|
|
Post by kdunham on Jul 18, 2010 15:14:21 GMT -5
Sara, you and D look so cute!
|
|
|
|
Post by schwung on Jul 28, 2010 20:31:03 GMT -5
So I am going to go ahead and re-list Dexter as available for adoption. He is going quite well for Sara under saddle (a little stubborn about going to the left, a little ring sour about going towards the gate, but nothing major). We have still not seen any signs of aggression or bad behavior on the ground towards people, although he is a little herd bound when separated from other horses.
He lived with Lexi for a while and that worked out pretty well, and he never challenged the fences while with her. He did try to mount her once when she was in heat, however. He is now turned out with Honeycutt, who is dominant towards him, with mares next to him, and we have had no problems. HC put him in his place in the first 30 seconds and after that it's been quite peaceful. I really think the issue is he is both studdy around mares and herdbound, so putting him with a more dominant gelding would be ideal. He can be pastured alone, next to other horses, but only with very secure fencing.
He's still a super nice horse that will make someone a great riding horse, but maybe not appropriate for a novice handler on the ground and needs to be in the right living situation for it to work out.
Look for him and Sara at the SAFE show on August 7th!
|
|
|
|
Post by Sara on Jul 31, 2010 23:03:20 GMT -5
I rode dexter for the 4th time today and took my second lesson with Andrea. Each ride is better with him. He's *starting* to understand bending and stearing. We got the left lead canter 3 or 4 times in a row today and ended on a good note, when he completed a full circuit of the arean without breaking gait or swapping leads on me.
As I'm getting to know him better I can see that he does have an opinionated and stubborn side of him- though he's not very committed about it. For example, today while I was leading him away from the pasture he grew roots and decided he wasn't moving. I encouraged him a couple of times, got no results, swatted him with the lead rope, and then we proceeded as normal. Although he's calm, sweet and generally easy & agreeable- he definitely will require handling by someone willing to insist he does it their way, every time.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sara on Aug 12, 2010 23:04:16 GMT -5
I have a good news/bad news update with Dexter.
The bad news is that we were not as prepared as we should have been for the show and Dexter was super amped up/anxious in the show environment. Ultimately I decided to scratch my afternoon of riding classes. I was terribly disapointed with this outcome because a few people expressed interest in him and I would haved loved for them to be able to watch him go under sadle. He did take 5th in the Halter, stock type, in the morning.
I was anxious about riding him again after the show- worried that perhaps the out of sorts behavior I saw at the show, might have followed him home. Instead, we had the best ride we've had so far. He was focused and obedient. Not a hint of herdboundess, ring sourness or stuborness tonight. Yay!
|
|
|
|
Post by Sara on Aug 28, 2010 22:53:51 GMT -5
I have been riding my little buddy dexter fairly consistently, 2-3 days a week, for the past 6 weeks or so. I am really starting to like this guy- he's so friendly and sweet on the ground (always easy to catch, loves to have his face and ears rubbed). He is starting to come along quite nicely under saddle although we still have quite a ways to go. Luckily, I have had the opportunity to take some lessons with SAFE's trainer and she has really helped me make some big strides with Dexter. Each lesson we take a big leap forward and my goal is always try and keep that momentum going/not take any steps backwards until the next time Andrea is in town. We've progressed from a trot that was all over the place tempo wise, no stearing, and no left lead- to picking up the correct lead both directions, stearing both directions, and making mostly round circles both directions. Something really clicked with him last saturday and I was able to build on that throughout the week and even more-so with andrea today. Woohoo! I really think Dexter would be the perfect "do anything" mount whether that was a 4-h type home or just someone's all around good-guy. He does need more miles and consistent handling- but it's easy to like this guy. Jaime got some great pics and video of us today.   Video www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPcBpBwtPKgwww.youtube.com/watch?v=5Do7-09sAi0 |
|
|
|
Post by schwung on Sept 25, 2010 19:54:17 GMT -5
The person who returned Baxter today thought Dexter might be a better match. She rode him and loved him so he has gone on a trial with her! Cross your fingers that three times is a charm!
