Anderson
2003 chestnut Arabian gelding
Registered Name: none
Type of Rescue: Owner Surrender
Intake Date: 5/7/2015
Adoption Date: 3/29/2021
Length of Time with SAFE: 5 years, 11 months
ADOPTED!! by Ari and Siva
Anderson’s Story
Anderson and Annabelle were surrendered by their owner after the Kitsap Humane Society discovered the two horses living in an isolated field where they were being fed but were otherwise unhanded. Anderson was a stallion, who had been allowed to breed Annabelle repeatedly over a period of 5–6 years. His behavior in the presence of his mare was decidedly studdish, and Annabelle had to be removed from the property before we could even attempt to catch him safely. With the help of trainer Darik Anderson, Anderson was caught, loaded into a trailer, and hauled to NWESC where he was immediately gelded. He got an education in good behavior from Dr Hannah, who conducted his post-surgery forced exercise.
Anderson Today
Today, Anderson is a completely different horse from the wild stallion we first met. He’s a flashy, gentle, beautiful mover. He loves trail rides where he can lead, follow or go out alone on the trails. He’s even sorted cows.
Anderson moves out nicely through W/T/C and is continuing to work on more advanced moves such as haunches in, walk canter departs and the beginning work towards flying lead changes. This guy has an incredibly sweet personality but tends to be a one-person kind of horse. You earn his respect and this fellow will literally walk over fire for you. That is how our Operations Director, Terry, knew she had found his person. For those who know Anderson, know he doesn’t always have “nice” ears, even though he is a sweet horse. When he met his adopter, Ari, his ears were forward the whole time! Anderson chose his person and we could not agree more.
Anderson Picks His Person
When Terry met Ari, she knew immediately that she had found Anderson’s person. Right after she met with Ari, Anderson’s soon to be adopter, she told a small group of us in the barn and we all squealed with excitement. For those of us who know Anderson know that he doesn’t always have “nice” ears, even though he is a sweet boy. Upon meeting Ari for the first time, his ears were forward the whole time! Terry could barely contain her excitement and we all knew why when she shared the news. Anderson had chosen his person and with him, this was the only way it could happen.
Ari came out a second time so her husband could also meet Anderson. We all were holding our breath, hoping it would work out. You may have guessed by now that it did. Before leaving SAFE, Ari attended a Joel Connor clinic. We posted a few photos on our Community Facebook and everyone commented on Anderson’s forward ears and how at ease he looked with her. Ari has a great feel that matches exactly what Anderson needs. Check out the photos from the clinic below.
After almost 6 years at SAFE, Anderson headed home with Ari and Siva where he joins his brother, Oreo, and a sister Willow. Although SAFE doesn’t feel the same without him, we are beyond excited for him and cannot wait to see the photos of his new life.
Limelight Pet Project: Anderson
SAFE is grateful for support of our friends at the Limelight Pet Project who work to help shine the light on harder to place pets. Anderson was recently featured on Q13’s weekend morning show as a result of their work. Here is the longer interview that covers everything you could possibly want to know about this special boy. We have had quite a few application come in after this spotlight and are working to set up visits. If you are interested in meeting Anderson please get your application in now! SAFE Adoption Application | Save a Forgotten Equine (SAFE) (safehorses.org)
Joel Conner Clinic Report: Anderson
- Being caught in the turnout
- Sensitive to the cinch
- Communicating with him through my seat under saddle (Walk, Trot, Lope)
- Appears “pissed” when asked to lope
Anderson meets Buck!
By Phoebe T.:
At the start of the Buck Brannaman clinic in Ellensburg, Anderson behaved like a typical horse in new surroundings but that didn’t last long. He exhibited a calm demeanor (for an Arab), and remained attentive, interested, and responsive throughout the 3 days. Of course, that first day, Anderson, who has been flagged a thousand times by now, decided to get nervous when the flag rapped the saddle so I had to break his hind over about four times before he came back to me. But after that, he was awesome! He became very responsive to both the flag and to my feel. He was a delight to sponsor! This was a great experience for both of us.
Joel Conner Clinic Report: Anderson
Clinic report from Kaya M:
Even though this was my fourth clinic riding Anderson, I think we made more positive changes together than the past three combined! I had a huge learning moment myself that gave me more confidence and control and gave Anderson a better expression: fully releasing in the canter. It sounds simple and obvious, but I didn’t even realize before that I wasn’t doing this. Every time I would eventually get a canter, I would have an internal dialogue of “he’s going to break, gotta keep him going” and that made my legs tight and kept me nagging at him without ever fully releasing or rewarding his forward movement. After figuring this out (and finding some more effective ways to get him moving) Andy was a little energizer bunny with relatively happy ears! It was so fun to be able to work on some of the other exercises, like leg yielding, with life and without having to pick fights all the time! I’m excited to keep working on this and see just how soft and happy Anderson can be.
Anderson Training Update
Here’s an update from Anderson’s regular rider, Kaya:
Since this clinic was a little unique, Anderson and I both had the opportunity to really delve into our biggest insecurities and issues. We had two round pens set up in the indoor arena and this allowed me to ride Anderson with just a halter, no bridle, and work on both my ability to let go and encourage Anderson forward without letting my legs get tight and change Anderson’s expression. We worked on this by releasing pressure and allowing downward transitions when he had a better expression with his ears forward. This exercise was, and continues to be, really difficult for me. I have a hard time maintaining my feel and encouraging Anderson through his grouchy faces. We have been continuing to work on this since the clinic and have seen a little improvement. Hopefully, with continued work, Anderson will have more respect for his riders and show a better expression in future rides!
Anderson Horsemanship Update
Here’s an update from Anderson’s regular rider and friend Kaya M:
Anderson is one special horse. Since we first began working together last summer, our relationship and ability to understand each other has grown exponentially! Last summer, Anderson would walk away from me with ears pinned in his paddock and now he is all happy ears and cuddles when I go get him. This change in attitude feels directly related to a change in my horsemanship abilities. I have learned how to be more adamant and specific about what I’m asking and it is obvious how grateful he is for this clarity. This change is also evident when working. While Andy still has some issues with his expression, he is much more forward and every day he feels less and less stuck. It is so fun to feel this change! Anderson has quickly become one of my favorite horses to ride. I feel so confident on him now that we have (for the most part) overcome the original hurdles that we faced and I can’t wait to continue growing and learning with him.
