Our pretty grey Arab Sapphire has been a challenge since the moment we met her, displaying unpredictable bouts of overreactive behavior that make her the sort of horse that you don’t want to turn your back on. From what little we know about her background and where she came from, she probably has fairly good reasons for being on her guard with humans, having suffered abusive treatment in the past. But now we need Sapphire to adapt to her new life where she will always be treated fairly, and it’s a struggle for her at times.
Sapphire and Sasha
Sapphire has a nickering welcome for the people around her, and she can be a very good girl when she wants to be. But we’ve had more than one episode where she has bitten or attempted to bite the volunteers who clean her stall, causing us to have to put restrictions on who is allowed to handle or get near her. Terry is doing ground work with her on a daily basis in an attempt to teach her what types of behavior are acceptable and unacceptable. She’s also being lunged at all three gaits, and is finally starting to get the hang of that exercise. Sapphire is bright and responsive, and quite able to learn, which is a positive thing. It is just going to take time and patience to undo the damage that was done to her in her former life, and establish new behaviors.
She’s spending her time with her doppleganger, Sasha, and the two mares get along well in turnout and side by side in their paddocks.
