Training progress & sad news . . .

Today each of the three young horses got some much needed training time . . .

Bucky, our 4 1/2 year old QH is the leader of the bunch. He is well started under saddle and is working on balancing himself on the lunge line. We are working on trot-canter-trot transitions and not leaning on the lunge. He also likes to supervise and stick his nose into the other horse's lessons. Bucky has his own blog here, with dramatic before & after photos at the beginning.



Sassy, our just-turned-5 mini is good for pony rides, but has no steering or brakes for the rider. So we are working on teaching her to lunge (she is now learning voice commands for "whoa" and "walk"). We are also working on yielding to pressure on her rope halter - leading to bending and turning.

And of course Miss Haley, the new princess is providing a challenge, we are still working on building her trust, catching and leading her. I know this mare has had some saddle training, but really needs some confidence and time to trust us. She we are working on putting on her rope halter and leading / walking forward. She is a real sweetie, but needs some time and patience.

In sad news, our beloved 30 year old Morab mare, Lady Byrd is failing. She has been battling Cushing's, and arthritis for years and has just started showing neurologic instability. She is still eating and very happy (she LOVES Haley), but is ataxic (tipsy) and falls down occasionally. She has been with me for 19 years and we will likely need to put her down soon.

Fallen from grace . . . Haley's story.

Haley just arrived this weekend, although space is tight we just had to make room for this sweet mare. Here is her story, as much of it as we know . . .


Through searching the internet I found these photos of this mare as a young filly on her breeder's website.

It appears that this filly "Shades Noble Highlight" aka Haley was well loved and cared for, and a well bred Morgan. Her sire is a smokey black stallion named Whirlwind's Morning Star and her dam a typey bay mare named Seacrest Fancy Impression. (Click link for photos).

At some point Haley was sold to a less-than-responsible owner. She was bred, neglected, and starved along with 30+ other horses and ponies. In December 2008 they were seized and their owner prosecuted for animal cruelty. So at only 6 years old this beautiful mare found herself at Spring Hill Horse Rescue.

I came across her while photograping the recently seized herd for their website, she looked at me and I melted. I have always wanted a buckskin Morgan and here was one in need of a home . . . so in March we picked Haley up and brought her to a friend's farm.

The plan was for her to stay there until foaling. We then found out that Haley was no longer pregnant and ready to come home sooner than expected.

So we build another paddock, started a run-in shed and brought her home to start her new life as a pampered princess. Thanks to her friends at Spring Hill Rescue and the generous friend who fostered her for us, Haley is making a dramatic recovery. She still has a ways to go, but I feel lucky everyday to have come across this beautiful mare.