DEXTER - 2005 dark bay/white pinto gelding

[schwung]

Dexter is a coming 5 year old black and white pinto gelding, 14.3 hands. He was seized from his owner last April for neglect. At that time he weight 698 lbs and had a BCS of 1.5. Despite his emaciated state, he had shoes on and was being ridden.

Dexter has been in foster care for several months now and has been gaining weight and is doing great. He has not been ridden yet or assessed under saddle but will be ready for training soon. He was only released by his owner a short while ago who is still pending charges for his condition.

I picked Dexter up today at the Skagit County Fairgrounds where he had been picked up earlier from his foster home and dropped off. He was the only horse there and was very happy to see us, but very relaxed and easy going and friendly. He loaded very willingly into the trailer, unloaded just as easily, and settled right into his new paddock. He said hi to the new horses but was not overly interested and did not squeal or strike at them and was far more interested in watching what I was doing. My overall impression of Dexter is that he is super laid back and has a great temperment and should be very easy to place. He is not very tall but very stout, a little on the overweight side right now, and he looks like he'd be a great kids horse. He's got great feet and is quite sound.

Pictures to come tomorrow. Our plan with this guy is probably to send him out for at least 30 days of training once our financials are in better standing.

[schwung]

Introducing...Dexter! Isn't he the cutest? He's a bit butt-high at the moment, so he still has some growing to do. He's very round, and a far cry from the condition he was in when he was seized (currently a BCS of 5/9). Today he got his teeth done and his wolf teeth extracted in preparation for being able to go into training, and he also got his first round of shots. He is such a gentleman, so laid back, and so sweet!

[hooti4me]

Oh he is the cutest!!!

[zebradreams07]

And such a cutie! I love the white mane on black fur.

[Denali]

He is so adorable!!

[schwung]

Here are some before photos of Dexter that the Animal Control officer sent me.

Day of seizure:








After one month in foster care:






After 3 months in foster care:

[lisam]

Poor baby. He looks so much better now. Those people really suck.

[coconut]

It never fails to amaze me at how well horses bounce back if you just CARE for them! Again....what's wrong with people?? And not just this poor guy, but Baxter too!

Glad Dexter got the help he needed & has a much better future.

[schwung]

Dexter had a little mini training session today with our trainer, who came down to teach some lessons. He did great! She put a bridle and saddle on him (which he didn't care about at all) and lunged him a bit. He was a bit nervous about being lunged (probably been round penned) but did well once he figured out what was being asked. He was feeling pretty spunky on the lunge line and did a few airs above ground and some nice bucks but he hadn't been able to really run for a while as the ground has been so frozen. After that she tested his reactions to slapping on the saddle, leaning over his back, etc, and he was completely unfazed by it. Got on him and was able to walk and trot around a bit and while he is very green he clearly has been ridden before. She's going to work with him again next weekend as today's lesson was very short due to the fact that we ran out of daylight. But I think he's going to be just as easy as he appears to be!

[countrygirl]

Wow, he is a great looking horse. He will definatly make someone a fantazamazinglistic horse once he is ready to go to a new home :]!

[shirley]

What an amazing transformation. Kudos to the folks who take such great care of Dexter! :-)
And what a handsome horse he is!

[jessiegirl1981]

There is something about this guy I just love him!

[shekaberry]

I groomed him yesterday and he cross-ties and picks up his feet like a champ. He is a sweet little horse, but got upset about me combing his mane and tail. He wasn't too comfortable with me standing at his sides for any extended length of time, especially when I was weilding a comb. I like him too, he is such a doll!

[lyn51]

If I didn't have Benny I would be all over this guy. He seems very sweet on the ground, he and Benny seem to have the same dispostion. (Including getting impatient with tail beauty shop activities)

[schwung]

I hope to get some photos and video of Dexter under saddle this weekend. He's an absolute doll. He LOVES people and attention and is very polite and sweet in asking for it. He had a family look at him a few days ago and he stood nicely while they groomed him. This is a very, very nice boy that has a fantastic temperment. I am moving him to available!