|
Post by jennywho on Feb 9, 2008 23:11:33 GMT -5
WOW, what a hunk. Did you ever figure out what breed he was?
|
|
|
Post by Rose on Feb 9, 2008 23:41:24 GMT -5
Amazing!
|
|
|
Post by jaybird on Feb 10, 2008 0:12:13 GMT -5
I'm inclined to think maybe Appendix? He's got a TB head but the rest of him is just chunky. Very big bones. Slew and I spent some time with Jack this afternoon, grooming him and combing the burrs out of his tail for his photoshoot. As you can see, he has put on a lot of weight in the past three months. He's a big solid horse, probably 16.2hh, and even in a relatively unmuscled state, he is a big boy. He is going to be a heck of a sporthorse. He appears sound, and he is pretty athletic. He has a lovely ground-covering trot, which he is happy to demonstrate if you try to catch him... He can be a bit evasive when he wants to be. Once haltered, he's a pretty good boy, but he does tend to want to stay in a defensive posture, i.e. facing you. When he gets nervous, he wants to fly backwards, and he does not respond well to pressure on the lead rope. He acts as if he's been handled pretty rough in the past, particularly if you try to reach up towards his ears or his poll. He needs to be handled carefully because he is a big boy and when he decides he needs to get away, he's tough to hold onto. That said, he submitted very willingly to his grooming session, and he was pretty well behaved, all things considered. He's shy but he gets pretty curious and interactive once he relaxes a bit. He just doesn't appear to have been handled a great deal in the past. If you ask him to move over, he doesn't have the slightest idea what you want him to do, even if you apply pressure to his side. We don't yet know if he's started under saddle but hopefully we'll be able to start evaluating him soon. I will say this about him: he tries very hard to please and to understand. He watches carefully, he listens, he has great focus. He's a real pleasant horse and I think he is going to be something special. I really like him. Here are some more pictures of Jack:
|
|
|
Post by slew on Feb 10, 2008 13:19:55 GMT -5
PS....although Jack looks pretty good in the photos......he really is MORE handsome in person. To me, he does not seem that big, but that is probably because all of my horses are HUGE. I cannot say enough good things about Jack and I am anxious for him to "go to work". I think he would make a very fancy dressage horse or jumper. He tends to bond with one person, so I think it might be good for him to spend some time with lots of other kind persons. He tried to hide behind me yesterday when we spotted the "dangerous" cows next door. Jack has very good feet, nicely shaped and tough. He has lots of hair. I wish my hack job from 3 1/2 months ago was better grown out. He has a little curl to his mane. He has a nice thick mixed color tail. anyway, whomever gets him will be lucky.... My opinion is that he has not ever been ridden......he does not understand moving away from pressure, although his ground manners are correct....he leads, backs, whoas. He hauls like a dream horse....my own horses could take a few lessons from him. I think we may have to do a fund raiser to get Jack some training funds. I do not have the facilities, the time or the physical energy right now to do a proper job. I have an idea about a scavenger hunt on horseback in the horsepark in my town. I need some help putting it together....but I would use the funds to finance Jack's training. anyone want to help?
|
|
|
Post by crazyhorse on Feb 10, 2008 21:16:58 GMT -5
I love the new pictures of him, he looks so much more bright-eyed and happy than in the first ones! I agree, he looks like he'd be an amazing sporthorse. Hope the training goes well! Depending on where that horsepark is, I could probably spread the word. There are a bunch of 4-H clubs in my area that would enjoy it. Keep us updated, I love seeing his progress!
|
|
~figi~
Junior BB Member
Posts: 99
|
Post by ~figi~ on Feb 10, 2008 23:44:15 GMT -5
I could help out some with a hunt. PS....although Jack looks pretty good in the photos......he really is MORE handsome in person. To me, he does not seem that big, but that is probably because all of my horses are HUGE. I cannot say enough good things about Jack and I am anxious for him to "go to work". I think he would make a very fancy dressage horse or jumper. He tends to bond with one person, so I think it might be good for him to spend some time with lots of other kind persons. He tried to hide behind me yesterday when we spotted the "dangerous" cows next door. Jack has very good feet, nicely shaped and tough. He has lots of hair. I wish my hack job from 3 1/2 months ago was better grown out. He has a little curl to his mane. He has a nice thick mixed color tail. anyway, whomever gets him will be lucky.... My opinion is that he has not ever been ridden......he does not understand moving away from pressure, although his ground manners are correct....he leads, backs, whoas. He hauls like a dream horse....my own horses could take a few lessons from him. I think we may have to do a fund raiser to get Jack some training funds. I do not have the facilities, the time or the physical energy right now to do a proper job. I have an idea about a scavenger hunt on horseback in the horsepark in my town. I need some help putting it together....but I would use the funds to finance Jack's training. anyone want to help?
