Susan
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Posts: 539
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Post by Susan on Jul 12, 2006 12:23:07 GMT -5
This is a long story but I will try to shorten it. I bought this horse a year ago March. I am attaching the ad and bill of sale as I don't have current pictures, but will be getting some. 2 months after I bought him I had to have back surgery. A gentlemen I thought I knew came to me said he would like to lease Nick as he heard about my upcoming surgery. I agreed as this man was well known in the community and has a carriage business. PLEASE learn from my mistake. I did not have a contract, just spoken agreement. I trusted him as he is the President of a local BCHW chapter. I was in touch with this man often and asked him to call me he didn't want to lease Nick anymore and I would come a pick him up. Nick was being used and it was a good situation for me and him as I was having some hard times this last year. He taught Nick to drive. He took Nick up in the mountains and trails was taking good care of him, I thought. I saw this man 3 weeks before I picked Nick up at a special needs fair for my grandson. He was giving wagon rides for the kids with his other 2 percherons. I asked how Nick was doing and he said GREAT. I had 2 people who wanted to see Nick as I decided I needed to sell him and get down to 1 horse. I went to pick up Nick on June 7, 2006 to show him over the weekend. He was grossly overweight and limping. I ask this man.....Has Nick foundered? I ask how he got so fat and his reply was I don't think he has and that he was doing the lower pasture and had put Nick and his other percherons in an upper pasture(full of spring grass). I was in shock, loaded up Nick and took him to my friends stable. I had the vet out the next morning and yes, he had let him founder and he just shook his head at how fat Nick was. Although he had light pulse and heat in all 4, he felt we caught him in the nick of time. After many days of soaking, bute and dry lot Nick is coming around. I called the man 2 days after picking him up and said he had foundered and would they help cover some of the costs as I don't have the money to clean up his mess....the answer on my machine was...didn't know he foundered and not interested, click!! Now mind you this is an experienced horseman and he knew. I am still sick about this but have to move on and do what is best for Nick. Nick has lost alot of weight and we have started working him slowly. He is looking good and I am going to be selling him. I have a young gal at the stables ride him every couple days for some exercise. The shoer was out yesterday and said Nick looked great and probably will be totally back to normal in the next couple weeks. I will try to get some pictures of her riding him. Right now she just does bareback and walking as we don't want to trot and canter till we know he is totally back. I do not have the money to board him another month($380) and want to start getting him out on the market. If anyone knows of someone looking for a great trail mount that can carry a larger person let me know. I will be asking $1500 for him. I would consider leasing him till sold, but only to the perfect situation, with a contract, frequent visits and they would be willing to show him to buyers. I do this only because I don't have the money to board or the time to ride and work with him. Sorry this is so long and thanks, Susan
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Post by Glenda on Jul 12, 2006 13:48:12 GMT -5
It sounds like you did almost every thing right with thinking this person was a good person, it is sure a shame you can't trust people these days. Use to be a persons word was as good as a contract. I just don't know how the guy can live with himself not taking responsibility on this one though. Sounds like you've done a great job with him and the fact that he will be ok is wonderful. Good luck on placing him in a new home. If I hear of any one looking for a good horse I'll tell them about Nick.
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Susan
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Posts: 539
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Post by Susan on Jul 12, 2006 14:26:05 GMT -5
Thanks Smilin,
You don't know how much your support means. My kids tell me all the time that I think "everyone is nice" and I will get screwed. I still think the majority of people are nice,honest and take responsiblity for their actions and if I get screwed by 1 out of 7 then I get to know 6 good people!! : ) I am learning to cover my bases better though. I tried to leave another message and got no response. I actually e-mailed a letter to the only addresses I could find on BCHW chapter he is the presisdent of asking that they forward the letter to him as I had no other way to contact him and didn't feel comfortable going to his house and confronting him. I got a really nice understanding response from 1 lady and a e-mail lashing from the other. I did e-mail back and apologize to the one lady and tried to explain I had no other means to contact him. The nice lady actually helped alot in suggestions for his recovery as her husband was a shoer and into a natural way of trimming to help problem horses. I didn't figure I would get a response from him and didn't, but it sure was healing just writing down how I felt and what his actions have caused me in time, money and heartache. My friend suggested the letter to at least release my feelings and let them go.
Your right.....I probably will never understand how someone can just ignore what they have done and not have their gut hurt everyday.