Joel Conner Clinic Report: Anderson
Sarah & Anderson
Anderson lent his vast experience as a groundwork and riding horse to several clinic participants this weekend. First up was volunteer Sarah V, who did the groundwork sessions with him and had this to say about it:
This was my second groundwork clinic with Joel and only my second time working with Anderson, but I learned a ton! It was a great chance for me to continue teasing out how much of my energy was required for movement, and to grow more confident in establishing my space and right to move the horse’s feet. Anderson is responsive and very attuned to his handler, but also well-versed in ground work and sometimes opinionated if you are clumsy or unclear.He did EXCEPTIONALLY well at backing and stopping promptly with just the slightest ask, and we were getting lovely upward and downward transitions within the first morning of the clinic. As I’m new to groundwork I struggled a bit with giving precise aids and managing my rope while also remaining attentive to changes in the horse, but Joel helped me hone my skills so that I could ask Anderson to be more prompt. I realized that I’d been mistakenly thinking that Anderson was crowding my space, when really I wasn’t walking a clear circle for him to balance off of. Once I remedied that, things got much easier. Joel also pushed me to be willing and able to firm up with Anderson, and said we made great changes and were working with lots more life by the end of the clinic.I was slightly afraid that firming up and establishing boundaries about my space (Anderson sometimes likes to lean on you for cuddles) would put him off, but honestly he seemed so much happier with knowing the boundaries! I figured out that Anderson wasn’t a fan of back scratches or forehead rubs, and found his spot scratching and massaging just under his mane on the top of his neck, which produced lots of relaxed yawns and stretching.I was really pleased with Anderson and am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with him!
Bonnie & Andy
SAFE director Bonnie Hammond also had the opportunity to ride Anderson for part of the clinic, and was quite impressed with him:
Anderson has been here at SAFE for a while, and he’s received a fair amount of training in that time. I rode him in the clinic with no preparation, and I was serious impressed with how light this horse is! Ask for a rein back with the slightest aids, and he glides backwards. When it comes to cantering this intelligent gelding, less is definitely more when it comes to asking for the transition. In fact, if you put too much leg on, or heaven forbid you grip him with your legs, you are going NOWHERE fast. But if you lean forward the slightest amount and just think “canter,” Anderson moves into a smooth and enjoyable lope just as pretty as a picture. He’s a lot of fun to ride, and again, I could not get over how well trained this horse is! Terry worked with him extensively for the first few years, and now he’s able to carry all sorts of riders. It’s really neat!
Anderson aka Mr. Personality
Anderson continues to do well working with Kaya. Here is a little update she wrote about him:
Anderson is so much fun! As I work with him more, his adorable and ridiculous personality is really showing itself. He loves a good face scratch and playing with the water from the hose. Even though he sometimes has a nasty expression when asked to transition upward between gaits, it really does seem like he likes to work and be ridden. I can imagine him being super happy, hanging out with his person going around trails and seeing new sights.
Anderson is helping me to be more accurate and specific. He definitely knows how to get away with doing less, and I have to make sure I know exactly what I’m asking for and that I ask for it the right way. He is keeping me honest and helping me learn and I appreciate that very much. I’m excited to continue growing with this guy!
Anderson: Clinic Update
Here is what Kaya had to say about Anderson in the Horsemanship clinic this past September:
This clinic with Anderson was a huge learning experience for me. I went into the weekend feeling confident about Anderson, but knew that we needed to work on having more life and more timely transitions. Joel helped me with this on the first day of the clinic and throughout the weekend. Basically he explained that I needed to stop treating Anderson like a young or green horse and start expecting more of him, because he can do so much more. This change of mindset has helped me so much! Riding Anderson now is so different from before. He’s super responsive and I now know how to quickly help solve the issue when he is not. Anderson is so much fun to ride! He’s going to make someone an absolutely incredible partner.
Joel Conner Clinic Report: Anderson
Recently Kaya has taken over riding Anderson at SAFE. She is doing a great job with him and it is really great to see him take to a new rider. He is keeping up the training and seems as the saying goes “the student has become the teacher.” He has been a good boy for Kaya and no issues have come up with the transfer to a new person. This is helpful for his transition to an adopter and we are hopeful his person is out there and ready to take him on! Here is what Kaya had to say about her recent experience riding Anderson in the Joel Conner clinic at SAFE:
“I was lucky enough to get to ride Anderson in the first two days of the Joel Conner clinic. What a cool horse! Anderson really knows his stuff and I was really able to focus on myself during the riding sessions, which I really appreciate! It was great to feel all the motions that we normally focus on and really get specific and kind of take things to the next step that I haven’t been able to work on with other horses.
“Anderson is so level headed about being around other horses, he didn’t seem the least bit bothered by the traffic in the arena. I am currently overcoming a bit of riding anxiety caused by a couple of recent falls and the fact that Anderson is so solid was incredibly helpful to me. He really helped me gain a lot of confidence! We went flying around the figure eight exercise on Saturday (he’s a fast little horse!) and I felt in total control the whole time. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to learn on Anderson!”
Joel Conner Clinic Report: Anderson
Terry worked with Anderson during Joel Conner’s last visit, here’s what she had to say:
Wow!! What a great ride!! Anderson has never felt this forward before. At this clinic, Joel gave Anderson the best compliment, saying he is ready to be adopted and will make it as a riding horse for someone. Joel asked what I’ve been doing differently. I think these changes have to do with the timing of my ask to canter and Anderson’s connection to my feel. He has become very steady and will maintain the gait as long as I want. As I told Joel, it’s SO nice to get on a SAFE horse who is starting to act and feel like a “grownup horse!”
There are a few things we will continue to improve. One is the shaping up around to the right, which has always been an issue but the correction is getting easier and he is holding the shape longer. Also getting him straight and lining out which will get his hind engaged more. He needs to strengthen his hindquarters too. Like many Arabians, Anderson tend to be weaker in the hind end and can easily end up on his forehand. He is backing up with less resistance and able to supple and back nice arcs. This is something we will continue to improve upon and get lighter off feel.
For fun, I asked Joel to help me teach Anderson haunches in and simple changes to eventually ask for flying changes. But I realized that I was asking for too much at once by asking for haunches in. Asking for just a step or two is better in the beginning as he learns what I’m asking. Since the clinic, I’ve built on these few steps and he is holding it much longer and without a brace. He has a lot of lift in his withers and all of this exercise is helping him get softer in his body.
For the simple changes, Anderson needs to become more punctual about the right lead canter which is still his weaker side. This is a bit tricky, and he’ll give me a stink face if I demand a quick canter transition instead of building it up from the trot. But we started breaking it down with an exercise of going from the rein back to an immediate forward transition to the trot or canter. This is helping him push and “jump out of his tracks” with a good amount of impulsion. From here we can also get him to started on walk to canter transitions. He had some great moments in the clinic to build upon.
With every ride, we get to a good place and we’re seeing fewer bad expressions from him too. His attitude will still shows up in the arena work but not all the time and only for the canter. He is a horse with an opinion for sure but the work is getting changes. He is greatly improved over the last few months and I’m excited to get some adoption applications on him so I can show him to some prospective adopters. He can be a tricky fellow but it’s well worth the time to get to know him. He loves attention and is quite a funny character at times. I trust him very much and I know there is someone out there who can be his perfect partner.
