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History:  

We received a nervous phone call in December 2007. A woman called, saying her husband had purchased 3 horses from a 'bad situation' some time before. One horse had been easy to manage and they had rehomed her with a friend. The other 2 were still in his care. The husband had some horse experience but not extensive. The wife had none and was intimidated, particularly by the larger mare, Mia. Then, the husband injured his shoulder at work, and was off work for weeks. He struggled to care for Mia and Sally, and the wife was trying to find the 2 mares new homes. When none could be found, they started calling rescues.

At the time, CWER was full and unable to take the mares in, but we posted them to various lists for her, and soon heard that another facility was going to take them in.

Then, some weeks later, a panicked phone call. The other facility hadn't taken the horses after all; the husband has had surgery on the shoulder and is still trying to care for the horses. The wife is at work, 45 minutes away; Mia has hit the husband's shoulder with a gate and is running panicked in her yard as he let go and sunk to the ground in pain.

As soon as possible, we picked up the 2 mares and brought them to CWER. Lee was so grateful that we were able to bring them in to our facility and help this family before someone got really hurt...including the horses. Lee explained that both mares had been ridden before he took them in, but he didn't know much about the female rider's skill, or about their level of training. He cautioned that Mia could be pushy at times.

March 2008: Mia is a smart alpha horse, and temporarily had taken the herd away from Tess. Tess is back in control now, having shown Mia who really IS boss, but Mia continues to 'pick' at Tess in the pasture. Mia showed similar behavior with her human alphas in the round pen -- acting submissive until the alpha turns his/her back, then is pinning ears, snaking her head, and otherwise acting aggressive. With 2 of us to work together, it was easy to catch and scold this behavior, and Mia's actions with all humans got better almost immediately.

Shown here is Mia working her first day in the round pen...first with Mike working and AM as a second set of eyes; then with AM working with her, first with saddle pad and other horse care items, and then with the circus stand. Mia did surprisingly well with this task...notice the soft, proud look on her face!

Mia is quickly becoming soft in the bridle. She still plays with her bit -- a reminder that she still needs a dental exam -- but otherwise is very responsive and has a light mouth. She responds beautifully to leg, is able to pivot with proper crossover in each direction, and is using her hind end to create power at the trot instead of 'dragging' herself as most green horses will do. She is mildly argumentative -- a great sign that she feels secure and confident, AND that she trusts us. She isn't fighting, she isn't throwing fits, she isn't refusing to move or bolting. She is questioning, asking, learning with every step. She seemed to really enjoy her time outside, as the 2 photos hopefully show. (Remember, Mike is over 6'2 tall...this is a big mare, but his large frame makes her look more average in size.)

For those who don't know her, Mia is a big buckskin draft cross with Clyde-like markings as far as the white belly splash, nearly bald face; but she's dappled with dark points and a frosted mane. one beautiful mare.

Mia's been abused in her past. the scar on her right hind appears to be the result of being beaten with a board. and of course the wound not treated. worse than the typical abuse case, someone tried to bully mia and lost. she learned to fight back, "the best defense is a good offense" and so on.

Mia arrived angry, aggressive, dominant, and very very smart. She drug people by her lead rope,
rushed gates and doors, planted her feet and refused to move and, one particularly sour minded evening, attempted to crush a large human on a telephone pole that frames a stall door. she
particularly likes to use her large draft head as an intimidator and, if needed a weapon, breaking
my glasses on day 3, and causing a few volunteers to shy from handling her at all.

The first day of real work in the round pen, Mia was posing on our circus stand (front hooves only)
and incredibly proud of herself. it was clear this mare was going to be something great, if only
given the time and chances she needed to get over her fears. expect greatness from her, and praise
mediocrity, allow set backs. And she'll come.... 

