Clover is a POA. She came to us as a kid pony, but a kid pony she is not yet. Trust issues are certainly her biggest problem. After a long turnout and time to get used to the routine and our smiling faces she is finally coming around. She was willingly caught and moved to the training pasture with the donkeys, they are sweet and calm which spills over to their herd mates. She still longs to be back with the mares doing as she pleases but it's time for some education. Clover from the best I can figure went through 2 auctions and 4-5 homes and/or traders in about a years time. She is 7 years old so what must the first 5 years have been like? She is small about 13 hands. I think what a cute baby foal she must have been how could someone not have wanted to touch and love on her? Maybe someone did she just forgot the feeling of love. We will never know her story and past but we can strive each day to make her future better. I'm pretty sure her fear proved to be too much for someone wanting a pony for the kids. Her catching problems..well..it's not fun to have a horse that runs the other way when they see you coming with anything other than a feed bucket.
She has gained some weight this winter but with consistent training and exercise she will look really fit soon. In a month's time her ground skills should greatly improve and our hope is she will learn to trust again.
Surprisingly, I had someone tell me recently they thought some horses needed/deserved to go to slaughter. This wasn't just any person but a trainer with lots of skill and experience. I have pondered on this knowing I have a several horses who are afraid which has made them dangerous at times to them selves and others. Do they deserve a shortened life because they are afraid of something that did or didn't happen to them in their past? I thought if I had the credibility to back my skill as the trainer does I would want to share that skill with those horses that really need it. That is why each of us unique and no two dreams or thoughts, likes or dislikes are exactly the same for the same reasons. My dream is to take the knowledge I have gained and share it with Clover, take the time she needs to become a more willing partner. She deserves the chance, as many as possible do. Time is something they need but not always readily available to them. Time can be a few days, months, even years. Time does heal wounds of all kinds, physical and emotional.
Awesome. I haven't even seen Clover but I was really originally wanting a POA when we found Tobi. I am having problems right now finding pasture for the kids right now, but one of these days my goal is to have more space and add a few forever-family members (like Clover). As for that trainer, chalk them up on the list of people who don't see a horses' soul....they just see a horse as a money endeavor. I guess it's the same as looking at gangster career criminals and saying "heck, just kill them, they're usless"
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