Little Silic - a Prospect Horse in 2007
April 3, 2008
Hi Elizabeth,
How are things in your slice of heaven? Little Silic is doing
wonderful. I finally decided his barn name will be "Shaman",
meaning medicine man because he has been the best medicine to
help me through the profound sadness of losing my best friend
Jake who I will FOREVER love and miss very much.
Little Silic
has been such a blessing, he makes me smile alot. He has quite
the personality. He has gained some weight, and he's still
fuzzy from his winter coat. The ground was so frozen this winter
so we were not able to get a lot of riding in, but ground schooling
has been a lot of fun. He's incredibly smart. He has learned
so much doing Natural Horsemanship, and he's great at it. All
I have to do is tap the air with my finger and moves his hindquarters,
etc.,
The pics I sent you are post "I'm going to roll after
you spend an hour grooming me!!!" He is settling in here and
he certainly enjoys being free stalled, he comes and goes whenever
he pleases and plays a lot with his buddy Von. He definitly looks
for me to rescue him from things he is not comfortable with which
is great because he has learned that trusting me will never let
him get hurt and in the end he will be okay.
Call it karma
but my horse that I lost used to pick up the broom in the barn
and play with it. The other day, Little Silic picked up the
broom and started playing with it, coincidence or not, I feel it
in my bones that he was meant to be with me. I am so grateful
every day that you kept pressing his trainer and you didn't give
up on him. I will keep you posted and I am looking forward to sending
you pics on his progress, we may not have all the ribbons yet,
but he is a very loved horse.
Sincerely, Barbara
P.S. Drop me a line and let me know if you liked the pics and
what you think of him. One of my favorites is the one where he
is nice and round, he is so comfortable, I feel like I'm on a
cloud.
December 12, 2007
Hello Elizabeth, Hope all is well in your piece of paradise!!
I know you are extemely busy but I need your help. Little Silic
is doing great, he's put on some much needed weight, he's been
very frisky with the cold weather!! I am determined to accomplish
two things over the next few weeks and what better person to get
the most info. from is you!!
I need to know what you think would
be a good choice of western saddle for my little guy, I want to
get him out on trail and I would like to try him western, he's
been having a spook and buck issue and although I am a pretty good
rider, I am thinking a western saddle would be a good option for
me in terms of being safe until he learns this will not be accceptable,
can you suggest what type of bars would best fit a TB, semi-quarter
horse? Arab design for high withers? Or can you recommend another
person to me that can help, I have seen a few of the horses from
your website that have western saddles.
Also, I have been diligently
looking fro a trailer, I know you said 4 Star's are great, but
they are very expensive, Can you share with me what you think of
Keifer's and Featherlite's? I want a decent trailer for my precious
cargo and I don't want to buy something that won't be "safe" for
him, there are no 4 Star dealers within a 200 mile radius of me
even if I could afford it, so I am looking into a Keifer's and
Feattherlite', Or do you recommend Sundowner etc,. I know you must
have plenty of trailer experience so if you can share I would greatly
appreciate it.
I am thinking a 2 horse straight load with both
a rear and side ramp gooseneck, I have a Ford F-350, so a one
ton shoulf have no problem pulling a GN, but I do have the short
bed, 6 foot, maybe Barry can put some input in also, please let
me know what trailers are decent and which ones to avoid!!
Are
gooseneck's safer than bumper pulls? Your opinion is very valuable
to me, and I would really appreciate your input, I can't wait
to hear from you ! I will be sure to give Little Silic and big
smooch for you.
I can't wait to decorate their Christmas tree,
we buy a real tree, and I freeze apples and carrots, my husband
drills holes through the apples and carrots and we hang them
on the tree in the ring for them, a great idea someone shared with
me a long time ago, it's so much fun to watch them eat off the
tree!!
Thank you so much Elizabeth!!
Fondly,
Barbara
Elizabeth's Notes: Riding
your Thoroughbred in a Western saddle can be fun. They don't care
and if you feel safer on the trails in a Western saddle, then get
one! Just make sure any saddle you put on your horse is comfortable
and well fitted. See Roman
Ripple's and Light
Artillery's Success
Stories for Thoroughbreds
being ridden in a Western Saddle. Even Austin's
Wolf was ridden
in a Western saddle for our Halloween
party.
