Habromania Tasks

[Good.Pointe]

First Meeting
Taking Home
Settling In
Halter Breaking
Green Breaking
Rider Breaking
First Training Session
Bonus Story

[Good.Pointe]

I'd heard of an event with an adoption agency I was associated with and I knew I had to participate. I drove out to see the yearling that they had found for me. As I looked into the corral the yearling was in, I noticed her Classic Champagne tobiano coat. The second thing I noticed was that she was very willing, yet still skittish. As I approached her, her pale yellow widened, she was nervous and wary of me. "Hi there, girl. It's okay, easy," I said in a calm tone. I moved slowly, so I didn't startle the tall filly. I let her smell my hand, and I could tell she was an optimistic mare, judging by her wanting to trust me. I had already filled out all the paperwork and the rules were run by me. I opened the corral gate and walked in, shutting it back behind me. I was thinking f names as the yearling ran around me. She seemed confused and nervous, her ears flicked back and forth and her posture seemed very submissive. She slowed down to a trot, occasionally turning to look at me and then trotting the other direction. Her long mane was knotted and wrapped around her front legs when she moved. Her white markings were yellowed, but still noticeably white, meaning she had rolled overnight. She grew tired and came to a stop. She faced away from me, but she kept her eye on me. "Easy, sweet girl. It's alright," I muttered as I slowly walked beside her. She jumped as I held out my hand to let her smell me. She was too tired to move away. She sniffed my hand and I carefully reached out to touch her nose. As I stroked her soft pink muzzle, she started to perk her ears forward, paying close attention to my every move. "See, I'm not here to hurt you," I whispered.

321 Words

[dove.]

I love it already!
I can't wait to read the rest, gonna bookmark

[Good.Pointe]

I exited the corral and climbed in my truck. The hardest part would be loading her up. The trailer was dark and when horses took a step, an unfamiliar noise emerged from it. Because she was tired and I wouldn't be able to halter and lead her in, I got a lead rope. I lined the trailer up to the gate of the corral. When I dropped the ramp down, the filly tossed her head and bucked. I stood toward the back of the corral and whipped the lead rope side to side, chasing the filly toward the trailer. I moved closer to the trailer and the filly stopped to inspect the ramp. She pawed at the rubber and took a step. The noise startled her, but she was more afraid of the lead rope hitting the ground than the ramp. I added more pressure and she took another step. I released pressure and took a step back. She looked a little confused about the trailer. I added pressure again and she walked inside. I immediately put up the tail bar. I closed up the trailer and we were on our way. The trip was two to three hours to get home. I could hear the filly kick at the door, but that was understandable, as she was nervous and claustrophobic, like most young horses are. It didn't help that we had to sit in traffic for about ten minutes in the hot summer sun. Later on, about half way home, a wreck took place a few cars in front of us and we had to sit again. We only had to stop for gas twice, as sitting in traffic ran down some of the gasoline. As we drove, I thought of the names that would work for her. I had remembered seeing word online that meant a delusion of happiness. It was on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't think of it at the time. As soon as I got home, I picked out a pasture to keep the yearling in and made sure I filled up the water trough and got her her own bucket. I filled the bucket with sweet feed and supplements to help her joints as she finishes growing. I put up a fan in the run in shelter, as we had some hotter days coming soon. I lined the trailer up to the fence gate and got ready for the filly to dart out. As soon as the tail bar dropped, the filly backed out and darted off into the pasture. I watched her behavior carefully, making sure she didn't hurt herself kicking at the trailer. "Habromania! That's the word.." I muttered to myself. I smiled as the mare found her sweet feed, she ate it, clearly enjoying it. I clicked to her to catch her attention. She looked at me with a nervous stare in her pale eyes. "Habromania, and I'll call you Mania as a nickname." She looked confused, but then again, she didn't speak human. I put my truck and trailer back where they belonged and left Habromania alone for the day.

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[Good.Pointe]

After a few weeks, once Mania had finally gotten calmed down and used to her pasture, I decided to find her some friends. Horses are herd animals, and I knew that well. They shouldn't be alone for too long, as they'd get frustrated and antsy about being with other horses later on. I had been on the lookout for a permanent pasture pal for her. I had heard that a little bay arabian mule was rescued recently. The little molly mule would never be able to be ridden, as she had severe problems with supporting weight on her back. She also had scars on her side and face, so it was near impossible to be able to show her. I thought that Mania and the mule would be good friends, and I called the agency to see about her. They said I could come by and check the mule out the next day. When I went to see, I knew immediately that Mania would get along with her. The mule approached with a happy whinny and curiously sniffed me as I examined her. I smiled as the young rescue seemed so trusting, even after having come from a bad place. I met up with the lady I had talked to over the phone, "Welcome to the equine humane center! I'm Anna, I'm responsible for adopting out the equines that we rescue. I presume that you're Rose?" I nodded. "Great! So this is her, she hasn't been named since we recently rescued her and haven't gotten around to naming her, so that would be up to you. She was rescued from a neglected farm, the scars seem to be old, presumably caused by barbed wire gash. The vet just came out yesterday and all her shots are updated. She isn't shod. She is very weak in the back for reasons that are not yet confirmed, but she will never be able to support weight. She is halter trained and seems to love children." I nodded and smiled. "How does she get along with other horses?" I asked, stroking the mule's face gently. "She's very friendly, and pretty submissive." She sounded like a perfect pasture pal for Mania. "She sounds perfect for what I'm looking for." I said, grinning even bigger. "Great! We'll get the paperwork done, and then you can take her home."

