ANNIE - 2003 chestnut Saddlebred mare

[schwung]

Since we are on the subject, SAFE decided some time ago that we would not allow the Saddlebreds to go into a home that will use the big shoes, chains, etc. or will set the tails. We will allow a show home that will do the natural shod classes. This is of course assuming that papers could be obtained, as trailsnail mentions.

This restriction will be written into the adoption contract for all the Saddlebreds.

[oneidea]

I hate to see any horse hurt by bad training/horsekeeping practices... but we all know that it happens and there is little, after the fact, that SAFE can do about it. Properly screening homes and setting appropriate expectations go a long ways to protect the horse... but what do you do when an adopter puts a horse in training with an abusive trainer? Who protects the horse then?

While I think the saddleseat disciplines have been 'outed' more frequently than other disciplines as far as employing abusive means of training, I've seen in just as frequently in other disciplines... some AQHA people hang their horses from the rafters, some dressage people employ rollkur, we even see eventing horses die at Rolex. Abuse is not limited to one discipline or any level... I see h/j ponies with bloody mouths being whipped by trainers even at the lowest levels.

It is difficult to follow up on any contractual agreement once a horse is placed... and all SAFE horses deserve to be protected from abusive training, horsekeeping and handling practices. Is there a way to write something into the adoption contract to protect ALL horses from all the crazy methods uses in various disciplines, instead of singling out the Saddlebreds for protection in one discipline?

[cat67]

I have to agree with oneidea...perhaps it would not be a bad idea to have an addendum with a list of practices that could result in the reposession of the horse.

I can give you QUITE the list for the stock type breeds, having worked in numerous show barns in my more-obedient and less-mouthy youth...

[Whitewolf821]

Jun 12, 2008 15:28:02 GMT -5 cat67 said:

I can give you QUITE the list for the stock type breeds, having worked in numerous show barns in my more-obedient and less-mouthy youth...

You had a more obedient and less mouthy stage?

Just kidding! ;D

[dbaldstockings]

Hi, just popping in to Annie's thread to let you know I have posted about her on the TROT Saddlebred forum.
www.trot.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2010

If any information is incorrect, please help me out.

As a breed, Saddlebreds are somewhat rare, fewer than 1,500 fillies foaled annually.

For those of you TB lovers out there, the Eclipse and Herod lines of post-Civil War US TB's were repeatedly crossed into the Foundation of the Saddlebred -good, old time, stayers like Grey Eagle, Highflyer, Lexington, etc., and it is thought that the X factor large heart of TB racers is often found in the Saddlebred as well.

Of course, we Saddlebred enthusiasts think the linebred result is a great riding horse for any discipline! Annie herself has similar lines to the wonderful Harry Callahan showing in dressage.

Thanks for your work saving this lovely young mare.

[schwung]

Thanks dbald for pointing this out. I posted there to try and clear up some of the...um.....completely incorrect statements that were made about what our policies are.

[dbaldstockings]

I am so glad you did!

It is very easy for any horse person to become 'blind and deaf' to people and opinions from other breeds and disciplines, my self included there.

Trying to keep an open, thinking mind is vital, especially at my age!

Many times rumor and extrapolation from a limited reference base is substituted for fact. Nothing grows faster and takes over like gossip and weeds!

By the way, many of you may have heard that 37 yr old Elmer Bandit (a grade -Arab?) recently became the highest mileage 'trail horse' KUDOS to old horse, grade horse and loving owner! Who was the former highest mileage horse? Held by a then 23-year-old American Saddlebred gelding Wing Tempo, who had 17,590 miles (since deceased).
Annie is loosely related to his bloodlines, too.

'Them Saddlebreds 'll s'prize yeh, whut they c'n do!' I've even heard of several who run barrels, too. The main thing is to enjoy them, they become wonderful people-horses and will try, try, try.

[schwung]

Fantastic update on Annie!

I just wanted to give you an update on how Annie is doing. I have started
her under saddle and have put three rides on her. I have bridled her and
have ridden her with a snaffle. She is halter broke and leads safely. She
will put her head in the halter herself and no longer tosses it when being
haltered. She will move away from pressure when haltered and when not
haltered. She will also back up when the leadrope is squeezed and when
light pressure is put on her nose. She "lunges" both directions and will
move her haunches and shoulders out of the way when asked. I have picked up
all four feet several times. I have been working on her food aggression
issues and head-shyness and she is progressing well with both.

I can saddle her in the round pen without a halter on and she will stand
while being saddled. So far she has worn a western saddle, thick wool felt
pad, and breast collar. I have taught her how to bump up to the side of the
round pen and stand there while being mounted - this will translate to
standing by a mounting block.

