Rehabilitating abused draft ponies

[Maxwell]

A little about me…I live in upstate NY and I have been working with horses for almost 30 years. I have mostly worked with riding horses and even though I have owned a draft horse for the last 13 years I only recently started working her in harness. I just found this website and I am impressed by the amount of information and dedication on display here.

In Dec. in a moment of insanity, I bought a pair of 9 &10 year old spotted draft cross ponies. I had not been in the market for any new horses and especially hadn’t planned on buying a team. However, I saw this pair listed and I could not get them out of my mind. I have a friend who is looking for a team so I thought that they were worth checking out and so off we went to see them. We knew right away that they were not the right horses for my friend (he is looking for a quiet, well broke team suitable for a beginner) as it was clear that these ponies have been very mistreated and as a result they are not easy to work with.

They were very shy of being touched, very head-shy, and I couldn’t get anywhere near their feet. The owners had bought this team at an auction in Ohio and had only had them for a few months which I think is fortunate since they wanted these two to be pulling ponies. While I have known some nice, well trained pulling horses I see a lot more that have been ruined buy some of the so-called training methods. One of the favored “training” techniques of the people who owned these ponies involves hitting the horse with a lit torch on the legs and bellies to make them lunge into the collar. These ponies have already been so mistreated that I hate to imagine what this would have done to them.

The owners did manage to get them both harnessed and hitched up and they did drive well. I saw a lot of potential if I could bring them around. Since I just couldn’t stop thinking about them I bought them.

I decided to completely go back to basics with these two, focusing on gaining a little trust. After 10 weeks of working with them they stand quietly for grooming and I can easily pick up their feet. One of the mares came around very quickly but the other was much more traumatized. I felt that we hit a huge milestone yesterday when she not only accepted grooming but she truly enjoyed it. She was leaning into the curry comb with her lips twitching in pleasure. She is still very head-shy and is extremely frightened of any kind of brush or tool near her head but there is at least a small crack in her shell.

I plan to start working with them in harness this week. I am going to stick with ground driving until we all feel comfortable and relaxed. It is going to take a lot of time, patience and hard work but I do think these ponies can be rehabilitated. I thought that it might be helpful to try and chronicle their progress so that when I get discouraged I can look back and see our progress and perhaps provide some encouragement to anybody else crazy enough o get themselves in the same predicament.

[imported_Stella]

Best of luck to you, Maxwell. Sounds like you are following my favorite piece of training advice… “when in doubt, just pretend that you are making progress”. Go slow and stay safe.

[OldKat]

Good job, Maxwell. Best of luck to you and your team. Fortunately someone like you stepped in on their behalf. Please make sure you keep us posted on your progress.

[Marshall]

Good for you. Keep us posted on their progress.

[Anonymous]

Those poor ponies. Bless you for taking the time that they need. Many people wouldn’t give them that benefit. Best wishes and keep us updated on their progress.

[jen judkins]

@Stella 16451 wrote:

“when in doubt, just pretend that you are making progress”

Stella…that is a very nice quote….I hope you don’t mind if I use it 😀

Maxwell, you are off to a great start! When training or retraining any horse, make sure the new lesson links to the last in a way the horse understands. Build trust by staying consistent and reliable. Horses cue into that big time. These horse are lucky to have you in their corner! Jennifer.

[imported_Stella]

Go for it, Jennifer… the farther we spread the good words, the more good they do! Looking forward to hearing updates on those ponies.

[Big Horses]

Good for you! A featherduster is a wondeful tool for getting them over being scared to be touched! Our “rehab” horse is a bit bigger… 19hh… and it’s been a long road, but a rewarding one, and one I’m sure we have a few more “miles” left on….. but it’s worth it!;) Somedays, progress just doesn’t fall into play it seems…but in the long run, perserverance pays off.
John

[Maxwell]

@Stella 16451 wrote:

Best of luck to you, Maxwell. Sounds like you are following my favorite piece of training advice… “when in doubt, just pretend that you are making progress”. Go slow and stay safe.

That is a great quote, it reminds me of something I used to tell some of my riding students who were really timid….”pretend you aren’t afraid of the horse and soon you won’t be.” It usually worked.

[blue80]

My wife once found me vacuuming on a jobsite. If she sees me featherdusting the horses, I have a feeling I’ll have a spotless house and get nothing done!:D
Actually I take a little pride in helping clean the house…. Remember, just “a little”

For desentitizing, I most like the boat bumpers tied to them while they are walking around grazing. In my small mind it gives me an excuse to keep the boat!

Kevin

[jac]

Hi im andrea, the a in jac, im glad the horses are now in safe caring hands,10 years ago i come accross a advert which I couldnt get out my head, it was for a welsh sec”A” I dono what it was about it but I felt I had to phone, and I did, to cut a long story short it turn out she was a very abused pony, the person who was selling her had bought her to get her out her situation and then didnt no what to do with her, enter me I phoned heard her sad story and that was me, I went to see her and that was that, needless to say she came home with me. I took weeks of gentle lovin care just for her to stop shaking when I went into her stable let alone put a brush near her,10 years down the line she has given me two beautiful fillies one of witch has stayed at home and is due her first foal on the 19th of june she is now 5yo and the 3yo fillie is with a friend, and being broken to drive this year.It take a long time to regain a horse’s trust but when you get there its a amazing feeling and it’s a total trust and a big responsibilty on anyone who has been lucky enough to gain it. good luck with your mares im sure in time you’l get there and when you do you’l no it in your heart and who knows in later years you might do it again, I did another twice, let us all no how it’s going. all the best andrea,

[Author]

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