Anderson Goes to Oregon
Anderson traveled to Oregon this past weekend to the lovely Northwood Stables for a clinic with Joel Conner. It was an opportunity to see how well he would work in a new place, around different horses. I am happy to report that Andy was brilliant! There was absolutely no bad behavior or changes in his temperament being in an unfamiliar place. He did well traveling both down and back, and stayed relaxed from the moment he got off the trailer through everything that was asked of him.
Over the last few months, our work has hit some rough patches. Sometimes as riders we can get discouraged when the training isn’t always taking a linear route straight up. I discovered a hole in his foundation in regards to acceptance of the back cinch which has caused some setbacks. This trouble was in there and while we were getting away with rides without dealing directly with it, it was bound to show up in other areas. It’s not something you can expect to fix overnight. Consistency and patience will help him relax when things touch his flank area and hopefully prevent any big blowups in the future. At the clinic, Joel was able to give me some ideas as to how I can go about helping Anderson deal with things touching him.
We have also been struggling with attitude around the right lead canter. This is a difficult lead for him to pick up and he has had troubles with it since the beginning. Horses, like humans, have a dominant side and a weaker side. Anderson’s weakness tends to show up when he is tracking to the right and his weaker left hind is forced to take up weight. During the clinic, we worked on riding him straighter and maintaining flexion when tracking to the right. He can hold this at the walk and trot but it’s hard to do in long stretches of canter/lope. This weakness was evident during the clinic so this was the one thing I really wanted to work more on when we got home.
The clinic also afforded us the opportunity to ride with a few more advanced horsemanship riders and horses. We were able to play a little with more advanced maneuvers such as haunches in and walk-canter departs. As always, Joel’s instruction and guidance is a wonderful reminder of the importance of a good foundation. If we let things slide and let holes develop, we begin to have troubles as we ask more from the horses. This is what I love about the horsemanship training. The SAFE horses are getting a spectacular training foundation that will allow their future adopters to take them in so many directions. This work revolves around getting the horses to a place of peaceful acceptance and partnership with humans. Take Anderson for example. Three years ago, he was a wild aggressive stallion who was frightened to the point of attacking us as we attempted to rescue him. Now he is gentle to handle, accepts a rider, and successfully travels to new locations without issue. Horsemanship works! Horses like Anderson are living proof that huge changes and positive transformations can be the result of consistent and fair training.
Adventures with Anderson
This summer, we had the opportunity to take Anderson for a 3 day camping trip to Cle Elum WA. He was an awesome boy for this new experience and did a fantastic job dealing with everything that was asked of him. We took the horses out every day for up to 5 hours of riding, grazed in a field for lunch and climbed very steep hills, passing hikers and dogs along the way.
Probably the most interesting part was teaching Anderson to go into the lake. In addition to having to deal with water itself there were a lot of waves! This was a big thing for him to deal with, but he did it! He overcame his instinct to flee, and was able to walk around in the water and get in and out without fear. This was more proof that the horsemanship work we have been practicing at home is helping him prepare for experiences like this one. With support and trust in his rider, Anderson was able to try something new without getting himself or his rider in trouble. He has learned to check in with his person and react according to their feel and leadership in the situation. Now granted, he didn’t just jump right in the water and splash around, but we got there without anyone getting hurt. The proof that he accepted the change was evident in the days that followed, as he was able to get in the water and relax with less and less time needed.
Anderson is still a very interesting riding partner. He requires you to be present at all times, clear in your direction, fair yet non-negotiable in your ask. He can be intimidating at times and will act like a pushy stud if he believes he can get away with it. But if he is treated fairly and with respect, he soaks up affection and love and becomes a willing partner. He is still only available to someone who understands his history and the challenges that come with working with him. He can be as gentle as a kid’s horse one minute and the next, only an experience rider can handle him. Because he was a late cut stud, Anderson will always test people, and he needs a smart owner who can deal with that. He’s a ton of fun to ride and if you don’t take his sometimes snotty faces personally, he’s very enjoyable to interact with. He’s a great horse for adventures like this camping trip, and he proved that with a strong relationship with his rider, he will literally walk on water when he trusts you.
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- Anderson with Friends Tia & SAFE Alumni Sophie
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- Splashing in the lake!
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- Beach time!
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- Cool kid on the beach!
New Photos of Anderson
Clinic & Health Update: Anderson
Finally, the wet weather is here and Anderson’s cough has all but gone away! He is definitely a Northwest boy who likes wet air that is dry and certainly not smoky! We are going to lower his dose of prednisolone to try to wean him off of it. There is a chance he will need to stay on a low dose and increase it when during dry weather or poor air quality. The easiest way to understand what he has is if you know anyone who suffers from asthma. While it is not exactly the same, he will most likely get flair ups of different degrees and need medication to help him through the episodes. An easy fix and otherwise he remains a very content, healthy and sound horse.
Anderson continues to be a star for riding and trail work. He is consistently improving in both his skill and attitude around riding. We had a wonderful experience at the end of the summer at the Ricky Quinn clinic in Ellensburg. Ricky travels the US and Internationally teaching horsemanship and sharing his study of his study of the teachings of Tom Dorrance, Ray Hunt, and Buck Brannaman. It was a great learning opportunity for both Anderson and myself. I feel very lucky to have had the chance to ride a SAFE horse in one of Ricky’s clinics. We spent the mornings working on horsemanship and the afternoons putting those skills to work sorting cattle and swinging the rope.
Anderson and Ben sorting cattle at the Ricky Quinn Clinic
Anderson exceeded every expectation I could imagine during this long weekend. He was a champ loading, settling in and very well behaved in the new surroundings. The weather was not so pleasant with high winds but even with things blowing about, he remained connected to me and feeling of my energy. Ricky was very helpful in showing where a solid foundation can be built upon to ultimately taking the horse into one hand and working cattle. While I am not on a path to be a rancher, I am very interested in the extreme lightness of the horses worked in this style of horsemanship. They are very engaged in the hind quarters, in self carriage and light to the aids, all while remaining relaxed in their dispositions.
There were many things done to help ready the horses for introduction of the cows and each step helped make the experience easy and safe. We learned to follow behind a moving dummy both pulled by another horse and a gator as well as the importance of our positioning around the livestock. It took Anderson just a few minutes to settle into the work and soon we were sorting the cows and literally walking right through the small herd. He was drawn to their life and was interested in moving them. By the last day one of the other participants jokingly commented that Anderson was no longer a rescue Arabian but looked as comfortable as an old ranch horse. It meant the world to me to hear these words. Andy has truly come so far and whatever the future holds for him, I am confident the foundation SAFE has provided him will carry him into a very happy life.