|
|
|
|
Post by widmancl on Nov 13, 2010 12:27:43 GMT -5
Dexter is doing very well. He gets along nicely with his pasture mate. Our Appy Mare keeps him in his place. He has not challenged any of the fences, but our paddocks are 3 strands of hot tape. If he were to get out of that the rest of the property is surrounded in chain-link. Dexter and I are taking lessons weekly and this Sunday he will participate in is first 4H event. It's a showmanship clinic! My daughter is planning to show him green-horse walk/trot this coming spring. We get out and ride 2-3 times each week and although he has moments where he shows he's just confused with what's being asked he's coming around nicely. There's not a mean bone in his body! He's already signed up for an all day clinic in both December and January where my daughter will participate in a Western eq. clinic and English eq. clinic. Should be fun! Dexter is a great boy and will be happily loved. Sara...You did an awesome job with him. He's found a home and we love him. Look for him this coming spring as a participant in the Pierce County 4H horse program. I have to keep reminding my daughter that this is "Mommy's" horse. My daughter will continue to participate in fair on her appy in gaming, but is so excited to get back into the performance classes to see all her friends. She's so excited to work with both horses and I'm excited to finally have a horse that's mine. Maybe I'll get brave and enter him myself in a schooling show at the Tacoma Unit...We'll see. For now...I love his lazy attidude!
|
|
|
|
Post by Sara on Jan 8, 2011 18:21:20 GMT -5
I'm sad to report that Dexter is back. While I like to hang out with him- I was really hoping to never see his cute face again. ;)He was a very good boy for his potential adopter for about 2 months and then he had some behavioral issues and was returned. It sounds like this incident was pretty similar to what I experienced with him at the SAFE show. Dexter is an easy guy 90 (or more!) percent of the time... but he's got an insecurity streak in him that creates a bit of a jekyl/hyde situation. While he's very consistent at home, once in a while when he's out (it's not every time, it's not even most times... just sometimes), for whatever reason he just seems to lose it... and once he's lost it it becomes dangerous to ride him. Then he goes home, resets and is back to his easy going self. The good boy in dexter (who you get to see MOST of the time) does not buck or rear, even when you push him pretty hard and he's not really thrilled about what you're asking. When "lost my mind" Dexter shows up, well, all bets are off. Whoever ends up as his for-ever person just needs to understand this and be prepared to deal with it. Overall, he's a sweet, easy to handle guy. Easy to catch, super to tack up and groom. He's a bit of a pain on the lunge line (he insists he has NO Idea what you're asking him to do- but is all a bluff) but if you call his bluff- he's fine and easy. I rode him today and he was a good boy. He has definitely made progress in his time away and his trot has greatly improved. He's also retained his steering and become a tiny more willing to bend.    Adding video: www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=10150117294868755&oid=389354740261&comments |
|
|
|
Post by Kea's Crest on Jan 9, 2011 13:00:20 GMT -5
Dexter is an easy guy 90 (or more!) percent of the time... Well he's a horse, silly. 100% is called a motorcycle under warranty. 
|
|
nico
New BB Member
Posts: 31 
|
Post by nico on Apr 25, 2012 6:06:53 GMT -5
Hello - Can anyone tell me more about where this horse came from? I ask because I purchased his twin from ESP in Dec 2010. In addition to (I suspect - based on a lot of evidence) a history of abuse, I also suspect that someone tried to work with this pony and was intimidated by him. That is just my suspicion due to some of his behavior. He doesn't really do any of that any more unless he is having a moment - which are now very rare. Other similarities to Dexter: My phony is the same height (and a touch butt high), same conformation, head shape, visible white around the eyes, similar stripe shape, very close markings - Dexter has a bit more white on his neck and butt, similar temperament (including insecurity issues, fence issue once learned by non-hot taped fence; mane issue, similar riding issues -based on what is written here, etc.). Various professionals (including myself) had difficulty targeting his age by his teeth. I've never had that happen before. My guy also has a thing about being next to other horses, and around other horses in the arena. He will buck out at them. It's weird and it's what he does. He hasn't done it under saddle yet, because I put him to work when he has a hump in his back. He also has a thing with having his tail lifted. As in, it terrifies him. I've been working on it, but he still has thermometer issues. He has his moments under saddle, but is otherwise very chill and well behaved. I know many of those characteristics are learned behaviors, but I suspect that these two may have originally come from the same barn, breeder, or trainer at some point. Based on physical characteristics, I do suspect that they may be related. I have attached an old photo of my little monster from last summer, which at least shows his face/stripe. He has muscled out since then. He is built like a tank with a QH butt. Markings: he has four high whites, splashes of white on his neck, belly, butt and the upper half of his tail is white. He also has the same pink spot in the middle of his lower lip. None of the photos I currently have do him justice. I will have to take a photo for better reference. Please let me know if you think it is a possibility. I would love to know more about my phony's past. Thank you! Attachments:
|
|
