Adopting An Abused Arabian!!!!!!

[Ms. Trouble Maker]

I know this has nothing to do with the game per-say....But I have fallen in love with this Arabian mare! She is an abused case and very skittish of people. I'm pretty sure she was hit with brushes because she is deathly terrified of brushes. She does not like you standing on her right side at all and won't even let you pet the right side of her...but the left side is tolerable. When you walk her on a lead rope she acts like a totally normal horse. Although I don't think she is a lost cause, she still seems very curious of people. She is only 6 years old, still so many years left, she can take as long as she needs. But she's to good to be a pasture ornament for the rest of her life. I'm hoping I can get her to trust again.

[Sisenna]

That's so awesome! She is a beautiful mare and I wish you all the luck in the world helping her recover. <3

[Ms. Trouble Maker]

That's so awesome! She is a beautiful mare and I wish you all the luck in the world helping her recover. <3

Thank you!!! She is! I'm not sure if her growth may have been stunted! She is supposedly pure Arabian, but she's about 13.3 or so. I am 5'2 and I don't think I'm to big for her. But I think Arabs were normally around 15.0hh at least. But she may not be pure either...there are no papers for her.

[Sisenna]

But I think Arabs were normally around 15.0hh at least.

I think Arabs tend to be around 14-15 hh typically. There's always variation though so she could be pure and just be really short!
Even if she isn't pure though, as long as you love her that's all that matters!

Not to be an overly-demandy person, but if you ever wanted to update us on your progress gaining her trust, I'd totally love to follow that thread.

[Ms. Trouble Maker]

But I think Arabs were normally around 15.0hh at least.

I think Arabs tend to be around 14-15 hh typically. There's always variation though so she could be pure and just be really short!
Even if she isn't pure though, as long as you love her that's all that matters!

Not to be an overly-demandy person, but if you ever wanted to update us on your progress gaining her trust, I'd totally love to follow that thread.

Oh ya definitely!!! I am picking her up on Monday! But I will be going to visit her this Friday (4-1-16)

[Mara8715]

I asked for info on this gal when she was first posted for adoption! How awesome!! Best of luck to you both!

[Scythian]

Very best regards to you for doing this, and best wishes too.

There could be smaller Arabian genetic strains out there still -- what's "normal" now was not the case even 50 years ago (a SHORT time in the history of this breed!). OTOH, you could be right that the abuse included neglect and that could have held her growth down. Or maybe she was bred early and that could have stunted her as well.

I knew a purebred Arabian mare who was 15.2 hh and in perfect proportion. She spent the first half of her life, 17 years, with a breeder who was specifically devoted to making taller Arabians. Had minimal training, just enough to be entered in halter (model) classes. Whenever she was pregnant her body devoted itself absolutely to the foal, so that she became very thin during gestation and took, literally, a year to recover. Her first 6 foals were as large as expected. The 7th was small, so the breeder simply wrote her off at that point. Would have sold her for meat if my instructor and friend, HorseLady72, hadn't adopted her. The mare was smart and very non-dominant, and willing to work with people. After some very patient calm training on HorseLady's part, the mare spent the rest of her life as a school horse. (Initially the mare was puzzled, maybe even weirded out, by being introduced to bridle, saddle, and rider. But HorseLady72 is a gentle-and-firm Lead Mare, so things worked out well ).

I hope your mare has as good a home and outcome as that one did. Also that you have support from a veterinarian who has experience with abuse/neglect cases (and sadly I'd bet that most do).

No worries about being "too big" for her at your height. Arabians are very strong for their size and their ability to carry riders is real, not just legendary. Their backs are a little short, having 1 or 2 vertebrae fewer than most other breeds, and a shorter span is stronger.

Again, very best, and I'll follow you too.

BTW, your farm is AWESOME!

[Amber]

Wow! This is amazing! What a kind and wonderful thing to do for another creature. And she is lovely!

[Aela]

She looks so bright! I bet you she's one of those horses that just 'connects' after the initial struggles are overcome. I know a lovely little Irish Cob who is absolutely terrified of men (he has to be lead by a woman whenever the farrier or vet is around, and runs off if he sees them approaching him too fast, lol), but as soon as you start working with him, he's the gentlest creature on earth.

I wish you two the best of luck! :)

[Ms. Trouble Maker]

I asked for info on this gal when she was first posted for adoption! How awesome!! Best of luck to you both!

really!!!?? Awesome!! Ya I'm buying her from an older lady that has had her for about a year now. She had adopted 2 other horses from the same abusive people and had to put them down because they just went bazerk. She is the only one left that still has some hope left.