PMU Rescue
Those of you looking to have a positive impact on the PMU industry needn’t travel to Canada. A local rescuer has several promising young Quarter Horses, drafts and crosses from a PMU background. Three horses from her farm have joined our boarding family. For more information, call Gina at 304.876.2718
***Newsflash!!!*** Starting 12 June 2009 we will begin training these horses. Watch for updates on individual horses! Its our goal to help the rescue match each horse with her or his perfect person. As the horses gain new confidence and skills we will take close note of their personalities, talents and quirks to help YOU choose your perfect horse!
Here are the horses in the herd (Descriptions were written by the rescuer, news flash updates added by Kirsten):
MICK - Solid black QH Gelding (no papers).. Approx. 15hh. 5yrs. old. Good conformation, pretty head.. Athletic and a great mover. Has a kind eye but is nevertheless very cautious/withdrawn around people. Not at all aggressive – just moves away when he does not want to be touched. Has had a little round pen training 3yrs. ago and while the nht haltered and led him around the pen a few times, he is not halter or lead trained. He is not farrier trained – however, his feet are in perfect shape, due to him possibly having some mustang in him(?).
*** 6/12/09 News Flash!***
I ducked through the fence and into the herd to start getting to know some of the horses better. Mick left the other horses and came over to me. He was surprisingly curious and affectionate! He let me know he wanted to have his face, particularly his eyelids, rubbed ever so gently. We stood for a little while with his head his my arms as I rubbed him. I decided to see what would happen next. I walked up to the water trough and sat down. I was uphill of Mick, the herd was downhill. Mick walked away from the other horses and put his head in my lap. Tears sprang to my eyes as I hugged him. It was one of those “touched by an angel” experiences, which makes me unceasingly grateful that horses let us into their lives.
BETTY, POA (no papers), Approx. 12hh. 5yrs.old
Excellent conformation, very pretty, friendly, halter and lead trained, good with the farrier. Had a little round pen work two years ago – was tacked up but not ridden and she did great.
*** 6/12/09 News Flash!***
Betty began basic training today… and answered all of my questions with calm confidence. Personality wise she is a left-brained extrovert. We will continue through basic training to make sure there are no holes in her foundation then move forward from there. Conformationally speaking, Betty will look at home in the show ring or on trail.
FAY – Arab/Morgan/Draft Cross. Approx. 15hh. 4yrs. old. Pale liver chestnut. Wonderful mover – lovely floating trot. Great conformation. Very friendly, curious, smart. Halter, lead trained, good with the farrier. Great conformation.
GYPSY – Draft-QH Cross. Approx. 15.3hh. 4yrs. old. Roan with lots of white in the summer. Very friendly, halter, lead trained. Okay with farrier, but recently, for no reason, has become a little antsy with her back feet.
***6/12/09 News Flash!***
Gypsy started basic training! What a laid-back, confident mare! Parelli afficionados will recognize her as a left-brain extrovert. I enjoyed working with her. The basics flowed easily. I have no doubt that she will come along quickly and quietly.
CROCKETT – Appaloosa (no papers) Gelding. Approx. 15.1hh. Headshy and needs an experience patient resistance-free trainer to work on this. Not halter or lead trained and needs more training in giving his feet for trimming.
***6/12/09 Newsflash!***
The challenge: To put a flymask on a horse who is not halter-trained and is known to be headshy. The solution: Clicker Training to the rescue! Gypsy and Betty abandoned us for the comfort and shade of the loafing shed. No worries about other horses mugging us for treats! Crocket immediately conncted the audible “click” with the treat that followed, so we began racing forward on baby steps. I held out the mask. After a minute he checked it out with his muzzle. Click! After several successful repetitions I upped the standard. It was no longer enough just to touch the mask. He got a little frustrated and tossed his head–and happened to rub his head from his eyes to his muzzle along the mask. Click! We continued on in this fashion. Solidify a step. Add another level of trust. Before too long the mask was on– and so ill-fitting! Off came the mask and I tried another one. Baby steps again, and a few minutes later the new mask was on. Sigh–too small. I rummaged around in the barn and found a few more masks to try. This was not a frustration, but an opportunity to reinforce my newfound relationship and communication with Crockett and his victory over being headshy. I found one that fit a little better and sent him off into the herd. Later I walked out to visit with the horses. Crockett saw me, pricked up his ears, and threaded his way through his pasture mates to join me. I call that a double success!
LUCY – Bay, breeding stock paint mare. Approx. 15hh. 10yrs. old. Good conformation. Friendly, halter, lead trained, good with the farrier. Lucy was at one time greenbroke, but needs an experienced gentle trainer to finish her saddle training. She is dominant in the herd.
SARA – Black with white blaze and socks. Breeding stock paint mare. Approx. 15hh. 10yrs.old. Excellent conformation. Very pretty horse – super affectionate and loves people.. She had some round pen training several years ago and was easy to work with. However, she is unsound on one front leg and after x-rays, and 3 vets examining her, the cause of her lameness has still not been determined. I suspect navicular, but could be wrong.
LIZ – Sorrel QH Mare. Line bred. 15hh. 16yrs. old. Saddle broke but has not been ridden in approx 7 years. She was, and is, very herd bound.
JACKIE B – 13yr.old Sorrel QH Mare. Approx 15.2hh. Afraid of people (she was a pmu brood mare up to 3yrs.ago and was obviously ‘rough’ handled all her life. Not halter or farrier trained. She has excellent Foundation bloodlines and the pmu ranch was also a top Canadian Foundation QH breeding farm, (She is not allowed to be used for breeding!)
MR.MULE – Senior small mule – Was very afraid of people when he first came here, but now enjoys being rubbed and petted – however, still cautious and if about being halterd. A great protector of the herd!
BOBBY – 20something Appendix QH Gelding. Approx. 16hh. Has a history of abuse, and was a basket case when I got him but is fine now. He has not been ridden in about 11 years and is a little arthritic. Dominant in the herd.
ROSIE – Gypsy’s dam. 20something swaybacked PMU QH/Draft Roan Mare. Due to past ‘rough handling’ she is still very very afraid of people and will not allow handling. She will never be anything other than a pasture ornament.
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