Bonding with Mariah

[Juliane]

Buddy's new owner, Mariah, came up today to spend some more time with Buddy. Buddy is going to his new home on Sunday, but she wanted to come up and ride him again before he moved down to her house. I've been frantically running around, trying to prepare to move, so Ally met with Mariah before I could get home.

When I got there, I saw the two of them working with Buddy on groundwork skills. Mariah seemed much more confident and relaxed with Buddy than before. It was also great to see Buddy listening to her more closely too!

We spent some time making sure the saddle and bridle that is going with Buddy fit him and Mariah. They rode around together in the round pen for a bit, before I saddled up Dandy and we headed out on the trails. I think it was a pleasant surprise to Mariah to see how much more relaxed and easy going Buddy was on the trails, compared to in the round pen.

We rode down to the river, let the horses drink from the cool water, rode through the trails for a while and then rode along my street so that Mariah could get a feel for Buddy when introduced to scary things such as mailboxes and cars. Buddy was perfect the whole time.

When we were done riding and had untacked, Mariah even hopped on Buddy and rode him around bareback! It's quite obvious to anyone watching these two that it's a perfect match! I couldn't be happier for Buddy! I'll post more pics when I drop him off on Sunday

[cat_67]

It's so great that Buddy has found his perfect match. He's had such a rough life and now he will finally get the kind of owner every horse deserves.

[mariah]

I want to say a great big THANK YOU to all involved with Buddy . I am so happy to be giving him a loving companionship. He is so beautiful and has come such a long way from what I have seen. I feel like a kid in a candy store every time I see him. I am extatic that he is coming home tomorrow and can't wait to start riding again. It seems like its been forever since I have had horses.

The first time I met him I felt a connection with him and have been so excited. My husband said " don't get your hopes up." I couldn't help it I was so excited. I am just so happy. Thanks everyone!!!!

[cat_67]

Welcome to the board! I hope you'll keep posting updates. We all love to hear how the rescues continue to do in their new lives!

[LorsaDoon]

All of us who have followed Buddy are sure happy to see he has found his own special person. Congratulations on your adoption of him.

[ptownevt]

Welcome, Mariah and congratulations on finding Buddy. He is such a beautiful horse and from what I've read, an intelligent one, too. I went 10 years without horses. I refer to it as the dark ages of my life, so I know how it feels to finally feel and smell a horse again. For the longest time I didn't want to wash my hands when I came in from being with Storm. My first horse after all that time is a Standardbred gelding with serious abuse issues. After 6 years I still have to leave a breakaway halter on him to catch him, and when I first clip the lead rope to his halter his head goes up and he rolls his eyes. He relaxes quickly when I talk to him and pet him, but I don't know that he will ever be completely comfortable with human contact. It breaks my heart. I can tell he wants to be close to me, because he watches me whenever I am outside with the sweetest look on his face. He also nickers to me and does this thing where he stretches his neck and head out, turns his head sideways and chews to me. I tell him I love him and would never, ever hurt him, but he's not sure. He has gotten better. When I first got him, he nearly went through the fence trying to get away because my daughter was playing with a stick on the back lawn. He doesn't do that anymore. You can have things in your hand that could resemble a stick or a whip and he doesn't take off for parts unknown. He is, on the other hand, a dream to ride. Very well trained, very forward, with beautiful, ground covering gates.

Enjoy Buddy. You both deserve it.
Pam