Mi Amigo - 15 year old Peruvian Paso gelding

[schwung]

Mi Amigo is a purebred (no papers) chestnut Peruvian Paso gelding by Regalo de Dios, foaled June 1991, approx. 14.2-15h. Amigo was gelded when he was 3 and was always easy to handle up until the last few years, where he has not been handled at all. SAFE was able to catch him, trim all four feet, give him shots, and worm him. He was fairly easy to handle considering how long it has been since he has been handled, but did pull away from his handler when startled and will need some further ground work, although he should come around fairly easily once removed from his current situation. He is not broke but has a very fancy gait and is an excellent riding prospect.

Adoption fee: $Free to approved home. References, adoption contract required. Located in North Bend, WA.

Read his story here: schwung.proboards67.com/index.cgi?board=need&action=display&thread=1149186442&page=1

If interested please contact SAFE at [e-mail]

[pdevlieg]

Today, I am heading out to pick up this guy for some training with Juliane Hanley with Serenity Training. I can't wait to see him progress. He is quite the thinker and is going to do fabulously!

[horsekrazi]

Awesome! I will be watching the blog to see how he is doing on a regular basis, I am sure he will be a saddle horse in no time!

[pdevlieg]

Mi Amigo did great! He was already caught and tied when we got there. Juliane switched his web halter for a rope one and then walked him to the back of her 6 horse stock trailer. He walked right up to it and after only about 10 minutes of thinking about it jumped right in!

He was sad, crying for his family when we left but was very happy to meet his new friends. He particularly likes Juliane's new auction rescue Caleb. He had some round pen work to remind him how to be caught then he was put in his pen with dinner.

Juliane has tons of photos and I'll make sure we get some posted here. She also updates her own training website regularly at www.serenitytraining.com/blogs/ and he already has his own thread.

[schwung]

Juliane kindly hauled Mi Amigo to my farm today where he was evaluated by our vet. Sadly, as suspected Mi Amigo was diagnosed with an advanced case of DSLD. He cannot be ridden, but would make a wonderful pasture companion, as he is a sweet guy that gets along well with other horses (very submissive). His adoption fee has been waived to help him find a forever home. He had his sheath cleaned today and his teeth floated. Surprisingly, his teeth were not in too bad of shape. He did NOT like having his sheath cleaned, even sedated he was very unhappy about it and afterwards seem to be quite put out with all of us for doing that to him, he wouldn't even look at us. It was pretty cute.

Juliane took some pictures so I'm sure she'll be sharing them soon.

[Juliane]

Mi Amigo was seen by Dr. Hannah Evergreen yesterday to determine if he had the suspensory ligament disease, DSLD. I wasn't sure how Mi Amigo would do as I pulled him out of his paddock early yesterday morning and loaded him up. I've done quite a bit of ground work with him, trying to gentle him and earn his trust, but still - this was new and out of the ordinary. That, and I was rushed, running behind due to everything on the trailer being frozen (including the doors, the jack and the latch).

Amazingly, Mi Amigo was quiet and willing as I haltered him and walked to the trailer. He didn't even hesitate as I asked him to load into the trailer. What a good boy! He stood perfectly in the trailer as we got on the road. Talk about a white-knuckled drive! It was in the 20's yesterday morning and North Bend Way was quite icy. I was driving as cautiously as possible but still found the truck going one way and the trailer going the other a couple times. Eeeks!

I made it to Jaime's about 10 minutes late for my appointment, but we made it in one piece! I unloaded Mi Amigo, tied him up and pulled his blanket off. He was calm and quiet and didn't seem excited at all at his new surroundings. I was very pleased with him!

I handed Mi Amigo to Jaime as I went to get my camera and take pictures. He continued his quiet demeanor, even as Jaime held him and Dr. Hannah started her evaluation.







Dr. Hannah started doing flexion tests in order to decide if Mi Amigo had DSLD. Unfortunately, he flexed very, very lame on all 4 legs. It was clear very quickly that Mi Amigo had an advanced case of DSLD. Poor guy He is definitely not a candidate for being a riding horse. He can be a pasture pet only, with limited movement. :cry:

Since we were there, Dr. Hannah felt that his teeth needed to be floated. So, we took him into one of Jaime's stalls and proceeded to do his teeth. Dr. Hannah was excellent with Mi Amigo, even though he didn't seem scared, she was still quiet and gentle with him.