Nick is a good horse and I will find him a good partner.
Thanks again, Susan
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Post by Jay Juahara on Jul 12, 2006 22:31:19 GMT -5
I tell ya, what is this world coming too? How can people let animals suffer? We see similar stories and such at the clinic. I hope for the best for ya. He kinda looks like he'd be good at a kids camp or something. Kinda looks like the one all the kids would want to ride, To me anyway.
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Post by anythingbutpink on Jul 13, 2006 0:39:37 GMT -5
That's so sad. It sounds like the man thought he knew what he was doing, but was rather foolish. I'm with you on thinking most of the world is a nice place - the whole rose-colored glasses thing can get me into trouble, too.
Now, I must say I think I'm in love with that horse. His head and neck remind me so much of Button (see icon) it's uncanny... very, very Percheron. Seriously, I'm swooning just seeing him - makes me miss Button all the more. What are his abilities as of right now / what do you think he'll be able to do? I'd love to help find him a great home.
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Susan
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Posts: 539
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Post by Susan on Jul 13, 2006 11:44:51 GMT -5
Yes Jay the man is has years of exerience, but I believe he stuck him up there and didn't check on him for a few weeks. He had to have known as Nick walked to my trailer. He had to have known when he brought Nick down from the pasture as he had him tied up ready for me to pick him up. The other thing was his shoes(which the guy does himself) were WAY overdue and one of the back shoes was rattling when he walked. Nick lost that in the trailer and the other back one that night. Vet said to wait a week or 2 to take off the 2 fronts as he didn't want us further irritating the feet. I had them taken off 2 weeks ago and given a minimal trim. I sometimes think if I wasn't such a puss, I would have confronted him in a stiffer manner at his house, but I didn't. I am glad I asked him if he foundered, as at least he knows I noticed and wasn't oblivious. I was ready to cry at the sight of him and wanted only to get him to my friends stable and have her access him. After the vet came the next morning he said Nick needed to be soaked 20 minutes 5 or 6 times a day. Well Nick was obese, sore and wasn't easy to pick up his feet to soak. We had him in the sand round pen and my friend brought in her tractor and dug a shallow hole. We filled in with cold hose water and made Nick his own mini spa. It sure was alot easier walking him into his little spa for 20 minutes then trying to soak all 4 separately. I even had a lawn chair to sit in while Nick was soaking!! : )
Pink, My shoer was out monday and watched the young girl ride him in the arena. He was shocked at how well Nick has come along from 2 weeks ago when he trimmed him. He believes Nick will be back to his old self in 2 weeks with no lasting problems. Though the girl did walk, trot, canter one time very shortly, we have been just doing alittle round pen and riding at a walk, bareback till we know his feet aren't sore anymore and to give him some exercise.
His abilities will be the same they were before. He is an experienced trail, hunting, packing and driving horse. The man had told me in December, after he trained him to drive that there wasn't anything he asked of Nick that Nick wouldn't do. He said he would drive him down the middle of Bremerton and not have a worry.
He is good with kids and when I had him before the man took him, all the young kids wanted to ride him in the arena. He did good the first couple times and then realised that he could stop and not move and they couldn't make him. I don't know if its the mustang or percheron in him, but he can be stubborn and just stop. I also found this out on the trail a couple times, but just in the beginning of the ride. He will just kind of say...Nay, it's too hot lets go this way back to the barn. Not a runaway, just stop, turn and want to walk back. All you have to do is say no, give him a couple of kicks(I took a crop and would tap him), he may back up a few steps and then realise we are going and that's that, be great the rest of the ride. When he is going he actually has a nice quick step and a very smooth trot. The young girl exercising him says he would make a good lesson horse as long as the trainer is there keeping him going. He could be a great beginners horse as along as the person is confident enough to keep him going if he decides to stop. He is a smart horse!! : )
Ok...this is long again...sorry. It is so hard to try to explain a horse and be honest, but not let people get the wrong impression. I will try to get pictures of him next time I have the girl ride him. I have been hand walking him, but will have her ride in the next couple of days. One thing is that I gave permission to the man last winter to rouch(sp) his mane when he was going to be driving him and it is now growing out. He has a VERY thick mane so we have QUITE the mohawk going!! : )
If anybody is going to be out this way in Poulsbo you are welcome to come and see Nick and get an idea about him.
