Poptart and the Tarp Session 3

Session 3 of "The Tarp". Significant improvement, he ended with being comfortable with the tarp swinging to his belly and hitting his hind limbs and even being tangled with his hind legs a bit. We even started with wearing the tarp like a blanket and he would walk calmly until it came off, but he wasn't truly relaxed about it-- for next time. Future plans include sliding it under his belly like a girth and using the tarp as a rope to pickup his legs and lead by the leg.

Ponied Poptart

On Monday we trailered out and went on an 8 mile group trail ride through the national forest. I rode Rogan and ponied Poptart. He wore his hoof boots (still looks at them a bit when they are put on), loaded well, and got great exposure to trails, creek crossing, brush, other horses, the whole shebang!! Now just for more repetition :)

Poptart and the Tarp

This is from session 2 of many ...
I really like the change in his expression in the 2nd half, he was still unsure of the tarp but was much more engaged (and thinking about cookies rather than escape) and not so internal-- big progress! I also like the adrenaline release (neck shaking with head down) at the end.

Unplanned dismount and ER visit

Today while riding in the woods Poptart spooked; I think he stepped on a large limb and it came up touched him on the hind leg.  It was very quick/sudden (no time think about a 1 rein stop!).  I came off very quickly (especially since I am still bareback) which was okay (he is small, LOL!) but then he side kicked me in the back on my way down, hoof print on my mid-lumbar vertebrae plus some large bruising on my right leg.  He ran home and I stumbled out to the neighborhood road and laid on it for about 15 min hoping someone would come rescue me.  No such luck, so I slowly and painfully stumbled home about 1/4 mile where my husband promptly put up Poptart (who was happily grazing in the backyard) and took me to the ER.  Thankfully, nothing was broken, just fully body whiplash, bruising, and some serious spraining of my back ligaments/muscle.

He was doing so well prior to the spook, walking relaxed with his head down on a loose rein. His quickness and level of fear surprised me.  I have a lot of confidence building to do, now for both of us!

Trailer practice

First ride together and first hi-tie practice

Poptart has been home about 5 days and is settling in so we had our first ride together. We do not have a saddle that comes close to fitting so it is bareback for now!

We are also starting off our practice as an endurance horse by 'camping' on the hi-tie.  Rogan apparently thinks it is a great time for a nap.

Poptart has arrived home!

Poptart has arrived home! Poptart is a 2010 Polish Arabian gelding adopted from Days End Farm Horse Rescue in Maryland.  Prior to being impounded by animal control with 146 other Arabians he was bred by Canterbury Farms in Maryland.

Here is his intake to DEFHR photo:

From research about Canterbury Farms, I believe his sire is Equifor.  Equifor was imported from Poland for breeding by Canterbury Farms for several years. At some point in the future I would like to submit DNA testing to the Arabian Horse Association for parentage verification and potential registration.

*EQUIFOR

#629207  grey stallion foaled 2/27/03

sire:   *GAZAL AL SHAQAB   (ANAZA EL FARID  x  KAJORA)

dam: *EQVIRIA (PERS  x  EQUINA)

Imported from Poland to the United States in 2006, and has since returned to his homeland.