At the start of each day Terry helping Jennifer & Anderson
A few weeks ago Joel Conner came out to SAFE for the last clinic of the year. I was very pleased to allow one of our young volunteers the opportunity to ride Anderson in the clinic. Not know exactly what he may do with her in a clinic setting I was very cautious and stayed close as they both settled into the class. Again, as always, he surpassed all expectation and was a perfect gentleman for Jennifer. Here is what she had to say about her rides on Andy:
Jennifer & Anderson
“I really enjoyed riding Anderson in Joel’s clinic. He was extremely patient with me while I was learning to ride and trying to figure out what I was asking from him. He was quiet and calm and made it very easy to learn on him. During the entire clinic he was responsive to me even with my slightest move he knew how to react. I felt very safe with him and knew he was a horse that could be trusted. I learned a lot with him and can’t wait for the next clinic!”
Anderson is READY for his new life to begin. He still requires a fairly good rider or at least one willing to learn how to ride him without tight legs and heavy hands. He is a great companion out in the field with the other geldings and we have been able to go on quite a few solo trail rides. He will require someone come to SAFE a few times to get to know him and I am excited to find the right person to hand him over too. He is a loving boy and I know a very special person will find him soon!
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- Anderson & Jennifer
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- Learning to follow the dummy.
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- Wind ans dust was abundant!
Poor Anderson
It’s finally raining again and no one at SAFE is happier about that than Anderson. The smoke and dust in the air this summer have been exceptionally hard on his lungs. We started noticing that he’d cough a bit when asked to canter, so when Dr. Fleck came to do his dental, we had him listen to his lungs as well. Unfortunately Dr Fleck did not like what he was hearing. He prescribed medications to help open up Anderson’s airway and help reduce inflammation in his lungs. We also changed his bedding to less dusty sawdust pellets and began wetting down his hay. The good news is at his two week check up, his lungs sounded much more clear. But sadly the air began to fill with smoke again and his breathing issues returned. Not only would he cough for a few seconds when asked to canter, he was also wheezing at the trot and canter. We’re making adjustments to his medication to see how comfortable we can make him, and of course not riding him during periods of bad air quality. Hopefully, with fall and wetter weather approaching, he will make a full recovery and we either take him off the medications or find a low maintenance dose to keep him comfortable.
Anderson Photo Gallery
photos by Jessica Farren
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- Learning to leg yield
Trail horses available for adoption!
Here at SAFE, we are enjoying the wonderful sunshine by exploring the trails at Farrel-McWhirter Park next door. The horses love to get outside and get a break from arena work. Last week, both King and Stevie went out for their first trail rides and did perfect! We had a nice steady group to help them along, with Anderson in the lead and Cameo bringing up the rear. You can bet we’ll be enjoying many warm days this summer walking in the cool forest with these horses. They all are amazing and more than ready for new homes!
Cow Horse Anderson?
First sighting…
OK OK… so maybe there aren’t any rodeos in our near future but let me tell you this boy was SO BRAVE and well behaved working with cows for the first time. The truth is… I was more scared of getting run over by one of them than Anderson! The only time he really got concerned was when they first came into the arena. After that, he was interested but remained with me and listened to my direction. MAN I LOVE THIS HORSE! It is things like this that show me what an amazing riding partner he has become and will continue to develop into over time.
We had a some really great riding sessions with Joel while visiting in Ellensburg and quite a bit of homework to do. Overall Anderson did extremely well hauling over the pass and getting settled into the farm and was ready to work. The next goal in our training is to increase his promptness to moving forward when ask and to keep his life up during the movements. Anderson, our fiery Arabian boy, has a dullness to him. He would mush rather stand and watch the action then get out and go. It’s important to continue to make sure he doesn’t become dull and when I ask him to move forward he needs to do it in a timely manner. Changing paces even within the gait can help keep him lively and at this point in his training it is still important to remember to stay away from using two reins. Pulling back with two reins will only stop him and not allow him the freedom he needs as a young riding horse. While we can start asking for softness with both reins he still needs to be going along for the majority of the time with a soft rein and if needed just the inside rein to help him bend and shape up around the inside.
I am extremely proud of Anderson’s improvement over the past few months and it is good to have a check up with Joel. He has really come quite a long way and is a testament to the foundation that the horsemanship training is providing for our SAFE horses. He is ready to take on whatever style of riding his adopter wants to take him into. And while he is still best suited for an intermediate to advanced rider he is starting to fill in more for the rider. I am hoping to start introducing some of the volunteer riders to him and see how he does with different riders on his back.
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- Interested but relaxed
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- First time moving the herd!
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- Separating one off
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- Learning to turn on the front quarters
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- Anderson hooking on to the cow
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- SAFE saddle comes in handy keeping the riders safe and balanced!
Can you love one a little too much?
A face hard not to fall in love with.
Being “horseless” is a choice I have made. I work many long hours for SAFE and when I come home, my family needs me. I could not justify running off in my free time to ride my personal horse or spend the many hours a week I would want to spend with one. I don’t think I know how to do anything but go all in. So I get to still enjoy working with horses thorough my job at SAFE. I always have one very special horse that becomes my central project and that horse will get all the attention and care I would give my own horse. So I have lovingly taken to calling Anderson my boyfriend and all the volunteers tease me that I love him so much.
So what is the consequence to this? Well for starters, potential adopters seen that love and have even remarked that they didn’t want to take him away from me. Oh dear! Have I loved him too much? I don’t think this is possible but I understand their concern and think it is very sweet. For me, the absolute best day at SAFE is when a horse is loaded in the trailer and headed to their new home. A perfect family has been found for them and a future of safety and love awaits them. With Anderson, he needed a consistent person to attach to and trust. So the relationship for both of us works well. I get to have a sweet boy to ride and learn on and he gets to see that people are pretty cool and is building the trust he needs to secure placement in a forever home.
He gives me a very strong sense of safety. I know this sounds strange coming from the person that was bucked off this guy not even a year ago, but I feel that he wants to be safe and he doesn’t intend any harm to me. That said I am always mindful of him. Not only is he a young energetic Arabian but also he was a late cut stallion. In no way does he act overly interested in mares but he does test me in little ways to see who is actually in charge of whom. It is these times that I help him know the herd order that he becomes even more gentle and kind. He loves to interact with me. If he is in the round pen doing liberty work he wants to be near me and stays with me as I walk around the pen. He is a little cheeky at times so I am always aware of him and what he is capable. Keeping the order of the herd is important with him. I don’t have to “dominate him” to make my point, I just have to be clear and when I ask him to do some thing there are no questions about it happening. Get the change and let him have peace, have become some important lessons for us. If I let me get away with little bad habits he may challenge me at other times. Really small things like not letting him became mouthy are very important.
