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Chief - Has arrived.
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After a long trip from Maryland, Chief is settling in. He is a very sweet horse. Once we evaluate we will have more information. Right now he is just getting used to his new surroundings.
Update 6/25 - Chief is 16 years old and was a race horse bred in Kentucky. He is approximately 15'1 hands. He has a great lineage. He stood still for saddling and is not girthy. He was ridden at the walk and trot. He responded to leg aids and played with his bit! Right now he is not in shape to work for a long period of time but with the vets advice he is going to be put on a routine to be worked into shape.
Chief's ability will be limited to walk/trot work. This is due to an old injury to his stifle. He should not be made to canter. Chief also has what is called Sweeney Shoulder, this refers to a horse's shoulder musculature that has atrophied. The condition was first described in draft horses, in which a poorly fitted collar caused pressure on, and damage to, the suprascapular nerve. However, trauma to the area from a kick or from running into a solid object can cause also cause the injury. This in no way will inhibit his ability as a riding horse. The vet has advised that he still can be ridden. Here is a picture of Sweeney Shoulder. This is not Chief's picture as he is a dark horse and its hard to get a good picture of this type of injury.
He is update on his shots and has been wormed. He will be getting shod and wearing 4 shoes to start. This is not to say he will always need 4 shoes. He teeth will floated before he is adopted out.
This is a horse who LOVES people! He had 6 kids grooming him at once and stood still the whole time enjoying it! He can be lead by anyone and is very respectful of your space. He is able to trot in hand and seems that he would be great for a Therapeutic riding program. He has been tested with balls and foam dice being thrown around him and he didn't blink an eye. They even put the colored rings on his ears and he stood still.
Chief has kind eyes and seems like an old sole.
We will continue to update his progress. I also hope to get videos posted for him so you can see his movement.
Update 7/4- Chief is doing wonderfully and has the best personality. He loves people! We are working with a trainer and Chief is learning to trot collected. If we allow him to trot fast he will trip. He is doing well and with the collected trot he is tripping less. Chief will not be adoptable until we can resolve this tripping issue.
We have also a massage therapist coming every other week to help loosen his tight muscles. We have no idea what he has done the past 12 years. He loves his massages.
He is really trying hard and wants to please his rider. He stops easily when asked and is a very easy horse to ride. He opens his mouth for you when you are putting his bridle on. He gets happy when its time to work. We have hand walked him on the trail and he has showed no signs of being spooky.
His Sweeney Shoulder is not an issue with him.
He has found a friend in our pony Bella and likes the company of the other horses.
Update 9/11- Chief is still on a long road to recovery. I tried riding him this past week and his leg looked as it might buckle under me. He had his massage this week and seems to be feeling good as he is running in the paddock. I have called the vet and will have him try acupuncture. I hope this will help him to gain some strength in his leg muscles. For now he he is still unadoptable until we can see if he can take a rider. He still is a mush with people and Loves attention.