Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Quoting the famous Mae West, “If a little is great, and a lot is better, then way too much is just about right!” As for me, Pebbles, the indulgent-loving spokespony for Helping Equines Regain Dignity (HERD), I say, “Some is good, more is better, and too much is perfection!”

This applies to the amount of clean pine-scented shavings in my stall and the number of sliced apples presented to me when I comply with the veterinarian or farrier visit. It also pertains to the amount of fan mail from well-wishers who follow my writing. However, being a bit more diplomatic, it best reflects the generous volunteers and donors who support our equine rescue. 

My mistress, Heather Freeman, was making her weekly run to Tractor Supply to buy supplies when she witnessed four fit young ladies picking up feed bags and stacking them on their cart. They had at least ten bags of feed at 50 lbs. a bag as they effortlessly moved to the next aisle for more. Heather commented to them on how strong and capable they were. “I could sure use your energy and coordination with our young horses at our rescue,” she exclaimed. 

Their mother, Renee Moore, joined the conversation with a big smile and shared that her daughters worked well as a team. They volunteered weekly, working at a local food pantry. However, depending on scheduling, they could also probably help at HERD a few days a week. Abigail, the eldest daughter, beamed with delight at this idea. She owned pet goats, cats, and dogs but had always wanted to be around horses. The Moore sisters had never worked around equines, only cows, but were willing to learn. They were very familiar with pitching in on barn chores. They performed them on their family farm. After another brief phone conversation, a preliminary visit was arranged. The new Moore family training volunteers would come to meet the horses of HERD.  

HERD currently houses nineteen rescue equines under my direct supervision. Most of them are age two or younger, including the feisty colt Zippy, who is five months old. All the equines but Zippy have been handled extensively for the last year to stand for the farrier and vet. Zippy is learning but requires Heather’s husband, Scott’s leadership, as he can be a handful at his tender age. Heather fondly calls him “Hot Shot” as he is so full of himself and gallops around his entire three-acre field just for fun to show off to onlookers who admire his fine build. 

Step one for the Moore family’s initial visit was to have Abigail, Arya, Aireabella, and Aireanna pick their horse. This would be a long-term partnership if they chose four younger horses for training. Both humans and equines would learn together at both ends of the lead rope. Heather guided the family to each pasture to introduce every horse and pony in our care. Each of the young ladies picked a yearling horse. Aireabella was immediately drawn to Jupiter, Arya to Domino, Abigail to Sloan, and Aireanna to Clayton. Renee would be there to help as needed supporting her daughters. She, too, would learn the training steps. Renee would become a substitute teacher when required in this educational endeavor.

Despite lots of wet weather initially, progress was ongoing and rewarding for all parties. The young ladies learned how to catch and halter their steeds. They mastered desensitizing the young colts using their training sticks and long lead ropes. They excelled at grooming techniques, too, and worked up to leading the horses out of the pastures across the farm to the obstacle playground. 

In the playground, they guided their yearlings to cross the tire obstacles, bank jumps, swaying noodles, and suspended blowing feed bags. This is very impressive for these yearlings considering they had not been taken out of their pastures frequently. Veterinary and farrier appointments had been conducted within their confines with precious volunteers and trainers. 

Domino and Clayton proved to be the bravest in overcoming the playground obstacles for Arya and Aireanna. From the beginning, Jupiter was a natural leader entering unknown territories with Aireabella. However, he consistently wants to taste everything as part of his new experience. Much to Aireabella’s dismay, Jupiter took a few bites from the spider obstacle’s wiggling, yellow noodle legs. In contrast, Sloan was a gentleman about the entire new exposure process. His easygoing temperament was good for Abigail’s confidence-building and desire to be a good leader. The pair excelled quickly at both desensitizing exercises and obstacles.   

As I write this, the cooler autumn air is arriving. We will have shorter daylight hours for afternoon training sessions. The Moore family will continue to come to help us as much as their busy fall schedule allows. Jupiter, Domino, Sloan, and Clayton grow taller by leaps and bounds. It is a grand gift to HERD to have the Moore family’s help with the consistent socializing of these yearlings. The horses enjoy this attention, especially with young people learning alongside them. A testament to their new bond is that all four colts trot or canter up to their gates as the girls arrive each visit. This exposure will make them better partners for their future placements into permanent homes when the time comes. HERD horses stay with us until age three, and then they begin under-saddle training with professionals. 

There is a hard part for us when each equine turns age three. They enter training and must move on to make room to save another horse. We all cry buckets of tears with each departure of a HERD horse. It is hard after investing so much time and effort into each of them. This is part of the rescue process. So, regarding these special equines, a little training is great, but a lot is better for building a good foundation through socialization. I am convinced that if one volunteer is good, more is better, and having five Moore family members is pure perfection!”