I have an absolute blast working with him at the Joel Conner clinic in March. He was happy to show Joel the changes he has gotten and in this clinic we really learned the importance of working on a loose rein. I LOVE the fact that we are at a place that he can calmly go into the walk, trot and lope on a loose rein and come back down with out pulling on the rein. God knows it took a lot of courage and trust to get there but the end result has changed so much in my own abilities and made a huge difference for Andy.
After the Joel clinic, it was time to take him back out on to the trails. He was a little excited at first but soon relaxed into a very nice big walk. He crosses over the bridges and water with just a very little amount of caution before going over; he’s happy leading other horses and just as content to follow. He did not get upset when other horses with us were pacing or unsettled. He was respectful of their space and OK if they came close behind him. I think he really enjoyed being out of the arena and he was just as responsive to me outside as he is at home. Again all the work we have done in preparation and building a solid relationship are paying off. I felt very safe on him and was very happy we could walk on the trail and over bridges with a long rein and at a relaxed pace.
Now I write this glowing report and think wow, he sounds like the perfect horse… While I might have some rose colored glasses on but I do think he is extremely talented young horse and has a ton of potential. He still is at a place in his training that he needs an athletic advanced rider who is able to keep up with his energy and able to guide him through the next few years. Someday he maybe able to carry a more beginner rider but at this point he needs an adopter who can continue the great work SAFE has done with him and not let him regress or fall into bad habits. His perfect match would be someone who has the time to work with him 4–5 times a week and has an arena to continue working with him along with any trail riding they want to do. He is not ready for someone to just pull him out on a Saturday, saddle up and head out on the trails. He still needs groundwork and to continue to confirm the basics. I do think he is going to go fast when the right match puts an application in for him. I will miss him but know that he will have the best home we can find for him and all the opportunity to have a successful forever home. Please email me at adopt@safehorses.org if you have questions about Anderson.
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- Anderson, Nala, Bridgit and Jolene’s horse Jackson.
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- 1st trail ride of the season
Training Update: Anderson
I don’t know if I will be able to put into words how pleased I am with the work Joel Conner did with Anderson. Anderson and I had hit a pretty hard spot in our training this last summer and while I loved working with him, I knew that he needed a better hand to get him through this rough patch. He was still very scared of saddling and had extreme reactions to leg aids and going forward. This resulted in a few accidents where I got to test gravity and one major fall that left me laid up for a few weeks. Stubborn or stupidity might have played a role in waiting as long as I did to ask Joel to take him into training, but in the end it saved us both.
During the three months Anderson was in training with Joel, I had the opportunity to take several day trips over to see his progress and ride. While Anderson had several issues to work out himself, there was a tremendous amount of growth I needed to do as well, including getting over my fear of falling from this horse. There are times you have to trust, to let go of old fears and let the teacher take the reins, as it were, and show you a better way. I am truly grateful for Joel’s help.
I was listening to a video of a theologian talking online the other day. He had an interesting analogy about growth. He explained that when we are at a point that we need to change we experience an uncomfortable feeling. He used the comparison of a lobster. As the lobster gets bigger, he becomes too small for his shell. Finally he becomes so uncomfortable that he has to shed his current shell and grow a new one, making him very vulnerable during this process. Pain, being uncomfortable, and vulnerability are all symptoms of growth. Let me tell you, Anderson and I both had a lot of growing to do over the past three months!
It’s amazing how horses can get us to stretch and push beyond ourselves. Rescue horses add another layer to this as they have to work through troubles that other horses often don’t face. I know I shouldn’t be proud but I can’t help smiling and being pleased with all the changes this horse has gone through since we picked him up. He is still growing and learning to be a gentle riding partner but now he has a great foundation to work with as we progress in our work together. He is suited for a confident rider who has experience with green horses, preferably someone who has worked with late cut stallions. I know his match is out there and they are going to have one amazing horse to partner up with!
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- We have matching pony tails!
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- Are we listening to Joel? HA!
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- Finding the Canter!
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- Look Mom no reins!!
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- Easy to smile when working with Anderson!
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- Watching Joel work.
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- LOVE this face!
Anderson in Training
Early in July of this year, we made the decision to put Anderson back into training, this time with Joel Conner. Although Anderson had a good start as a riding horse, there were some holes in his training that had started cropping up. A bucking incident unseated SAFE trainer Terry Phelps, and although she was unhurt, her confidence in Anderson was a bit shaken. Other holes in his training were beginning to cause concern. So Anderson was sent off to Ellensburg to continue his training with Joel.
Anderson is a smart horse who learns well, and he’s made terrific progress in his training. Being at the ranch means that Anderson is exposed to new situations all the time. He lives outside in a small herd made up of a young mustang gelding and another horse you’d probably recognize: SAFE alumni Owen. Owen and Anderson both came to SAFE as stallions and both grew up in relative isolation, leaving them a bit socially challenged in regard to other horses. Owen has turned out to have a very dominant personality, and he accepts nothing less than total respect from the horses he shares space with. At first, Anderson didn’t understand this dynamic, and in fact he tended to behave rather rudely towards other horses, letting his studdy side show. Joel told us that when Anderson was turned out with Owen, he put on a little show of dominance, which Owen wryly observed for several minutes before putting Anderson firmly in his place. This taught Anderson a valuable lesson, one that has had a very positive effect on his training. The three horses co-exist peacefully in their shared space, but both Anderson and the mustang know that when Owen says move, you’d better get out of his way!
We’ve made several trips over the mountains to visit, and Anderson’s been ridden successfully by Terry, as well as volunteers riders Casey and Jolene. He’s going beautifully at all three gaits, and looks amazing with his flaxen tail flowing out behind him as he canters along. This is a fabulous horse who is going to make someone a wonderful partner, but at this point in his training, Anderson needs a rider who is very confident and has experience working with green broke or difficult horses. If you don’t have complete confidence in your ability to ride him, Anderson is going to figure that out pretty quickly. For a rider with a light touch and near perfect timing, Anderson is a joy to ride. What makes him tricky is the fact that he is both sensitive and stubborn. As Joel puts it, he is not a horse who is willing to fill in for his rider. Make a mistake, or ask him with hesitancy, and he can quickly get “stuck.” He can be quite resistant to the idea of moving forward, especially if he’s not convinced that his rider really means it. Anderson is a horse who still believes that there is room to “negotiate” with a rider, and Joel is working with him to clear up that misunderstanding and improve his communication skills.
Joel’s also worked with Anderson on two spots of trouble that we saw here at Safe Harbor: saddling and standing for the farrier. Anderson has never been a huge fan of having the saddle put on; in fact, he’d probably prefer to be ridden bareback. He’s improved greatly in this area, and will now stand quietly for the pad and the saddle. Joel’s also worked on his reluctance to have his feet handled, and now he stands quietly to be trimmed as well. The end result? A horse that is safer to be around, not to mention more pleasant to handle. All of Anderson’s best qualities are still as strong as ever: he really is a sweetheart on the ground. He’s the type of horse who greets you with an interested nicker when you walk up to him. He’s a good-natured, good-looking horse. And when you remember where he came from, you can’t help but admire him for how far he’s come.