Thanks again all, Susan
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Post by anythingbutpink on Jul 13, 2006 18:23:26 GMT -5
^_^ the stubborn things sounds like a Percheron to me (though I've never ridden a mustang, either). Button would do the same thing with anyone who didn't boss him around a little.
As soon as you get some photos and/or make fliers I'll post stuff around some of the barns & horse shows I go to, if you'd like. Dreamhorse.com is a great online site to advertise at - there's a few others that I can't think of off the top of my head, too.
... I don't even think I know where Poulsbo is! ~goes to check map~
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Susan
Red Ribbon
Posts: 539
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Post by Susan on Jul 13, 2006 20:10:39 GMT -5
Thanks Pink, I will list him on dreamhorse. I just want to make sure he is back in shape and all better. I would love it if you posted some flyers too!! : ) I took some pictures tonight when I went to feed. The one from the left side makes him look sway back and he's not. I just took these so you guys could see him and let people know he will be for sale. The rust on his mohawk is from rubbing on the metal bar. I didn't even have time to brush him up today. Thanks again, Susan P.S. Poulsbo is a ferry ride from seattle or 45 minutes from the narrows bridge. It is in North Kitsap by the Hoodcanal Bridge.
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Post by anythingbutpink on Jul 13, 2006 22:42:56 GMT -5
Awwwwww!!! Nick's got a mohawk! ^_^
Yup - percheron head, percheron shoulders, maybe the feet - but the back is definitely mustang. Percheron's have short backs like arabs - one less vertebrae than other breeds.
He's adorable! He looks pretty good for having foundered and being super pudgy before, too
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Susan
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Posts: 539
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Post by Susan on Jul 14, 2006 10:22:44 GMT -5
Thanks for the info Pink,
I wondered where the longer back was from. The bay horse you barely see in the next paddock was mine years ago. A friend fell in love with her and bought her. Lilly is a percheron/morgan and though her back doesn't seem short, it isn't as long as Nicks. Nick doesn't have the round platter hoofs like Lilly, but they are nice sized sturdy hoofs.
You can't see very well, but the weight he has lost in over a month has left some skin hanging behind his front legs. It is getting better with conditioning and will eventually all tighten up. Kind of like a heavy person that loses alot of weight and then has all that excess skin haning from their stomach. You should have seen some of the fat pockets as he was losing weight. When I first got him back he has hard as a rock when you would touch his back, along his spine, but he was also I am sure bloated from all the grass. Hopefully my friend, the stable owner, got some pictures in the beginning. My camera was missing for awhile, I just found it.
Susan
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Post by anythingbutpink on Jul 15, 2006 0:14:32 GMT -5
So you're saying Nick has a mohawk and boobs? You've got a wild man, there - kidding! It'd be neat but scary to see before pictures - I do admit that I'm curious. Have you had lots of Perch crosses or just these two? I love 'em - they're so... gosh, there's no way to describe them unless you've had one, you know? Just for kicks, the most recent pic I have of my boy, when I got to visit him in Massachusetts last Christmas. You can tell we take ourselves very, very seriously . I guess you can't really see his back (eheh). But the chest area being deep - the shoulder angle - even the strong feet - and the head (Nick has a smaller nose). Oh so nice! Button is a cross as well... I've just never found out with what!
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Susan
Red Ribbon
Posts: 539
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Post by Susan on Jul 15, 2006 0:58:02 GMT -5
I have had just the 2 percheron crosses, but I did have a reg. percheron mare. She was beautiful and had been a brood mare all her life. She was 11 at the time I got her and the old man was selling off his stock down in Vancouver, WA. Although she was the kindest horse I have been around. For some reason she did NOT want to be trained to ride, at least easily. I had several trainers who knew their stuff work with Cally. They said not that it could not be done, it would take alot of time. I decided to sell Cally to a great gal in Oregon who wanted to breed her to her Oldenburg Stallion. I had alot of respect for Cally and she just wanted to be what she had been for 11 years. I will have to go through some pictures to find one of her, but she was beautiful!!
