Name: A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes (Cinderella)
Halter Color: Blue
Task One: Finding Trust
I pulled into the yard of my barn and put my truck into park outside the round pen. I walked around the trailer and opened the door to see my SWE starting to come to. She was calmer than she was at the auction house because of the sedation, but was still frightened by the trailer. She took a few steps until she was out of the trailer and into the round pen. I backed out and closed the gate entrance and then pulled the truck and trailer away. My SWE stood in the center of the round pen and looked around puzzled. I watched her for a few minutes, until I thought of a perfect name for her: Cinderella. She was a beautiful mare who was getting a second chance at her life. I couldn't have thought of a more fitting name for this beauty. After watching her for a few minutes, I went to fetch her some water and oats so she could get a drink and something to eat if she felt like it. When I returned a few minutes later, she was at the far end of the round pen, probably out of fear of me being there. Cinderella let out a high pitch whinny, but lowered her head when I placed the oats and water on the ground near me. I stood there to see if she would come over to me to get the food and water. She pawed at the ground and paced back and forth for a few minutes and later, took two steps towards me. I talked to her in a soft, soothing voice as she approached her the oats and water. I could hear her drink the water and crunch the oats.
I pulled a carrot out of my back pocket and held it in the palm of my hand. I reached towards her after she finished eating, and offered it to her. Cinderella lifted her head and reached out towards my hand. She sniffed it, and then licked it. She grabbed the carrot and I petted her forehead. I knew then that I had her trust now, and she had mine. I left her in the round pen that night, knowing that she didn't like lead ropes or halters, so getting her to a stall would be nearly impossible. Also, it was supposed to be fairly warm that night, so she wouldn't need a blanket.
The next morning came, and I went to check on Cinderella. She had knocked over her water bucket, so I opened the pin door to go refill the buckets, and was greeted by my sweet girl. I petted her before I reached for her buckets, and returned a few minutes later. I stood in the round pin with her today as she ate her breakfast. I had brought her a peppermint horse cookie, and went to the tack room to grab a halter and lead. I brought it out with me and held it behind my back. As I entered, I gave her a handful of oats, and attempted to put on her halter. I got it fastened, and gave her another cookie. Next, I grabbed the lead rope, but she reared up high, and barley missed me on her way down. I said softly that it will be ok, and look her straight into the eyes. I said to her, "Look at me," and while she was looking at me, I clipped on her lead rope. She tried to kick me when I attempted to lead her/lunge her. I looked back at her and she stopped. "That's better," I said as I lead her into the barn. I knew she still had a lot of training ahead of her, but this was a great start for only being her first two days at Willow Creek Farms. Once in her stall, I went to get the water and oat pales to bring them into her stalls. Once I placed them onto the bucket hooks, I took off her halter and lead and told her good girl.
Task Two: Medical Care
A few weeks have passed and I continued training with Cinderella. Now, she would allow me to put on a halter and lead rope, and even lead her around, although she doesn't let anyone else lead her. She is nice around people she has seen before, but is still a little bit timid around new people she meets. So, I thought it would be a good time to call the vet to get her checkup. I scheduled an appointment for that day at 1:30, so I would have time to get her halter and lead on. I groomed Cinderella before the vet arrived at the farms. She doesn't like getting her hooves picked though.
When the vet arrived, he gave her a general checkup to see her physical health. He had to float her teeth so they wouldn't get overgrown, but Cinderella didn't want it done. She was stamping her foot and tried to bite at the vet. After a bit of convincing, she finally let the vet do it. The vet found a scar on her hind left leg that could explain why she was afraid of the trailer. She was also very underweight, so the vet put her on a medication and oats that will help her gain the weight back. The vet said a farrier would need to come in to work on her feet once she allows me to pick her hooves up to pick them. She gave me a card for her recommended farrier and left.
Task Three: General Rehabilitation
Cinderella still has a big fear of trailers, but she does now let me pick up and clean out her hooves now. To work with the trailer, I plan on opening up all the doors to show her it isn't a scary place, and walk by her side into the trailer. I have been working with her to tack her up, and after several weeks, she can now wear a saddle and girth. I am still trying to work with the bridle, but she does accept a bosal bridle. The vet has been coming for regular checkups, and Cinderella is back up to a normal weight. She has been introduced to the other horses at the barn, Breeze being her best pal. Wherever Breeze would go, Cinderella would go too. They were pasture buddies and stablemates.
In the future, I plan to make Cinderella a therapy riding horse for the abused or neglected children and teenagers who deserve a second chance, just like Cinderella got her second chance. In order for that to happen though, she will have to be broken in to be ridden by other people other than me. I plan to start riding her once she accepts the bit. Then once she is trained to be ridden, I will have my friends come in and ride her to see if she is ready for the children. She will also have to get over her fear of trailers to do this.
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