|
|
|
Post by jennywho on Feb 11, 2008 0:31:40 GMT -5
What kind of help do you need? Anything that can be done from afar?
|
|
|
Post by jaybird on Feb 11, 2008 0:33:39 GMT -5
We're going to need prizes, we'll probably try to get those donated, most likely 1st thru 4th place? They'll need to be pretty good prizes. I'll start a new thread for Scavenger Hunt planning.
|
|
~figi~
Junior BB Member
Posts: 99
|
Post by ~figi~ on Feb 11, 2008 22:58:54 GMT -5
count me in. Were will it be?
|
|
|
Post by slew on Feb 17, 2008 23:19:27 GMT -5
I spent some time with Jack today.........as I was cleaning stalls this morning, I figured I would take blankets off so all horses could roll and get some sun on their backs. First, I had to catch Jack. So I trapped him in the loafing shed and put his halter on. Took blanket off.....rubbed his withers, then figured I would work on his head. I rubbed his forehead.........reached for ears......he didn't like it much.....but I continued.......he dropped his head and chewed...I patted him......then reached for ears again.......he didn't make a fuss, I actually rubbed his ears up and down without him going nuts.....then I asked him to back up.......he did .........then I thought, well, we will practice moving away from pressure.......so I put my hand into his side and he MOVED away. YAY!!! Then we practiced on both sides, then we backed again, then I picked his feet up....woo hoo....he was good about it all. I came back in the afternoon to put blankets back on.....again, I had to catch him.......he ran with that very lofty trot back into the woods....I said...umm......no contest........you got no where to run Jack........I had him boxed in the trees.....and then haltered him very easily. We walked back to the loafing shed but stopped along the way to pick up sticks and throw them into the woods.....he followed along and finally got the hang of me throwing the sticks. Then we put his blanket on with no fuss and practiced some more "put your head down and let me handle your ears"....he was very good. I gave him some grain from the hand , then let him loose and he trotted off with that great big trot....but came back to me, ran his lips over my hair and coat, then pulled on my coat zipper. He is getting so much friendlier....and is getting a little personality to boot. He needs handling daily and I think he will come along nicely. He needs to know that no one is going to hurt him and that touches can feel good.
|
|
|
Post by dustyboots on Feb 18, 2008 13:03:53 GMT -5
Jack has really been fixed up! This guy has definatly caught my attention
|
|
|
Post by huskiesnhorses on Mar 27, 2008 23:23:02 GMT -5
How's Jack doing?
|
|
|
Post by slew on Mar 29, 2008 11:34:01 GMT -5
Sorry, I missed this post.
Jack is doing fine. I took everyone's blankets off last Sat because it was so nice out....they all rolled and looked happy. Jack took off at a gallop and bucked, then did some laps around the pasture. He feels good. I thought I would leave their blankets off........wrong.......after I fed, the temp dropped, rain started, so I went back and blanketed them again. Jack usually has to be caught..but he didn't run and stood very well to get his blanket back on. First time too. Usually he runs to the end of the pasture and I have to chase him until he decides to stop. Ultimately I am glad I left blankets on....now that it has froze all week and snowed. BRRRRRR! anyway, Jack's weight is great, his feet are good, his mane and forelock are almost normal......(remember I had to hack them off due to knots and burrs?) He prefers to eat outside when the weather is nice. He now calls to me when grain is served. At first he never said a peep. He reaches his nose to be petted now and before he did not want to be touched. We have a routine whereby I catch him, then reach for his poll, scratch around his ears until he lowers his head. Then I pat his neck, rub his face until he chews and relaxes. He really needs at this point to have someone work with him everyday and start working him in hand and then under saddle. I think he thinks he has retired and that he has only to eat, sleep and play. I hate to break it to him that he is going to have to do some work in this life. So once again, we need to think about raising some Jack money and sending him to start his "new" life.
Rm
|
|
|
Post by slew on Mar 29, 2008 11:36:16 GMT -5
PS..I will take some new pictures today so you can see his beautiful self!
I had the vet check him out a couple of weeks ago. Jack needs his teeth done. The vet said his weight was good, that he looked very healthy, maybe a bit too fat....... his opinion was that he was TB and that the age was correct. Jack was very good for his exam. I thought he might be upset with a stranger handling him, but he was very good.
|
|
|
Post by schwung on Mar 29, 2008 11:41:07 GMT -5
RM - can you go ahead and schedule his dental and let's get that done before we send him anywhere. Also, is he UTD on shots?
|
|