For the past several weeks, we've been gradually progressing toward riding. How, you ask? well...we
start with just learning to stand by the mounting steps. relaxed, easy, praise and treats. then with a rider on the steps, talking, petting, rubbing. she asks to get out nervously? no problem. she can simply walk away. just as with the rest of her round pen work, she always chooses to be with me, when given a chance to make a choice herself, instead of by force. in no time, she was choosing to rest at the mounting steps, between the steps and the round pen rail, resting there comfortably for praise and attention, stepping forward and backing into place again with ease. Setting pressure on her back created nerves again. Come on back, baby. it'll be ok. With a horse that's never been abused, this process normally takes an evening, maybe 2 or 3. With mia, it was about 15 sessions before she stood, resting, with a rider sitting across her back, one hand on the round pen rail, the other foot on the stairs, able to adjust her position forward and back with rein, voice, and the tap of a crop. We'd already covered ground driving prior to stairs work, so she understood quickly when asked to back, turn or adjust her
position from her bridle. 

Tonight, mia stood loose, no lead no handler, as she was saddled with ease. She stepped away once
while girthing, but then stood like a lady. She was similarly calm (but not perfect, yet) for bridling. In a single attempt, she was bridled and calm. Slide the stairs in place, she walks herself into position. she is most comfortable with a rider at the off side instead of near side, so mike steps her in place facing south instead of north, against the east round pen rail. She stands there easily. Mike praises her, rattles the round pen rail, legs over, stands on the 2nd rung. foot on the 3rd rung down. weight in the saddle, still
barely even an ounce of pressure on the rein. Mia stands, relaxed, "old hat". I slide the steps a few inches away, giving him leg room but still the ability to step off if needed. Mia looks at me and licks and chews. Mike eases his right foot into his stirrup, and mia steps 2-3 steps forward. he pets her, rubs her neck, and she stands as he picks up the second stirrup. she eases 3 or 4 more steps forward, and i move the stairs off the rail, getting the obstacle out of the way should she startle and hurry forward or back. 

like a pro, mia strides about 1/2 the arena. then stops, tries to assess things. mike gives her time, praises her when she moves forward again. they reverse, cut across the arena, pivot, and even back a few strides. when she refuses to go forward, he asks for his crop again, pleased she's gone so much without it. he shakes the long crop, and she strides forward again, more praise. she strides forward in an impressive, ground covering walk and mike smiles, laughs. a moment later, the two of them trot a dozen strides, stop, praise some more. Minutes later, they are trotting full laps, walking, she still hesitates near the gate  and near a damp area of the arena floor where she's slipped other times. they reverse, she's
unsure about trotting this direction, her weak side. he encourages her forward, she startles and nearly canters, then halts from pressure. praise again, ask again. she's unsure what's wanted now.  a minute or so later, they are again trotting, confidently, comfortably, doing great. she looks fantastic!

A few minutes longer, and together they are walking across our "trail class bridge" like they'd been riding together for years. she stands for more praise, then relaxes as mike dismounts. I'd been unsure how she would handle the dismount, not having had that type of movement at the stairs, but she understands and does great. 

she's strong, with a big muscular neck. mike has to work to halt her when she nervously rushes forward, but she calms, and, just as with round pen, when given a chance and not forced (ie not turned into a fence rail), she chooses to come back to him. she uses her powerful hindquarters beneath her naturally, and has some natural cross over in turns. she's still suspicious of the crop, often turning her neck to eye it while riding, sometimes bowing to the round pen rail when doing so.

it's been a long time since we've handled an abused alpha mare, and particularly one as intelligent and crafty as this girl. she's beautiful, graceful, alpha to the bone, and will be an amazing partner for the right handler. she's surefooted and one of the most eager to please horses I've ever known. What a beautiful,
wonderful girl. 

my next mission is to finish teaching her about fly spray. She got wiped for tonight's ride. I'm also still working on convincing her that we're not going to hurt her with farrier tools or when we handle her hind hooves.  I've done much of the ground work with her, and  with any luck, tomorrow, I will get to be her second rider. I can't wait....

GRAIN: Mia now has a grain sponsor! Twilight's mom, Kelly M, is now sponsoring Mia. Thanks, Kelly!

MED: Mia also needs a med sponsor -- someone who agrees to pay any medical bills she encounters. As of March 08, Mia's expenses thus far have only been worming and transportation to CWER ($175). May 08 expenses added were $35 for shots and another $5 for worming.