Anderson is likely to be returning to SAFE in Woodinville in the next few weeks. If you’ve got what this horse needs in a rider, and are interested in meeting him, please fill out our adoption application.
Training update: Anderson
Anderson is one BIG love bug! If he could, I believe he would come into the house and snuggle up on the couch with me. This big puppy has a giant heart. It’s been a joy to be around him during his journey to becoming a riding horse.
He has a very smart and strong personality but he is also very young in both his actions and emotions. I don’t think he has a mean bone in his body. He is inquisitive about new things and very much wants to be your friend; however, he has some confusion where the line is between buddy and riding partner. So we are working on that.
Once he learns something, he is eager to show you what he knows. He is a little bit of an overachiever with a side of show off and goofball! I crack up every time I ask him to “pick me up” on the fence, because he quickly gets into position, lines up on the wall, and comes as close as he can so I can get on without any problem. He is very pleased with himself during the whole process and it is very endearing to watch.
He is very steady for mounting and dismounting either off the fence, mounting block, or from the ground. He has a pretty good stop and is learning that forward is the answer. He loves long grooming sessions and any activity that means I’ll be staying close and interacting with him.
He is great at trailer loading, standing for the farrier and being led in and out of turnout. He is easy to catch when he’s out in the large grass field. We still have not turned him out with other horses, mostly because all of the geldings here at SHS right now were late cut stallions who would want to assert too much dominance towards each other. He is a sweetheart over the fence with mares; in fact he’s stabled right between two mares without any issues.
I took him into the Joel Conner clinic a few weeks ago and he was great. We were in the morning groundwork sessions and Joel rode him over the lunch hour each day. Since the clinic, I’ve been riding him in the round pen and things are going well. I also took him out on a trail ride with four other SAFE horses and he was a very good boy.
Anderson is still extremely green and would only be suitable for a professional rider or someone with a lot of experience with young horses. He also needs an adopter who has a good understanding of the Arabian temperament. We will continue to work on his training here at Safe Harbor and hope to see some adoption applications come in on him soon. He has a ton of potential to offer to a skilled rider looking for a partner to enjoy for years to come.
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- Joel and Anderson
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- Joel and Anderson
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- Joel and Anderson
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- Anderson
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- Snuggle Bug!
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- Me and Anderson
Training Update: Anderson
Anderson made his way home from training a few weeks ago. It has been a lot of fun getting to know his personality and to start riding him. I have 100% confidence getting on him. With unfamiliar horses you don’t always know how they are going to react to a new rider, but Anderson was honest and not at all afraid or unsure about having me climb aboard.
While he is still a little leery about things being put on his back—like saddles or blankets—once they are in place, he quickly accepts them. He is gentle and very sweet! A few volunteers have have even described him as “cuddly” — which is a far cry from the horse we first met last summer! He is getting used to having a bit in his mouth and doesn’t have any major objections to it. He is well behaved around other horses in the arena, including mares…although he does show a little interest in them from time to time. But that usually means that he would rather go to wherever they are in the arena then stay on the circle we are working.
I had the opportunity to take him in the morning sessions for groundwork with Joel Conner when he was here in December. Anderson was fantastic! He was attentive to me even with up to 11 other horses in the arena. I was amazed at how intelligent he is and how quickly he picks up new things. He also had his first trimming session with our new farrier David Barron. David was kind and took his time to get to know him. He was good for the trim and everything went well.
I am enjoying our time together and excited to start showing him to potential adopters. Anderson is suitable for an intermediate to advanced rider who is comfortable with green horses and willing to keep this horse in training. With the right instruction, he could do just about any discipline. He got a little a bit of trail riding time while he was with Darik. Anderson is a genuinely nice gelding that will make some person a very lucky owner.
Please submit applications online or email adopt@safehorses.org with questions.
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- Anderson & Sunny meeting!
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- Sunny says: “Are you my daddy?”
Wrap up from Joel Conner Clinic Dec. 12–13, 2015
Great group of Volunteer Riders!
We had a great time hosting Joel again at Safe Harbor. The horses and volunteers had an amazing weekend and everyone progressed in their feel and training. Here are a few accounts from the volunteer participants about what they learned about the horses they were working with during the clinic:
Jolene D:Khianna- At the time of the clinic Khianna had a total of 4 or 5 rides on her since her return from foster. She was nervous, but did so well! She tries so hard. She is coming along nicely and I believe will develop into an incredible partner for someone.
Sara E: Jewel — Jewel was an all-star for the clinic, Claire has done such a great job with her. She felt flawless going from hind-end to front-end turns. I learned so much while riding her during the clinic. She is going to make someone a really great horse.
Sara E: Khianna — Did ground work with Khianna and at the beginning she was a nervous trotting mess, but Joel came over and helped me get her front feet moving and she calmed right down. She is so loving and tries so hard. Once she figures out you aren’t going to eat her, she just wants to please you and be loved on, I don’t know if I have ever worked with a horse that tries to give you 150% all the time.
Lisa G: Ben- I can’t say enough about how the horsemanship that Joel has helped bring to SAFE amazes me. I had Ben in all 4 sessions, GW and riding, and I was honestly just hoping I could get him to stay focused on me with all of the excitement, maybe get some nice serpentines down in the riding portion, and work on soft feel and stopping/moving forward off of the seat. Well.…. He did all of those things and SO MUCH MORE. Every exercise that Joel moved the participants through, beginning to advanced, Ben tried. And SUCCEEDED, at least on some level. I am so impressed with the effort this big guy puts into everything; as long as he understands that there are no consequences if he doesn’t understand, and he knows that I will wait for him to figure it out, I believe this horse would be willing to try anything under the sun. In the few days since the clinic, Ben had maintained a quiet, willing attitude, with TONS of deep, relaxed sighs, even during the riding work. SO proud of the progress he has made and so grateful that this work was brought to the SAFE horses.
Sara S: Khianna- I worked with Khianna for the first time doing GW on Saturday morning, and was so impressed by her “try”. She does get a little nervous about the rope and flag coming at her while moving (though not at all while standing still in the comfort of the “herd” (me)). I particularly enjoyed the backing exercises, and she was so in tune with my feet and body language it felt like we were dancing partners! She is such a sweet girl.