My favorite horse trailer is the 4 Star as it is so well made
and will hold its value. I prefer a gooseneck over a bumper pull
for safety and a straight load over slant load for the horse's
comfort. A standard slant load trailer is designed for horses under
16 hands. Larger horses are cramped and can get sore if travelling
long distances while squished into a space that is too small for
them. Avoid at all costs small trailers with mangers in front.
These are way too small for a Thoroughbred and will feel like a
starting gate to them so they may not load. If you are picking
up a horse at the track, make sure you have a large enough trailer
that is safe for the horse to travel comfortably. Read my Training
Notes on "Choosing
the Right Horse Trailer".
October 8, 2007
Hello, Elizabeth,
By the looks of your website, I am sure you
have been very busy. I wanted to send you an update about my baby!!
HE IS AWESOME!!! It's been a month already and I he amazes me every
day. I got on him for the first time yesterday, and WOW.......
.he was perfect!! My trainer was so surprised about he good he
was!! He moves off my leg, and he is actually a bit lazy!!!!!
I can't believe he was a racehorse.
I have spent the last month
just getting to know him, bonding with him, and I must admit it
was hard at times, and the temptation was so great to just skip
the ground training and just get on and ride. But my patience has
really paid off, the ground work has helped tremendously and has
helped me develop a relationship with him.
He was bit pushy and
nippy when he first arrived, and he learned in just a few short
sessions that while I smother him with love, smooches and giant
hugs, he must respect me. He has also taught me a few things in
the process. Trust is something we must EARN, sometimes we have
to work very hard at it, but he seems alot less interested in scary
things when I tell him it's okay.
He has definitly come a long
way in just one month. He really came unglued the first day I opened
a bag of shavings, the rustling of the paper bag excited him, so
I decided to desensitize him to the noise, he now not only picks
up the bag and plays with it, he lets me shake a large black garbage
bag over his head and he doesn't even flinch, he stands there,
puts his head down and is completely relaxed. A big accomplishment
was desensitizing him to the sound of a whip, crop.
He is such
a fast learner, and he is incredibly smart. I was so excited to
be able to get on him and feel his trot, what a beautiful mover.
He is very comfortable. His stifle is completely healed, and he
is doing great. My trainer says we are going to win alot of ribbons
in the dressage ring with him next year- we have alot to do.
I
have not yet taken him a trail ride, but i have hand walked him
in the park and he is really good. For now we will continue to
ground train and take things slow, a philosophy I have always beleived
in is this: The trees that grow the slowest
bear the best fruit!!
I attached some pics, of course, everyone always wants to get
in on the action, so a few pics are with some of his fans. He is
spoiled and I really think he likes it here !! I hop eyou enjoy
the pics, and I will send more soon!! P.S. When he first
came, he wouldn't let anyone kiss his muzzle, now he puts his head
down and loves getting kisses, he is definitly getting used to
all the attention.
Thank you .....for never giving up on him with
me.
Fondly,
Barbara
September 4, 2007
Hi Elizabeth,
Hope all is well on your piece of paradise!! My
baby is doing good, Becky gave me a call to check in to see how
he is doing. I had my vet come right after he was unloaded because
he was very stiff on his hind end with some stifle swelling.
Of course I immediately attributed it to the long trailer ride,
as safe as we try to make them on thier journey, inevitably on
a 16 hour trailer ride, he was boud to be stiff. My vet gave him
a shot of Banamine and came today again to check him, the swelling
has gone down and he at least picks up a trot for evaluation,
yesteray he didn't want to move, neither would I after that kind
of ride.
My
vet says the stifle injury is not something he thinks will be
long term , he is on stall rest for now, and he will come again
tomorrow for evaluation. Stifle injury or not, I am so in love
with him. He was soo good getting his feet played with, he is such
a love muffin. He lets me touch him all over, he is not head shy
and I get to give him big smooches on his little nose.
Thank you
so much for all your help, and for perservering to save him from
a racing life. I think he is really enjoying his calm environment.
I have more pics I will send to you, and I will keep you posted
on his progress.
Fondly,
Barbara
September 3, 2007
Little Silic has
made it home to Long Island, NY to his new mom Barbara Batista.
September 3, 2007
Hello Elizabeth,
MY BABY IS HERE!! We were up all night waiting
.......He finally arrived early this morning and he is soooooo
much more beautiful than I imagined, he was so good coming off
the trailer and walking back to the barn, very calm, and loveable.
Within minutes he had a fan club with plenty of hugs and kisses,
he is so gentle. He is very cute, and loves all the attention.
I will drop you a line tomorrow,
THANK YOU,
Barbara
|
