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Tobey is a Wild Mustang (82209381). He's 16 years old and was a Range Stallion for 15 years. Wouldn't you agree that Tobey has learned much about equine social interaction? He received some pretty poor training methods from a guy who was the first adopter. The methods used were not those used in Natural Horsemanship circles, today. The BLM does their utmost to ensure that the homes the adopted mustangs will go to, are safe and that "Good HorseKeeping" is practiced. A "Rescuer" lady kindly took him temporarily and saw to his well-being until someone could be found that Tobey would let approach. He arrived here with 3 ropes embedded into his poll, maggots crawling in that. Two-by-Four marks were all about his back. Some of these may be seen throughout these pictures. His jaw had been hit, somehow, and a tooth was protruding out at an angle. Needless to say, he didn't like humans too much! When he felt threatened, he'd sit back and offer a double strike with lightning speed.
Today, he lives with, and loves, Cheryl, in Colorado. He's in some fine company with other Mustangs at her ranch. And I'm told, frequently, that Tobey is very much the same Clown that he became here.
Within an hour, I was able to use scissors and remove the ropes. Tobey then allowed me to use Scarlet-Oil spray to doctor the wound. This and the rest of the training was done using, primarily, Alexandra Kurland's Clicker Training plus a very good working knowledge of herd dynamics.
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My very first goal was to cut the ropes out of his neck. Then I needed to clean the wound and doctor it. So I began by teaching him to relax. Many of you have seen me do the "Head Down" game at clinics. Here's a prime use for it --a defensive and spooky horse that needs attention.
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I began teaching yielding to pressure with the string around his neck. Here you can also see the wound where the ropes were embedded. Those, by the way, were from halters no one could get off. They were from lariats that HAD to be cut off because no one could get close. Well, NO WONDER. Why would anyone try and play Cowboy with a totally frightened horse? Why indeed! Whisper to the horse. Don't yell at him!!
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I needed to trim his feet. So I began the Friendly-Games -- Here I'm working my way around Tobey, massaging him. He liked it. The Clicker is on my left wrist.
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Finally a foot! I relied heavily on that Clicker. The treat bag is hanging down from my belt. Of course, Advance-and-Retreat methods went hand in hand here.
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Well, here I am, rasping the horribly overgrown feet. Oh, he's not exactly pleased. But he does stand for it. Eventually Tobey didn't mind at all. Remember, he's 16 years old and NEVER had anyone do his feet.
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That's a grain bag tied to the rope on a carrot-stick. I'm adding more and more distractions to Tobey's coping ability. Before this point, I was grooming him with the bag to explain that it could also be friendly.
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This page Last Modified on 12 May 2006
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