Sara S: Phoenix- I did GW and rode Phoenix on Saturday afternoon. He hadn’t been ridden in weeks, and it was raining on the tin roof, so he was extra “special” to start, but after just a bit of GW he calmed down and started paying attention to me. Riding, he was great. He’s getting very good at backing circles, front and hind yields (he’s so bendy!). Over the few months I’ve been working with Phoenix, I’ve noticed he tries very hard to anticipate what I want (if he’s in the mood), but as soon as I push too hard and/or he doesn’t understand what I’m asking, he shuts down. On Saturday, I didn’t feel him shut down at all which is probably a combination of both of us getting better at this!
And many thanks again to Joel and Terry for putting on such an inspiring clinic!!! I wish I could come out to SAFE every day, but I’m glad to be even a small part of this great community and cherish this opportunity!
Claire C: Mesquite- It was my first official time working with Mesquite, and I think we made some really good changes. He is super sensitive so it was interesting to experiment with him and see how much pressure he needed. I only did the groundwork session with him and it was fun learning to time up with his feet better.
Claire C: Phoenix- For the afternoon session, I rode Phoenix, who I have not done a whole lot with either. He was also good; we worked a lot on more forward motion and keeping him focused on what I was asking. We did lots of bending and yielding, which was so good for him. Overall, he did very well.
Casey A: Stella- I worked with Stella, who is turning out to be a great little horse. We worked on slowing down and developing balance on both the ground and under saddle. We were both so much lighter by the end of Sunday, and I know we got a big change in our partnership. She was so relaxed through the entire clinic, even when horses around her were nervous. She’s also pretty resilient and forgiving of my mistakes. She has taught me so much, and she is going to make someone really lucky!
Erika S: Maggie- I worked with Maggie for all 4 sessions, and she did fantastic! She’s such a smart, willing mare, and we connected early on. One idea that I heard this weekend was that eventually it will feel like your horse is reading your mind… Well, I’m here to tell you that that’s the truth! Maggie remained tuned in for everything we learned about, and worked in sync with me. It honestly helped me more than I think it helped her!
Ann A: Bridgit- Bridgit is a friendly girl and likes getting attention. She is a bit on the lazy side and I had some trouble getting the life up in her while doing circling exercises. She just wanted to come into the center and hang out with me. She made good progress under saddle in the afternoon sessions. She was learning how to pick up a soft feel at the walk by the end of the first day and we had some nice walk/trot transitions. She needs more work backing straight and in a circle both on the ground and under saddle. She also needs more work reaching with her front foot and disengaging her hindquarters under saddle. She felt much more balanced to me than she did when I rode her last summer.
Jane M: Oscar- As a relative novice to practicing Joel’s horsemanship skills, the greatest lesson I took away from GW and riding Oscar during this most recent Joel clinic is the impact GW has on riding. Yielding hindquarters, circling to achieve bend and balance, it all makes such a difference when aboard the horse. I’m able to apply lessons learned under Joel’s guidance to my regular riding lessons. It’s quite remarkable to me, and I look forward to Joel’s next visit and my next “aha” takeaway!
- Watch and learn!
- A little 1:1 for Jane & Oscar
- Oscar, Jane & Joel
- Bridgit & Ann
- Maggie & Erika
- Mesquite & Terry
- Standing so nicely!
- Ben & Lisa
- Ben listening closely to Joel.
- Mesquite & Terry
- Stella & Casey
Anderson: Training update & Video
Anderson is coming along well in his training and shows every indication of making a great riding horse partner. Here is a video of his first ride with a saddle. You can see he is very cautious about this leather thing on his back but once Darik sits on him he had little problems accepting the saddle. After this video was shot, I held Anderson while Darik trimmed his feet and he was a very good boy. It hardly took any time and he was very accepting of the handling of his feet. Since the video Darik has reported that Anderson continues to do well and he has begun riding him out on the trails on his property. Darik has over 50 acres of beautiful horse country and lots of woods that make for a great trail ride. Again, this boy, although still very green, has made wonderful changes since his rescue.
Anderson is making great progress!
Anderson is doing excellent in training with Darik. He has spent some time relaxing into being a good gelding and getting used to the life as a domestic horse. We got to spend some time with him and watch Darik work him in the arena. He still has a cautious nature but he was quiet willing for us the handle him. He shows no signs of being aggressive and was eager to be involved with the people around him. We had a bit of a crowd, which was a little intimidating at first, but he settled into the work and let us all watch.
Darik’s property and farm is very quiet and a wonderful place for this boy to ease into life with people. We have no agenda or timeline he needs to follow. Our hope is that over the next few months we will get a saddle on him and he will start to understand that we are his friends. We were very surprised to see that he was already willing to let Darik sit on him and walk around the arena. He was a good boy and it was amazing watching him figure this out and the partnership he is gaining through Darik’s work. It is simply amazing how much this horse has changed from the day we rescued him and Annabelle. We can’t wait to go down and visit him again in training soon! He is spending a little more time getting gentle with Darik and then we will see what next step will be on his journey.
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- Anderson learns to line up at the mounting block
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- Darik takes a first ride on Anderson
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- A little shy on the camera
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- Introducing to the saddle pad
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- Lots of encouragement by Darik
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- Very inquisitive boy
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- Accepting the pad on his back.
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- Its ok I guess if its on the ground.
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- Volunteer Claire came down to meet Anderson
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- Anderson getting to know Claire.
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- He likes attention.
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- Beautiful boy!
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- Showing off his cute ears!
Let’s hear it for Anderson!
Our gregarious gelding was released from the hospital last weekend and made an uneventful journey down to Vader WA where he will be starting kindergarden with trainer Darik Anderson. Testosterone is still ebbing away, but we have high hopes for this handsome fella. We also want to send an enormous THANK YOU to Dr Hannah Mueller and NWESC for doing a spectacular job working with Anderson during his post-gelding exercise sessions. The horse we picked up on Sunday was a far cry from the wild thing we dropped off five weeks ago. Thank you for starting him well down the road to his new life!!!
Get well, Anderson!
Anderson is experiencing some complications related to his gelding surgery. He has increased swelling and general discomfort along with slightly depressed attitude. He was started on antibiotics today, and this will delay his discharge from Cedarbrook Vet Care. We’d like to have his teeth floated and his vaccinations done before he leaves, but since a float requires anesthesia, it will not happen until the complications resolve.
On a happier note, Anderson was trimmed by farrier Daphne Jones, who thought his feet were not that bad.
Here’s hoping our boy starts feeling better soon!
May 21st is “Give Your Former Stallion a Bath” Day
Here’s Dr Hannah, teaching Anderson the joys of bathing on a warm day in late Spring! This was a great learning moment for our former wild stallion…and as it turned out, a learning moment for all of us as well. Although Anderson had been checked carefully for lice — and none had been found — lice were lurking and apparently they did NOT appreciate bath day all that much. So May 21st was also “Lice Dust Your New Intakes” Day, although that’s a holiday that probably won’t catch on, outside of SAFE.