We got home and I led out the bay mule. I figured to name her Oriflamme, due to her being so happy and willing after all that happened in her life. I led her to Habromania's fence and let them meet. They both shared a few playful nips and head tosses. Once i felt it safe, I turned Ori out into the pasture. Habromania and Oriflamme went out to graze, staying far away at first. Within the next week they developed a herd-like bond. Ori seemed to be the leader, and Mania was beta. They grazed peacefully and groomed each other often. I had given them a few toys and caught them playing with them often.

{508 words}

[Good.Pointe]

I went out to look at some halters for my next task. My local tack store had some halters that I felt would work. I picked out a few, all the same color as her pastel yellow eye. I started looking for a twisted rope halter with extra knots in the nose to help teach to give to pressure. I grabbed another regular rope halter for training after she learned how to give to pressure, and then a regular nylon halter. I got a matching lead rope and bought them all.

I made it home and then prepared the corral for the training, starting with leveling the ground. I hung the halter up on the inside of the corral and the lead was tossed next to it. I opened up the corral gate and rounded Habro up. I had my stable hands and had them help me get her into the corral. Once we were done with that, I closed the gate and my stable hands went back to their work. I let her run around and come to me instead of forcing her to stop. I grabbed the halter and simply held it out so she could inspect. At first she jumped and ran around when she saw it, which I understood. It took her a few tries for her to dare to get close enough to want to even smell it. She took a sniff and bared her teeth at it, seeing if it would bite back. She nudged it carefully and reared up, darting off afterward. She cantered around, slowly coming in and staring at my hands which held the halter. Eventually she came in and slowly let me touch her face with the halter in my other hand. I pet her face and rewarded her for coming in. I lifted the halter and touch her muzzle with the halter around my wrist. She took a step back and I dropped my hand. She approached again and this time I pet a little higher so the halter brushed against her nose. She twitched her ears, slightly confused about this new sensation on her face. I gave her release for standing still and then tried again, this time she kept her ears forward. I started to rub the filly's face carefully with the twisted rope halter. She stayed there and I gave her release and rewarded her. Next I slipped only her nose into the halter. She pulled back and I lowered the halter. I tried again and this time she kept a fixed stare on me. As soon as flicked her ears forward again and relaxed her jaw, I gave her release and pet her forehead. Next I put the halter on almost all the way, and she flicked her ears, but let me hold it there for a few seconds. I gave her release and pet her. I put the halter on and tied it and left it on for a few seconds. I took it back off and praised her. She licked her lips as if in understanding. I put the halter back on and let her run around in the corral with it on, so it would move around a little and she would get used to the movement. After a minute or two she came in and I took off the halter and hung it back up. I turned her back out to rest for the night.

The next day, I brought Habromania back to the corral and put the rope halter on. She trotted around in it and came in. This time around I wanted to teach her to lead. I let her see and smell the lead and then clipped it to her halter. I stood in front of her and gently tugged at the lead. Habro shot me a confused look and grew up the tension in the rope. I clicked to encourage her to come. She semi-reared and pulled back on the lead. I drew even more tension, knowing that if I gave her slack now, she learn to pull against pressure. After figuring out that pulling wasn't giving her release, she took a step forward. I immediately gave slack when she stepped forward and pet her face. I backed up again, this time I didn't have to use as much pressure to get Habro to take a few steps forward. I smiled and praised her. Next I moved to her shoulder and gave pressure to teach her to walk forward when being lead correctly. Habro flicked her ears as she took a few steps forward. I pet the yearling's neck and praised her for behaving. I gently pulled the lead rope so the mare turned her face toward me, and did the same thing on the other side. Then I pushed so i wouldn't have to switch sides to turn her. She was a little confused at first, but later got the hang of it. Last was backing. This command was executed by adding light pressure on her nose and chest. She took a step back and I praised her. She'd need a little bit more ground training, but for now, this was much better than having to carefully lead her around without anything.

[Ranger of the North]

This is really good!
It's written well, and I love how much detail you've put into it! Good job! I'll be keeping an eye on this one for sure