It has been 2 years and 4 months that I have owned this big guy! Believe me when I say, we have had a rocky road. The good news is that we have truly learned so much about each other. It epitomizes one of my favorite sayings about the growth of a relationship-"time and trust".
So, here is the not-so-great part of our relationship...I considered selling him several times. Yes, I thought long and hard about calling it quits and even listed him for sale at one point, AGH!! I felt that we would never gain a true bond with one another and that he was simply too dangerous! His headstrong ways, nippiness, ability to spook at a butterfly, his profoundly buddy sour ways, and his jigging or trying to throw me were just part of the many reasons I felt it was time to move on. However, I am so thankful I never gave up on him!! He has come so far, we both have! I would have to say that much of this change came from consistent ground work, clear directions, and ultimately a change in barn and a change in diet. I also learned that he suffered from ulcers, as most former racehorses do. I had no idea! Thus, much of his behavior issues stemmed from him simply being in pain. It took 2 weeks of Ulcerguard, a daily dose of Ranitidine, a slow hay feeder, and daily Ugard to fix this. Cheap-NO! Worth every penny-YES!! He has become a softer, gentler version that I never expected!
Our time in the round pen and the arena have been priceless. Working in the small dimension of a round pen has helped teach him discipline, direction, and who is the boss. The small proximity between us has also help establish more of a bond and more trust as well. He learned that he could not simply get away with some of the antics he was pulling in the past, and that there truly was nowhere for him to go! It also helped develop his right lead which is something we still struggle with (as do many OTTBs) but it is much better than it was. In the arena we worked constantly on walk-trot-canter, and also backing, serpentine's, half-halts and full halts. I worked very hard to not let him get away with some of the things I used to let slip by me, which was much needed as OTTBs (and all horses) need clear directions, and repetition. If I was wishy-washy in my leading of him, he gave me exactly that! He started to trust me and my leadership, which also helped his spookiness and buddy-sour ways. Even now as I write this, I have a broken finger and have not been able to ride for 6 weeks. Yet, the training has continued! I have worked with him continually in this time doing ground work. The best thing though, is we have become even closer as we played together at "follow the leader" in the arena which he loved!
There were even days that I just set up a chair inside the round pen and simply sat with him. At times, he would approach me and of course I would talk with him. This has also done wonders for our bond together. On some days, I would just lead him around the barn to get him exposed to "the scary things" like piles of boxes, or a loose tarp over the shavings that flaps in the wind, or rocks that I would throw into the nearby trees to catch him off guard. All of these things truly helped so much to desensitize him from them.
He tries so hard to please me, as seems to be typical with Thoroughbreds. They are majestic and amazing animals with bigger hearts and minds than we could ever imagine. I am so glad I have never given up on him! I have learned so much about patience, kindness, compassion, determination, and more. Horses truly are mirrors of our own souls, and I am so blessed to have him reflecting on me constantly!!