Once she was done with his teeth, she started to clean his sheath. This was surprising to me as Mi Amigo was not ok with this. He has always generally been very, very easy going. He's never had a mean bone in his body and definitely never tried to strike out. However, as soon as Dr. Hannah reached under to start cleaning, he immediately became defensive and started striking, kicking and bucking with all his might, trying to keep her from touching him.

Amazingly, Dr. Hannah was able to stand at his shoulder and still reach down and clean his sheath, even as he kicked and stuck out. Thinking back, I wonder if he wasn't in some sort of pain to have that kind of reaction??



Once we were done, Mi Amigo was VERY put out and pouty. He refused to look at us or socialize with us. Goodness! Poor guy!



He's back to his friendly self today!

[elaine]

Amigo will be coming home, but I'm still hoping that someone will want a kind, gentle pasture pet for the rest of his life. I am greatly saddened by his diagnosis. but it doesn't change who he is.
I know I won't be able to provide for his needs, so am checking out as many options as I can find, that would be safe for him. Any ideas?
Regala went to her home and is doing well. She loaded with very little problem, and is settling very well. Now has a stall of her own and is blanketed. Not used to Eastern Washington weather. She had started licking and chewing when I went out to feed, so I believe she's reached a point of wanting more contact. Her new owner says she's doing it with her too.
Shalizar is still here, untill spring. We had him up to the trailer without too much trouble, but just as he looked to be ready to take the first step up, he jerked back very strongly one more time and the halter broke. No catching him again after that. They'll come back for him in the spring. It's probably good that he is separated from his mama for a few months anyway. Should make it easier to work with both of them.
He is quieter since it's just him and Shiraca. I will be keeping Mi Amigo separate from them when he comes back.
Thanks to all who have helped with these horses and continue to help.

[Gingersmom-Tate]

Elaine, have you considered keeping him as your pasture pet, I live in Arlington and can come by and give you a hand now and then, also at the hay barn they sell great alf/orch grass hay for a 7.95. Now that some of the other horses are gone it may be easier on you.

[averyacres]

Hey Gingersmom...can you tell me where the hay barn is?

[elaine]

I will keep him if a good home can't be found for him. Lack of money is what I'm concerned about and his needs as the DSLD progresses, as well as hoof trimming, etc.. Safehorses can't continue straining their resources to take care of these things. I still have Shiraca also. Thankfully she is healthy. They've lived a very natural life and have never been sick, but as they are aging, I'm not how I could take care of things if they get sick.
I've been getting hay from the hay place on highway 530 near Trafton. Is that the hay barn?
Thanks very much for your offer.

[elaine]

Mi Amigo is home and greeted his family then had to check out the pasture. It is so nice to be able to just walk up to him and pet and scratch him. He's in a separate pasture but can visit and touch noses over the fence.
I think his good behavior will set the example for Shalizar. For all of his willfulness, Shalizar is not going to like seeing Mi Amigo getting a lot of attention and I think Amigo is going to love getting it, now that he has had it and is not in with the others.
Thank you all very much

[schwung]

Elaine, thank you for the update. I know we were all hoping that Amigo would have a new home by now, but we'll keep working on it - his forever home is out there I promise! Thanks for being so amenable to all the recent changes as well.

[elaine]

I'm on Amigo's black list for the moment. He misses Juliane. I know he really bonded with her. She has a gift with horses. He doesn't want to look at me, but I made him eat his grain while I was holding the grain pan and I just kept petting, talking quietly and scratching him as he ate. He kept lifting his head and looking the other way. He's a real sweetheart tho and I know with daily attention and being kept separate from the others he will be his loving self soon.
Shalizar showed his jealousy just as I thought he would, only stronger than I expected. As I was scratching Amigo near the dividing fence, he lunged at him with his ears flat back and his mouth wide opened. Didn't connect, thankfully, and wanted more of my attention than usual.
Will keep you posted on Amigo.
Thanks again to all of you.
Elaine

[schwung]

Amigo is certainly a funny guy - his emotions are totally transparent and its so easy to read when he is put out with you. Hopefully he'll get over his pouting quickly!

[Gingersmom-Tate]

The Hay Barn is now run by Marty Sapp, I've been buying his hay for years, he used to drive over and deliver tons, now, he rented the Hay Barn on HWY 530 just past the kangaroo farm. The Gray metal Barn. I buy his straight orchard for Ginger, and some alf orch mix, he has great hay. He has delivery over 50 bales.