Rochelle

Good Morning!

It's been a while, so thought I'd give you an update on Rochelle. She's doing really well, and is such a sweet, sweet girl.

Her confidence is like night and day since she joined us at the end of last September. She comes to me most of the time on her own without being asked. My favorite is at feeding time because she is extremely talkative about her food. She looks great.

At the beginning she wouldn't put her head over the fence or join the other two horses at the fence when treats were given out. I had to throw hers in her direction. That's all changed now! She's right there with the others and holds her spot.

When I would groom her in the first few months, she let me know that she was extremely sensitive and I would try to be very light. She was also very cautious about her face and ears. That's all different now. I can groom her with the usual intensity and have worked on touching her ears and face and she doesn't pull away any more. I can fuss with her muzzle without too much resistance. I can touch her all over and under, mess with her tail, and she likes her butt being scratched.

She startled a lot in the beginning. Now, it's very rare that she startles, pretty much oblivious to sudden noises around the neighborhood. There's been construction going on around us and she doesn't seem phased by it at all. The only thing at this point that still gets her a bit upset and causes the snorting to happen is when I bring out the Parelli ball. She absolutely will not come near it and snorts and trots around in arcs to keep her eye on it, preferring to keep a distance.

She loves to play in the water. If I am cleaning out the auto-waterers, she gets right in it with meto the point I have to stop and let her play! She'll stick out her tongue to the left side of her mouth, let her lips go lax, and flap her face in the water up and down while completely splashing water every where. I had a very large auto-waterer installed in the big front paddock and she really likes playing in that one.

In March, I had the opportunity to take a couple horses to the Livestock Pavilion to be part of the Black Stallion Literacy Program that I am involved with. A friend has a beautiful rig she pulled up in. I had loaded River (my gelding) and wanted to see what Rochelle would do, so I haltered her and walked her to the back ramp. She got within about 20 feet and stopped. After a minute, I started walking forward again and she came with me a few more feet. She stopped again. I didn't push her, I just wanted to see what she would do. I was very proud of her, as she didn't blow up or get all fizzy, she just stopped and of course, her head was high and eyes wide, but no blow up. I considered that a victory.

Your training with her when haltering has been perfect. She is so good about that, and if she pulls away a little I put a little pressure to come right back towards me and she does. She's a fantastic mare - beautiful mover and a thrill to have with us.

Warmest regards,

Beth M. Ramsay

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