Getting him to trust people has been extremely time consuming, even to this day, he still has
issues that are more feral and animalistic than most tame horses would have, she says. “His go
to thing in times of distress is to bronc and sometimes that will come out due to minor things,
like being fly sprayed or if he feels cornered and threatened, he’s far more prone to attack
or charge than most horses would be. That is a more difficult part of him, but it’s something
that has been resolved with myself and my mom handling him; however he would definitely
respond differently if he didn’t know the person. I think that’s likely something he will always
carry with him.”
Over the two years that Shelby has owned him, he’s greatly improved and become a truly
amazing horse. His natural curiosity makes him brave and willing to check out things that may
spook other horses. “He is highly intelligent and a quick study, the issue is that he’s only willing to do things for people who he likes or if he thinks that he wants to do said thing. Also,
because of his intelligence, if he’s taught something once he expects it to be asked the same
way every time or he becomes irritable,” she says.
Overall, adopting him and working with him has easily been the most rewarding part of Shelby’s life. “We have a trust and a bond that is unlike anything I’ve ever had with a horse, he’s
willing to do most things I ask of him and looks to me in times of insecurity”, she says proudly.