her into a grass paddock so
her coat was still clean. I decided to just hang out with her as she enjoyed the paddock.
I sat just admiring the day facing away from her. She had approached me a few times,
and even let me pet her a couple of times. I got up and walked around the pen, with
Sugar'N Spice following.
Task 6 - Started Training;Share a story on starting training. Getting used to a halter
and leading.
(50-100 Word Story)I thought since the mare had come out of her shell a bit, that she'll allow
me to start training and doing a bit of ground work. I got her more used to the halter,
and being lead around soundly. I then began to work on commands and signals.
I even pulled a tarp into the pen to let her get used to the large object, and
that it's harmless.