I have tested her to see if she is a pull-back candidate and she doesn't
seem to be, although I don't want to say that she NEVER will pull back.
Today we worked on her giving to halter pressure when the lead rope is
looped around her back end and she did pretty well. I have worked on
de-spooking her to the leadrope being dragged all over her body and around
her legs. I have also pretty much desensitized her to the flag to the point
where it is difficult to get her to move away from it : ) . We are now
working on desensitizing to a burlap feed bag and a plastic tarp.

I can now consistently get Annie from a paddock or pasture - she will come
to me or stand until I get to her and will let me halter her. We also did
quite alot of practicing getting in and out of my trailer and have it down
to less than 30 seconds and without any treats!

Under saddle we are working on moving away from pressure, moving her
hindquarters away both directions, direct rein and weight aids, standing
still, and halting. I wouldn't say that she is green broke but we are
getting there!

Annie is good with other horses, both mares and with Cassidy my older
gelding. She is a smart girl and focuses well. She is still nervous and
suspicious of people who she doesn't know, but is much better than when she
first arrived.

Let me know if there is anything else that you would like me to do with her
and I'd be more than happy to, if I can. I started her in a western saddle
because that is how I (now) start all horses, but it should be no problem to
change her to English when she is more balanced and steady. Western saddles
have a bigger pommel to hold onto and lots of cool rigging to bang and slap
around - great for desensitizing!

Thanks for giving me the chance to work with her. We are having a great
time together : ) .

Julie

[Sara]

wow! I'm impressed. A huge thank you to Julie for the fantastic start she's put on this girl!

[akoehmstedt]

That sure is a great update! Good job to Julie!

[dbaldstockings]

Julie,

Thank you! Annie (Ad idem)'s prospective adopter, whoever they are will have a great start on a relationship with the foundation you are setting.

Saddlebreds (really all horses) are meant for people. The sum of the 2 is truly greater than the parts alone. Happy horsemanship!

Oh, and I stand corrected: per The Horse; Wing Tempo (Saddlebred) still holds the mileage record:
'Elmer is scheduled for another NATRC ride June 14, 2008, in Kansas. His mileage still falls 290 miles short of record holder Wing Tempo's 20,710 miles."

www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12001

So if anyone asks, Saddlebreds do make suitable trail horses, LOL.

Go, Julie!

[Whitewolf821]

Julie, you rock!

Honestly, at first, I was thinking that you were just getting the horses that were easy to work with, but now I'm just thinking.....you rock! ;D

[schwung]

Another Annie update:

Here's another update on Annie. Unfortunately I can't seem to post to the
message board from my computer - I've tried everything and even my
techno-savvy ex-husband can't figure it out...

Anyhow, yesterday was Annie's fourth ride and first ride in "grown-up" tack
: ) - my western Crates saddle, which is alot heavier than the
breaking/backing saddle, complete with back cinch and ridiculously short
stirrups (my daughter has obviously been using my saddle again!). She was a
little bothered by the whole idea and didn't want to stay at the round pen
panel but was okay once I got on. Annie is getting much better with her
balance and we practiced moving her haunches away, moving forward more
freely, turning away from and toward the side of the round pen, and one rein
stop. We trotted both directions several times and also mastered backing
up! Annie is starting to get the hang of bending both directions but is
definitely better bending toward the right - need to keep working on that
other side...

Even being tacked up with an unfamiliar and heavier saddle, Annie stood
fairly still (she's actually better than my morgan mare at that!). We did
more at liberty work with tack on and Annie is becoming an old pro at
stopping at the panel I ask her to stop at, from a trot. She is very eager
to please and such a good girl! We did more practicing picking up and
holding her feet including her back ones - Daphne did a practice session
with Annie on Tuesday and she was a star, letting Daphne hold her back legs
forward with Daphne underneath her! Annie is also learning how to stand
still for other people than me - she had a good old sniff of Daphne. I
think she is getting the idea that maybe most people are good - she really
liked Daphne's horse cookies : ) . Unfortunately she started to get nibbly
with my hands so the cookies were withdrawn... I think she responds better
to lots of praise, verbal and rubbing her neck and forehead.

Annie is my hero! Thanks again for entrusting her to me. We are having a
great time together : ) .

Julie

[Sara]

They look fabulous together. I wonder if there's potential for a "failed" foster here. I *love* reading these annie updates- keep 'em coming!!!!

[Whitewolf821]

How has Annie been progressing?