I assumed he would just happily follow mom onto the trailer and that would be that, but apparently not so. According to the previous owners they had hoped so too so had `tested`him before we arrived and took mom away. The little independent bugger took off in the opposite direction and found some lush grass to graze on. They had a heck of a time catching him. This all happened before we arrived with trailer to take him and mom home.
It was a very good thing we had brought Gus, the horse guru, because as soon as Tex had started kicking and rearing and refusing anyone near him, Gus stepped in. He made a makeshift halter out of the leadline and somehow managed to stop Tex from kicking and rearing but also had him stopping from moving all together. The independent little thing put the brakes on full stop. All four legs were spread out and dug as deep into the ground as he could get them. It seemed as if Gus hauled him all the way to the trailer in that position, but explained later that he pulled and released whenever Tex made the smallest move in his direction teaching him to give to pressure. He continued that process back at our farm after successfully reuniting Tex with his mother on the trailer.
Since then we have been working with Tex not only on a leadline but desensitizing him to the human touch. That part wasn`t as difficult as I had thought. He soaked up the human affection. Now after so many weeks home, Tex is a friendly little miniature who is halter broke and coming along nicely on the leadline. He gives his feet, loves to get groomed, and follows his mother around dutifully.
His mother, Willow, was yet another issue we discovered after bringing her home. When visiting the farm where we bought them, they had about 6-8 miniature horses. They all appeared wild and not halter broke. We couldn't even approach them. However, the previous owner's two year old daughter approached Willow who had not seen her coming and WHAM pounded Willow right on the side of her stomach. Willow did not so much as flinch. I turned to the owner and said, "I'll take that one." Thinking of my petting zoo, I needed miniatures and ponies that were gentle and tolerant and take lots of abuse from small hands. Be it intentionally or not.
But after bringing Willow home, we came to realize how little human contact she had. The first few days she stood standing in her stall very depressed, she had diarrhea and downed the straw like it was hay. At the end of the day, her stall was empty of straw but covered in poop. Like Tex, we spent a lot of time brushing, hugging, and grooming her. However, unlike Tex, she didn`t enjoy the humans dealing with her. And cross-ties?! Forget it, she had no idea what they were and sent her into a panic.
The cross-ties it turns out, was a milestone for everyone of our minis except Pixie who came to us perfect. She has no issues, easily made the transition from old to new farm, and stood quietly to be groomed. Even for my nine year old son. A definite requirement for my petting zoo. Meadow is nearly as perfect as Pixie but at two years old is still young and nervous. She simply needs time and work on her to bring her to Pixie`s level. And one of the things we discovered she needed work on was the cross-ties.
There is something about cross-ties that sends an inexperienced horse into panic. And Meadow went into panic. But we stuck to it and for the past three times in the cross-ties she has stood quietly while I groomed her and picked her feet. When it was Willow`s turn, I admit, I leave her until I`m done Pixie and Meadow because she stresses me out and gets me upset. When I brought her in last night for grooming, Tex followed right behind her as usual. Farm Girl went to put him in a stall to wait for mom, but at the last second I stopped her and said, let him roam free where she can see him. And my gosh, I couldn`t believe the difference in Willow. It was like she was an entirely different miniature horse. She stood still while I groomed her and only moved slightly to keep an eye on Tex and when I went to lift her feet....surprise, surprise...she gave them to me willingly! I was so, so pleased with her! I couldn`t stop hugging and kissing her---whether she wanted it or not. Though I am pretty certain she was enjoying the hugs. She never stood so quiet for me before.
With the three of them groomed and put in their stalls for the night, my evening was ending on a very good note. But we weren't done yet. Next was Dreamer. Dreamer also turned out to have more issues than we realized. We are pretty certain that the last home she was at, she had been abused. She is fifteen years old and it took her the longest to trust us. She flinched whenever we touched her, particularly her ears, coiled whenever we reached out to touch her, reared in the cross-ties threatened to kick us whenever we touched her backside, squealed whenever we rubbed her body, and catching her in the pasture was next to impossible. After several weeks of this, I gave up on her. After all, I have a business to think about that involves children handling my animals. I have a saying that no unfriendly animals are allowed on my farm. So Dreamer went up for sale.
Farm Girl secretly wasn't giving up on Dreamer. She reminded her of Chase when she first got him. He also had been abused and neglected in his previous home. It had taken time, patience and lots of love to bring him around to the wonderful horse he is today. He loves no other like he loves her. And it seems that Dreamer is also responding to Farm Girl's gentle approach. She is the only one she allows to catch her in the pasture. Even in the large pasture where is known to take off to the far ends. Then yesterday when it was Dreamer's turn in the cross-ties, Farm Girl asked me to step outside---but within earshot since Dreamer is known to rear in them and has already struck Farm Girl in the hand. So I did as asked and watched secretly from the window. Once again, it was like I had a totally different miniature horse. She stood quietly, allowed Farm Girl to completely groom her and gave her feet willingly---and that included the hind legs. Farm Girl looked up at me (knowing full well I was watching closely) and beamed at me. She had been working on Dreamer without my knowledge. She called me in and asked me to watch as she ran her hand all over Dreamer, including her ears!! Dreamer stood quietly in the cross-ties though keeping a close eye on her. I was so thrilled and happy that I couldn't resist and threw my arms around Dreamer's neck. And guess what?? She didn't so much as flinch!
I have no idea how permanent these improved behaviors are with the minis (especially Dreamer) but I am so tickled with pride for them and so pleased with their progress. Still on a high of pride and happiness later that evening, me and Farm Girl went into the barn after dark for a late night visit. I was so worried that someone would do something wrong and end the day on a bad note rather than a good one, so kept my visits to Meadow and Pixie. Those two love me in return and I can feel it in their body language when I am near. Pixie, who only stands at 32" loves when I sit on the ground so she can groom my coat and hair and ears. She's such a gentle creature. I love that little thing. I love them all! I'd have a barn full of minis if possible.