Thank you!!! I can't think of a name right now but he is so precious!!
Show name: Jumping at Shadows
Barn name: Orpheus
Halter color: surprise me (please not green, light blue, orange, or red)
Task 1:
Finding Trust (284 words)
When I went to the rescue center to try to rescue one more Walker, I was walking through the stalls and saw Orpheus hiding in his stall. He had his head tucked down and he had his tail wrapped around his hind leg. I stopped at his stall and tried to call him over but he didn't respond. I looked at his paperwork and saw that he was deaf. I got a worker and decided to adopt this boy. When we finally got his attention, he came over very slowly. I put my hands out in front of his face so he could see me and I started to stroke him softly. He started to become very relaxed and comfortable with me so I signed his paperwork and took him home. While loading him into my trailer, he was slow and hesitant at first but I pulled out an apple and instantly he got into the trailer. While unloading him, I used my bribery trick on him again and it proved to be effective. He loves apples. My three other Walkers were in the pasture and all ran up to the fence, except for Dale and Kalila, they slowly walked over due to Kalila's limp. Dale tossed his head up and down at Orpheus and stomped at him, telling him to stay away from Kalila. Orpheus backed up and pulled on his lead. He looked scared and tucked his tail between his legs and ducked his head down. I gave him another apple and led him to his stall which I made sure was far away from Kalila and Dale. He looked overwhelmed and tired so I gave him some oats, alfalfa and grains.
Task 2:
Medical Care (192 words)
As for medical treatment for Orpheus, I had a vet come out to inspect his ears, hooves, and overall health. During the checkup, Orpheus was very scared and skeptical of the vet so I stood by his side and stroked his neck and gave him an occasional apple. Having me by his side really helped him calm down and endure the checkup. When the vet went to trim his hooves, Orpheus rebelled a little so I hugged him and stroked his neck and played with his mane to calm him. Once he realized that he was in no physical pain or had any threats, he calmed down and mellowed out. The vet said that there was nothing I could do for his ears so the best thing I could do for him was gain his trust and get him to stop being so jumpy. I work with him everyday to get rid of his limp. I exercise him and massage his leg to try to get the muscles stretched out and back to normal. After a month of intense work, he no longer limps and his trust for me is so strong.
Task 3:
General Rehabilitation (246 words)
The first day in the pasture, Orpheus looked so scared of Dale. Dale would muscle up in front of him and would march in front of poor Orpheus. Orpheus would cower down and would not even look at Kalila in fear of upsetting Dale. Orpheus would run to me and would try to hide behind me. When it was feeding time, I would have to feed Orpheus separately from the rest so Dale wouldn't take advantage of him. I had to spend some extra time with Orpheus so he would feel comfortable around Dale. I separated Dale and Kalila and kept Dale and Orpheus in the pasture alone together so they would learn to trust one another. After an hour of them showing off and acting stiff to one another, they finally started playing and loosening up. From that day on, Dale and Orpheus were the best of friends and no longer did Orpheus cower down to Dale. I finally got to move Orpheus closer to the rest of my Walkers. Alani also became Orpheus's friend. They would trot and gallop around the pasture together and when they both became too tired to run around, they would lay under the trees and cuddle. Orpheus is no longer jumpy, but he is slow to greet and trust new people. He sticks by my side like my shadow and when he gets scared, he stands behind me and waits for me to hug him and stroke his neck.
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