DAY 1 4-9-07 Easter morning

He is cute as a bug, interested in everything we are doing.He watches and KNOWS who brings the food- already! He is smart, and learns treats are good in just one morning. YUM!

HE likes to sniff you all over!

He has not been brushed before..he is kind of concerned, so we go slow, Randy holding him while I rub and scratch his hairy body. He is terrified of the scissors as I try and cut poopy mud clods from between his legs and try to get some semblance of a bridle path, he drags Randy around-SCARY!

I go back to the “safe” areas time after time til he calms, and then venture back to scratching the “scary” areas.

I gently pick up the front leg and release it, good boy!! I go to the back and try and lift it-he quickly kicks at me, more vicious than I would have anticipated, I try again with the same results. I undestand this is too scary right now, and just rub both back legs, without him kicking, but he is scared. He picks up the other front leg and I release it, giving it back to him.

He nibbles on Randys coveralls, finds the zipper and pulls it down-” HEY- its cold, I need them zipped”, says Randy! HE curiously nuzzles and tries to groom Randy while I work on grooming him some more.

Enough for the morning.

Later in the afternoon, we repeat the morning lessons, with less resistance. I do Join Up but I am worried he is not feeling too well, so dont work him very hard.He does follow me and we try a little brushing and work on picking up the legs again-JOIN UP has done its magic- he almost picks up his OWN back legs,with no attempt at kicking! Amy holds him and he is calm. He nuzzles her as I brush. He is learning -brushing is GOOD!

He greedily pushes his nose into the feed bucket, he will soon be big and strong and the pot bellied little pony will be a thing of the past!

Name submissions: America The Beautiful and Silver

DAY 2 Monday

More of the same and most of this will be repetition, that is how they learn.He got to come out in the yard and eat some of the grass. YUMMY! He was out for probably an hour after leg picking up- no kicking! Enjoyed the grooming more today, and I watched as swirls of golden and flaxen hair was carried upwards with a gust of wind..

He was doing fine in the yard,then all the sudden some one drove into the yard, he came flying by before I could catch him and he went full bore into the barb wire! Luckily no serious wounds, but it makes me really wish we could afford different fencing. He calmed quickly and I put him in the arena where he itched his tail on a fence post, probably needs worming and shots.

Name enties today: Finally and call him Fin since we finally got him! the German word for “dreadlocks” die Locken der Rastafari

DAY 3 Tuesday

He got a friend last night, a little yearling Hackney filly and BOY is she CUTE! He chased her all around, but by morning, she was the boss!

I gave him the morning off, his nose was snottier this am, had hoped he would be better, this weather sure doesn’t help. Put him in the arena where he scratched his neck on a fence post and ignored Magic as she showed her stuff!.

The horses were all at the fence staring at the new oddity! Magic pranced around like a crazy thing and she had everyones attention on the place!

Name submissions:Gustaf Hans - means God’s gracious gift –HMMM- I am liking this one:-) what do all of u think??Norbert - means blond hero — I like the meaning– but the name?!?!

Had a couple of rainy and then SNOWY days, so the 2 just got to hang out in the barn and keep cozy. Magic is nearly uncatchable, but she follows him everywhere, so that is how we move them around. He buries his head in the feed bucket, He is not shy when it comes to food!

Name submission again FINN Tramp so we can remember where he came from ( the diamond in the rough)

Friday the 13th OOHH anybody scared?

I fed them and took them out to the round pen, the arena is still too muddy. They got some nice hay, and when I finished chores he was laying in it. ITs to eat -silly! He has such a mellow personality.He comes whenever he sees me, and wants to nibble right away, so we had to stop the treats. He does not know what apples and carrots are ..yet.

I got completly though his mane today,he did not mind the detangler spray at all,and I did his tail too. Picked up all 4 legs, he is no longer thinking about kicking. I dont tie him, I loop the rope over,he is fine with that.

Magic wonders why HE is getting all the attention and comes up so that I can rub her nose, then off she runs, like a scared rabbit!

He is going to be such a good guy!

Name submission:Bronzed Half Pint , Sparkle, Tyrol after the place where the first Haflingers came from and Ty for short- this was our second favorite.Well, time has been getting away from me! But Hans training has not! He had his first bath and did fairly well. I think I go t wetter than he did! He had his first trim with the farrier, and did really well. I had been picking up and cleaning his feet, so that has helped. Most of what we do is repetition, so I won’t bore you with that, but will write any new developments. He is out in the yard, with a halter and lead rope most of the day eating and teaching himself to stop when he steps on the lead rope. Self training is GOOD! He gets groomed and loves that. He has been nipping and actually bit both Randy and I in the back, got a little reprimand, which hurt his feelings, but it seems to have taught him. He is SO smart! He is gaining weight, and BOY does he know where the feed bucket is, he bangs it with rambunctious youthful joy the entire time he eats, and does not miss a crumb! He loves Magic, the Hackney filly and I keep her in the arena, she is not as trustworthy as him! He doesn’t stray too far from her.

They both have snotty noses, but its just a little cold,the changes in weather are not helping much, but both are full of spunk! They stayed in the barn with Katie the Mule today to stay cozy out of the rain.

5-15-07 Haven’t been able to keep up with notes like I had planned, but he has been through lice, then his tail was dissenegrating,his first shots and working …. and now we think he may be proud cut:-( So now we have decisions to make. Does anyone need a REALLY CUTE, SWEET tease pony? Or do we start fundraising and try and get the surgery paid for? I am brokenhearted.

 

5-31-07 Hans had his first long lining lesson and did GREAT! He is getting worked ( basically the same stuff over and over) every day it doesn’t rain. He stands tied to the walmut tree for hours. The birds have found some of his beautiful flaxen hair to make nests out of. He is finally at the point of being shed out and boy is he looking good!

He has one problem- he can either jump 4 feet or he climbs the fences - without getting a mark on him! I will go out to do chores and there he will be in with another herd-guess he is just a social bug or his hormones are making him crazy!

 

He will pick up all 4 feet no problem, round pens, join-up and follow up..and now line driving! GOOD BOY!! He comes when called by name, so I am guessing he likes his name. We put him out in yard to eat, but he is an escape artist (and I swear he KNOWS what he is doing). He will go out of the fence into the front yard! All the other horses will stay in the yard, but not him!

 

We will be scheduling an appointment with the vet,she is going to go in and see if there is scar tissue form a previus castration. If there is, she will try to finish his castration. If not, he will need to go to ISU for a surgery in the ballpark of $600!! So send in your donations to help with our precious Hans! I am going to put a new pic on the front page.