Two days after arriving from the rescue farm, Montaro is settling in well and very connected and responsive.
We have also been for a walk outside of the fences on the lead line, exploring the house, garden, woods, cars, kids toys and tents – nothing fazes this guy!
I have also been doing “energetic leading” with him; moving forward, turning right, turning left, stopping, turning in a circle, etc. – no halter no lead rope, just body language. This can take months to teach a “domesticated” horse. But Montaro’s personality, combined with his aliveness and sensitivity, resulted in him understanding immediately what I was suggesting, and he enjoys the game too. He’s something special for sure! I’m so blessed.
For sure I’ll be writing more about the gorgeous Montaro as he develops (he’s only 2 years old) and what I’m learning about stallion behaviour from this great opportunity to observe and hang out with a semi-feral stallion.
Montaro was herded up with numerous others in his family and trucked off to auction where he would have gone to the kill buyer had not two lovely ladies stepped forward and bought the entire herd. He spent one month with them and then was trailered down to me.
Once he has caught up on the growth he missed due to malnutrition, I will look at gelding him. However, there is a new sterilization procedure that has caught my eye called Section Ligation Release (SLR) which is the horse and cattle version of a vasectomy. And yes, I’ll be blogging about this as I uncover more information – it’s pretty scant right now, but I’ll share whatever I dig up in the near future…
AND we’ll be sharing his hoof journey too as our barefoot trimmer, Kesia, gets to know him. Hard to look at hooves like this I know, but he’s never had a hoof trim in his life, and it’s far more important to take the time to make it a positive experience for him:
Jini Patel Thompson is a natural health writer and Lazer Tapping instructor. She began riding at age 2 in Kenya, and got her first horse at age 8 in Alberta, and so continues a life-long journey and love affair with these amazing creatures.
Congratulations on the new member of your family, Jini! Montaro is gorgeous and very lucky boy! I’m eager to blog-experience your journey with him. Cheers!
Thanks Bridget, it’s so interesting observing the differences between him and domesticated horses! Today I took him out on the road to see how he reacted to cars – no bigee. Then he was eating at the edge of a culvert/ditch (which none of our horses would ever venture into) and what do you know, he leaps down into it, then decided he didn’t like it down there and leaped sideways back out. All done with the greatest of ease and grace. Which then left me on the other side of the ditch! At which point he decided to walk on, oh, and go around a telephone pole. Things could have gone hairy sideways at multiple points, but we escaped unscathed, with yet another layer of trust and knowledge of each other laid down. He also likes to explore forests whether there is any path or break in the foliage, or not! Poor guy, I’m sure he’s trying to figure out why I’m so inept and unwilling to forge ahead!
By the way, I LOVE your site and your outlook on what makes for a happy canine!
And thank YOU Jini! I bet it is quite enlightening to work with the mindset of a free-raised horse. Is that what led you to your latest blog-post? You’re right – horses are kept in cages. And by some of the most caring, well-meaning humans. Funny the things we accept just because “that’s the way it’s done”. Applies to so many rituals and ways of being with domesticated animals. I recently acquired a 6 acre property on Whidbey Island – trees with pastures and trails interwoven between. I am excited about introducing my boy to a life where he can eventually roam freely about the property – trees, shrubs, trails, and all!
Oooh Bridget that sounds fantastic! And many I’ve spoken to rave about Whidbey Island – lucky you on all counts! Regarding stalled/caged horses I think what really got to me was visiting a friend who was working at a hunter/jumper barn and repeatedly seeing/feeling how they were kept. And the begging/pleading from most of the horses, along with the others who had just shut down and stood facing the corner unmoving, in complete defeat.