what gets me about rehabs, project horses, is when a person pays a lot of money for a renegade horse, and then finds out its hopeless, and then wants to get rid of them, so they put them up for sale at the same that they paid, and were ripped off, thus perpetuating the rip off forever. Also, it makes it where a horse with issues just gets passed from one home to the other and gets crazier and crazier with more issues each time. So then, when a horse needs rehabbing or fixing, someone who wants to help can maybe pay shipping, but not shipping PLUS thousands of dollars for a known renegade, and the renegade never gets fixed you know?? So bless people like Ann, Karen etc who are willing to take a financial loss to help a horse find a good home. Ann had a lot of money in Tivar, training etc., Karen paid for shipping, (i think) ulcer treatments, and training for him, each took a loss so I could have him. I could offer a great home, but no operating $$ for shipping etc. I went and got him. But Karen knows if I ever have trouble taing care of him, if he ever develops a chronic ulcer problem or something again, I am not a person who can affords thousands a year on one horse for medical care, it would make my other horses suffer. If Ann had flat out given Tivar directly to me and paid shipping and everything, it would not have worked out. I am a person who isnt good at working thru huge issues. I did once, with jaspar, and it took everything I had and I just cant do it anymore. But I am a person who once a horse has a fix, I can then ride him tons of trail miles to get him into a whole new mindset, a new life and trust.
BUT. As for Baldur, please be careful. just because he is fixed doesnt mean he will stay that way with a new family. I thought Tvar was totally deadbroke fixed, and I let my daughter ride him. She has had lessons, is a good little rider, but she told me later she was afraid of him? Maybe, I dont know what happened, i was there the whole time, he started out ok but the further she rode him from the barn, the more agitated he became, tail swishing, balking, wanting to turn back--- things he NEVER does with me... then when she did turn him back he took off fast and when she tried to stop him he went into bucking. Not hard enough to throw her but I was right there hollering at him and caught him. He did not WANT her on him. Was an eye opener as far as how far he has come. I think if he changed hands again, a certain type person, and I have no idea really what sets it off with him, he would revert. I just feel that in my heart after seeing him with her. Also he can be very very grumpy and cantankerous and I scold him and give him a little light slap on the neck and he will lick and chew but flatten ears. I think if he didnt feel I was fair, and didnt know he was being deliberately bad, he would try and hurt me. which isnt to say also, he could find the right home with the right person... whatever that is to him...jmo. Janice -- even good horses have bad days sometimes.
