Marv Walker ~

Helping Horses & Humans Around The World
Quickly Past Attention, Trust, Fear & Respect Issues

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How One Family
Rescued An Old Stud

Trish Dukeman wrote:

Hi Marv A week or so ago you asked if you could use something I wrote in some of your publicity stuff. I tried to reply but the e-mail gods were not smiling that day and the message was returned. I posted a reply to the list, but with all of the posts I am not sure if you got that either.

I just wanted to let you know that you are more than welcome to use anything I write. You, the list, and your web page have helped me so much with my rescues. I have had great success with horses that others had given up on.

The one that I am still amazed about is the Arab Stud horse I rescued 4 months ago. He was bottle raised and he thought he was an equal to humans. He is a cryptorchid, and his previous owners never wanted to fork over the cash to have him gelded. So in 24 years of being a stud he has never had a mare.

Then as if that wasn't enough he was kept locked in a hot stall being let out only once or twice a month. He had no mental stimulation, no company. When we drove up to the property and got out of the car we heard what I would describe as a cry of anguish. We went to the stall and put the lead on him and he literally burst out of the stall.

This was the last horse on earth that I needed. My little voice that I usually ignore was going nuts. I made the mistake of looking into this guy's desparate eyes and I knew that I couldn't leave him.

We got home my vet thought I had lost it. He kept looking at me and saying "What are you going to do with this?" my farrier wouldn't do his feet. He said no way not unless he was knocked out. My husband was ready to kill me. My neighbors told me that this horse was going to seriously injure me or one of my kids.

What could I do? I reinforced my fences, made sure he had a secure paddock and basically due to my very stubborn nature told them it was my neck. It took my about a week to even get close to him. His old blue halter had melted in to his hair. He huffed and puffed and snorted and stomped. As soon as I was able to touch him and get a lead rope on him I took him to the round pen.

I wasn't in any hurry for this to work. I did the bonder. It didn't take as long as I thought it would. My husband came home from work that after noon and thought I got a new rescue. This horse was leading and stopping for me and stood for me to groom. I used the bonder before attempting to pick up his feet. It worked. When I found a farrier willing to do his feet I picked up his feet and held them for the farrier.

After a month or so I had my 14 year old son (very horse intuitive kid) do the bonder with him. My son feeds when I am not at home and I didn't want a problem between the two. It worked. Now this stud for some reason has really bonded with my younger son. My little one is 6 and is developmentally delayed. He is a gentle little soul and has a way with animals. He especially loves horses. The stud nickers to him when he gets off the bus and comes to the fence to be petted. He even puts his nose down for a kiss.

Now comes the best part. The previous owners and the lady who lived next to them said this horse had never been saddled or ridden. Well I had to try so I saddled him and he stood perfectly still while it did it no offer to buck or kick. I have a soft rope hackamore that I prefer on my older animals so I put that on and decided to give this a whirl. I bonded him and then put a foot in the stirrup.

My husband being the smart ass he is had the portable phone in hand waiting to call the EMT's. I got on in the round pen and he stood like statue. I gave him a few light kicks and he started walking. I pulled back and we stopped. He turned. We went out into the pasture he was great. My 14 year old got on him and once again he was a perfect gentleman. We worked for a few days. My little 6 year old wanted to ride. I used a lead and put Travis in the saddle. As I walked around the pasture the horse followed me. I put them in the round pen and Travis was able to get this guy to do what he wanted him to. Imagine the self esteem that this little boy has riding on this proud ol Arabian Stud. They ride around the pasture every day. That is the impact that you have had on us.

Thank you Trish Dukeman

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