As you can tell I LOVE the draft breeds and crosses. Both my sons are 6'5" and my son-in-law is 6'3".I always wanted a horse that they could ride with me on the trails. It just seems that everytime I get one, something happens that I cannot give them the time I need. With Cally I realised that she was happiest making babies. With Lilly(percheron/morgan) I had to take back my older TB from a gal who wasn't taking care of him as I asked her to. He was my first horse I bought when I got back into horses and I always said I would be there for him to the end. He unfortunatly passed this April. I ended up leasing Lilly to a good friend and they connected and after a year my friend asked if I would please sell her and it wasn't an option not too. I had wanted Lilly as a second horse for family and friends to ride and Lilly needed that one on one she has now. They are solemates and it is fun to see them together.
I bought Nick as a second trail horse that anyone could ride and go with me on the trails. Again....Divorce, back surgery, medical problem came into the picture. I leased Nick feeling good that someone could utilize him till I could recoup. This again blew up in my face, although he did get trained to drive. Sooooo....my goal is to get down to one horse and one dog. I know I can find Nick a good home and I know that my dream of having that second trail horse for other friends and family is not going to work.
I will enjoy riding my TWH, who by the way gets less attention as I try to find the perfect 2nd horse. I see ALOT of horse people that are almost addicted to buying the next horse. This is fine if you have the time, money and energy to do this. But I learned the hard way to be happy with what you have. Bo(twh) will be a happeir camper with my decision.
Hope you guys understand what I am saying as I sometimes rattle a bit,
Susan
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Susan
Red Ribbon
Posts: 539
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Post by Susan on Jul 17, 2006 13:33:28 GMT -5
Nick is doing great and I decided to go ahead and post him on dreamhorse, id#848139. I am going up today to give him a bath and get more pictures. Keep your ears open for me as I really need to sell him before I put another whole month of board out.
Thanks all, Susan
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Susan
Red Ribbon
Posts: 539
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Post by Susan on Jul 18, 2006 10:29:51 GMT -5
Here are some pictures of Nick after his much needed bath yesterday. My friends son was riding him. As you see he still need some weight off and conditioning, but I couldn't be happier at the progress he is making for as fat as the man left him. My TWH saddle doesn't fit him and I don't have my old FQ crates anymore so bareback it is. Susan
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Post by Flying Cowgirl on Jul 18, 2006 11:45:25 GMT -5
He's a neat looking horse. If I were in a better situation with better hay storage, I'd be interested.
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Susan
Red Ribbon
Posts: 539
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Post by Susan on Jul 18, 2006 20:53:52 GMT -5
Thanks Alisa, He is a great horse. I am just glad that he wasn't ruined by the man. He still needs some more weight off and slow conditioning but the vet and shoer said there will be no lasting effects. I am adding 2 short videos I took when the 14 yo boy was working him. If you watch real close you can see he is still very slightly off on his front left. The shoer said a few days ago that it will probably be totally gone within a week. He said his souls can still be sore, just as if you hit your finger nail with a hammer, but once it is healed it will be done. I will put 2 fronts on next week and that will help any soreness. I just want to do everything real slow to give him time to back right. BTW...I am typing all this while on hold to change my sons flight on Alaska from the 27th to this saturday!! I am so excited, I have not seen him since Thanksgiving and he decided if he took 1 more shift off he could get 4 extra days vacation up here. Paramedic work 24on, 24off for 3 days and then have 4 days off. Tell me what you guys think of the short videos...I only have 10 more minutes on hold!! : ) : ( s78.photobucket.com/albums/j117/Silverchalk/?action=view¤t=Nick012.flvs78.photobucket.com/albums/j117/Silverchalk/?action=view¤t=Nick016.flv#$(* they just cut me off. talk to you guys soon.
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Post by wantagaited on Jul 18, 2006 23:24:26 GMT -5
WOW! He sure has a nice floaty trot! Even looks like hes gaited looks so smooth! I dont have much of a trained eye but, he did look just a bit off-still couldn't tell which foot/hoof it was. Still looks georgous!
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Post by Glenda on Jul 19, 2006 8:53:52 GMT -5
WOW!! I'm so happy for you that he is coming along so well, he looks GREAT!! If I didn't already have two horses I'd be interested in him, he looks like he is just a pleasure to be around and love the mohawk. I'm sure you will find him a great home in no time at all. I wish my kids were into riding, he looks like he would make a great best friend. You've done a fantastic job on getting him well, it really shows in his appearance.
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Post by Jay Juahara on Jul 19, 2006 22:15:28 GMT -5
Looks like he's coming along great. Good luck with finding him a good home. I'm sure some child will fall in love with him.
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