Savellla, thank you for your suggestion, but I had already read a lot about Parelli and NH. Some things I liked, some not. As about this one horse, our Guido, he is already bonded to us, groundwork with him is a piece of cake - even for me. He is sweet and loving boy who learns quickly and is very willing to cooperate. It is not our problem.

I will try a bit of Vetri-Cine  (DMG) to reduce lactic acid levels and a bit of Ester C - he has spavine and had it as a youngster (he was always getting the best... thus probably many things too much - too much alfaalfa, too much grain, and not enough turnout and movements). 

The main problem currently is - get him relaxed uder rider (he is tense and frightened of riding and rider, not humans). With Peter he already has started to relax, as Peter is moving only small step by step, a lot of praising, and no punishment to get back horse's confidence. 

And probably the next week he will go to our trainer (for a month at the beginning) to see how far we can go with him. Peter as a beginner rider can not do it, he will only confuse the horse more. Trainer was here, tested him out and is very positive about his retraining and future.  

Sorry, I did not understand why you mentioned my neighbours helping - all this story with us and horses started as our neighbours were not able to take care of their horse that they loved dearly and did not wanted to send to slaughtery. Husband can not walk more than 5 steps now and his wife 2 weeks ago had a heart surgery. All how they can help now is to look through window and report us if horses get loose or something like that. They are very nice neighbours, the best, but they are close to their 80's. And now they are happy just seeing Puika with his herd running happy.  

I can't believe he was going to be sent to slaughter -- here in the US, we would fight tooth and nail for conformation like that! 

I do not know everything about this horse, but what I can see now with my minute experience (let's be honest, it is still 0.001 out of hundred) he had not had suitable rider. Wrong horse for wrong rider. He IS A HANDFUL at present. So maybe somebody just get really frustrated and gave up on him. Could happen, especially with people who ave a lot of money. 

But it could be also different - we were told that he has medical issues - that fact that nobody had spotted anything so far does not mean that he has not - maybe when he will start jumping more serious heights he will show the problems. 

So we are just keeping our minds open and hope for the best - just re-training. But even by the worst scenario (can not take serious job due to medical issues) he will be completely suitable as somebody's sweetest hobby horse after re-training.I'm not frightened of him anymore - he is basically as sweet as Shella is - and it means very, very sweet and cuddly. The worst part of him is mounting - you instantly must grab reins as he pulls like mad - go, GO, GOOOO! If you calm him down, he is very nice walker, a bit harder on trot and goes wild when canter. Today Peter got a nice cantering out of him just for fewminutes, but it was already an archievement. 

He does not back or rear with rider, not at all, he just seems really confused and probably had too weak rider who was not able to control him.So now he must learn to trust rider and calm down. If that will be all his problem, then we are winners. 

Peter just walks and stops, walks and stops, and only then, when Guido is relaxed enough, lets him trot a bit, and if he gets excited, back to walk and stop... He does it very well, and he relaxes after regular patting and telling how good he is. He listens, relaxes and enjoys more every next day.   

You and Peter are doing such wonderful things for these horses, you both really have a gift, thank you!!!

 Did you say Peter was a beginner rider? He sounds like he does an excellent job! So much of good riding is just knowing how to be quiet and give confidence to the horse. Some people just have a gift for it.

 We have a foal! Chestnut mare, 2 hours old now! All went well.

 Here we are

Did you ever believe you would come so far in a year and a half?? The new baby is gorgeous. what is the name going to be?

 Name is Sonora II, after my niece Sonora.

 Wow, she is a big girl!  Congratulations!

 Few more pictures from today's walk

Anna - Both girls look great. You're gonna have the time of your lives raising this girl. She is in good hands. Please keep us updated on the journey.

Hello Anna,

I am sure you are very busy now and I hope all is well at the farm. Just wanted to say that you are an inspiration to all of us, and have reminded me how very lucky I am. I have had horses my entire life and I am still always excited with a new accomplishment. I love all the individual stories and pics that make up your whole. I am new to this site and the whole blog scene, but am learning how to work it as I go. ( I think I'm more equine literate than computer literate.) I wish you and yours the very best, and I feel so relieved to find someone else who has a knack for collecting critters. The magic # here is 9 ie: 9 dogs, 9 horses, and numerous other critters. I know how much work goes on behind the scenes !! Thanks for sharing your story and hope you update soon. Would just like to hear that all is well with you and yours.......