Video: Anderson Post-Gelding Training & Exercise
We’ve been monitoring Anderson’s progress since his gelding surgery last week. Dr. Hannah Mueller is supervising his post-operative forced exercise, which will help reduce swelling and encourage drainage and healing of the surgery site. During this exercise, she has an opportunity to provide an essential introduction to training. These lessons will be crucial in Anderson’s transition from a dangerous stallion to a happy, well-behaved gelding.
SAFE’s Herd Health Manager Debi Shatos spent a morning observing one of Anderson’s very first round pen training sessions with Dr. Hannah. She reported that, while he was exhibiting some stallion behaviors, he was responding appropriately to correction and was demonstrating that he is both sensitive and intelligent. He is also sound and a beautiful mover! Having been previously unhandled and untrained, he is having to learn the most fundamental concepts of leading, respecting space, and responding to voice commands.
Dr. Hannah continues to work with him daily and we should see steady progress as the hormones clear out of his system and he continues to learn acceptable behavior. Anderson is also scheduled for his first trim with farrier extraordinaire Daphne Jones this week. This will provide another opportunity for some very crucial learning.
We hope you enjoy this brief video showing a little of the work being done to help Anderson in his journey!
Two New Intakes at SAFE
Taking possession of new horses is one of the most challenging parts of our job. Usually, even when a horse has been neglected, it’s had some degree of handing. And loading an unfamiliar horse into a trailer can be a challenge, but with patient efforts, we usually get them home uneventfully. But every couple of years, we encounter a situation so dysfunctional that it pushes our hearts and spirit to the limit. This is the story of Annabelle and Anderson.
Last week, the Kitsap Humane Society contacted SAFE, asking whether we would take two horses that an owner wanted to surrender. We were told that the horses were a mare and a stallion loose in a field; the mare had recently foaled; the foal had died; the mare was injured; and the stallion could only be caught by the owner, who was too ill to catch him. We agreed to assess the horses and made initial plans to catch the stallion.
To a point, we are used to picking up horses from situations where any sort of normalcy has been abandoned, but this case taught us new lessons. We entered the pasture through a gate that the owner had assured us could be pulled aside to lead the horses through. It was tied on by string, and the owner’s grandson and his friend started working to get it freed while we went to catch the horses.
Our initial plan had been to cordon off part of the pasture, but the pasture was too large for that to be feasible. We decided to assess them and see if they could be caught easily. The mare was friendly and was interested in oats. She was in healthy weight but her hooves so long they were nearly slippered. The stallion, while wary, was quiet and initially took a carrot. Our first impressions of him were that he was simply stunning with a gleaming chestnut coat, a flaxen mane and tail, and beautiful movement.
We put a halter on the mare and that is when things rapidly went sideways. The stallion suddenly charged the handler with the mare, trying to mount her. The situation was dangerous and the handler let the terrified mare loose. She ran free, with the stallion chasing her. She did her best to fight him off, double-barreling at him, but he was now excited and violently determined to breed her.
We were able to catch her again and prepared to take her out the gate, only to realize that the gate, now removed, did not offer the exit we had been promised. There was no way to remove her safely. We found another gate, but it was barred by blackberries and debris. We started clearing a path out of that gate, but now had a haltered, injured mare, and a stallion determined to get to her. It took three people holding him off with longe whips to keep him away from the handler.
In hindsight, had we realized his level of determination and unmanageability, had we realized the lack of safe egress, and had the mare not been injured, we would have quietly exited the field and asked the appropriate law enforcement officials to step in to manage the situation. There comes a point when risking human welfare adds to the dysfunction of the situation and is inappropriate. This case reiterated that, when taking in horses, we cannot take anything an owner or onlookers say at face value and need to assess the situation step by step before taking action.
Annabelle at NWESC
We were able to get the gate cleared and the mare freed. We learned that the foal she lost a few days before had been her fifth foal, the other four had not survived. Every person we talked to about the mare had a different story, so we may never know the details, but clearly she had experienced great loss. We named her Annabelle. She went straight to the hospital at the Northwest Equine Stewardship Center for evaluation, and Dr Hannah was able to give her a decent bill of health, with no lingering complications from foaling and only minor, treatable injuries. She was released to SAFE a few days later and is now beginning her rehabilitation at Safe Harbor Stables.
This left us with the stallion, who was screaming and galloping down the fenceline. For both our safety and his, we decided to leave him in the pasture for a day or two to see if he would be more tractable without a mare present. We had to decide whether this horse was an appropriate intake for our program. He was uncatchable, and had spent the past five years breeding a mare continually. While he respected the longe whips enough to not challenge them directly, it was clear that we were dealing with a true unhandled stallion. We were concerned about the risks of trying to catch him and we were concerned about the risks of having him in our program, even if we could catch him. If he displayed the same kind of aggressive behavior when we were trying to catch him alone, our only responsible choice would be to euthanize him. We went to bed exhausted, with heavy hearts.
The next day, Terry Phelps, our Operations Director, took the initiative to contact a horse trainer named Darik Anderson, who has extensive experience handling feral and difficult horses. Darik agreed to meet us at the pasture and assess the stallion and give us his professional opinion on whether we could realistically try to rehabilitate him.
Darik arrived, assessed the situation, and started quietly working the stallion. Darik quietly, kindly, and professionally moved him around the pasture, walking up and down a large hill a seemingly endless number of times as the horse galloped away. At every opportunity, he gave the horse the chance for a quiet rub on the neck and a carrot. Every time the horse would gallop off, he would patiently send him forward and repeat the process. Again. And again. And again.
Darik and the stallion
Finally, in a moment full of power and energy, the stallion stood and quietly let himself be haltered. He and Darik walked calmly down the hill together. He stood in the shade and let himself be fed carrots and drink water. He walked out the gate, loaded easily into the trailer, and was easily delivered to NWESC to await gelding surgery.
Once Annabelle was gone, he did not display the same level of aggression that he showed in her presence, which gives us hope that he can learn to find normalcy as a gelding. Since he’s been caught, he’s been easily to handle and is behaving well in the hospital. In the interest of full disclosure, given his long history as an aggressive, unhandled stallion, if his behavior were to revert and could not be remedied by reasonable training methods, we would opt to quietly euthanize him. At present, we are optimistic. Once he was alone, he gave up his freedom and let himself be caught without showing any kind of threatening behavior. He has earned his chance to become a very special gelding.
A new gelding!
On Monday, without a great deal of fuss and bother, our newest horse underwent gelding surgery at NWESC. The procedure itself was uneventful, and a groggy gelding was returned to his stall to rest. He will now undergo a week or two of forced exercise with Dr Hannah to assist in his recovery from the surgery.
In honor of the person who first earned his trust and started this horse down the road to a new life, we named him “Anderson.” Welcome to the herd, Anderson.
