I cleaned up her act. :)

[Ginevive]

Emma was looking like a sad little dirtball today. Since the snow's melted and the weather's improving, it also means that Emma spends her days either rolling or laying in dirt and mud and it can really get caked on.. so here are some before/after shots!

Emma at first.. note the dirt on belly, rear hip, and knotted/dreadlocked mane.



And Emma when I was done! I gave her a bath in the dirty areas using warm water and a bucket; too chilly yet at 60 degrees for the hose. I plan on working at the dirt gradually, daily; it was realllly caked on there.

And the mane event! Check out that slick, smooth mane and forelock! I am so proud.

[Michelle.C]

What a beautiful horse!! It looks like you are doing a fabulous job with her .

[Ginevive]

Thanks Emma definately has some issues; she is very skittish and reactive when something startles her. I swear, I was within a hair's bredth of wanting to sell her last fall, because she can be a real frightening creature to someone reactive and sometimes impatient like me, who really matches up better with a secure, less flighty horse; but my fiance loves her and she is more like his; our other mare is more mine. But lately, I have gone out of my way to spend time with Emma and really find out what makes her tick mentally, and work on training her (starting out with walking in-hand, leading, etc.) and it is really enriching and I could not think of selling her now..

[Entropy]

She doesn't look pleased with her beauty treatment. If she's anything like mine were I'd bet she's all nice and dirty again by now.

[Michelle.C]

Do you think her background (before you owned her), has something to do with her overall attitude and mistrust?

I think with some gentle TLC, she'll make a turn-around for you. People just don't give animals enough time, sometimes it just takes time and patients to earn their love and respect.

Like I said before, it looks like you are doing and outstanding job with her. She looks extremely healthy and is a stunning animal. I can't get over her blue eye(s).

[Ginevive]

Do you think her background (before you owned her), has something to do with her overall attitude and mistrust?

I think with some gentle TLC, she'll make a turn-around for you. People just don't give animals enough time, sometimes it just takes time and patients to earn their love and respect.

Like I said before, it looks like you are doing and outstanding job with her. She looks extremely healthy and is a stunning animal. I can't get over her blue eye(s).

I definately think so.. the people who "bred her" (or I should say, let their horse get pregnant and have her) were complete idiots who would let their horses walk all over them.. now, I have tried to think of how this translated into her being fearful. Maybe no one ever taught her that humans are something to be relied on, to look TO in times of fear, rather than to be feared..
Someone definately had to have went at her with a hose at some time in her youth; she is deathly afraid of it no matter if I spent three hours trying to coax her that it is OK.
I am definately working with her more every day.. she is LOADED with energy and only really relaxes in her stall at night, never outside. My other mare will be sleeping in the grass, and Emma is staring off into the woods watching deer or something, lol.
Entropy, she did get a little dirtier today, but it is really dry out and nothing stuck much; just dusty. I focused more on Cuesta today, going over her with the shedding blade because she is shedding like a madwoman!