Razza's Story

A hideous life turned around slowly but surely.

Day 1. Friday Oct. 16. 2009
Razza gets delivered to me and has his first feel of grass under his feet in years. Gelded two day’s before he’s anxious and amazed by his new home. Now there is space, grass, company of an equine kind. Life’s changing for him forever.

A new life awaits

Day 2.
Razza needs to be socialized into a herd as quickly as possible so he will relax down and start really feeling like a horse. As a stud he was never allowed to run with other horses so his communication skills are sadly lacking. Zak and Marshall will teach him the ropes.

Never to be the same again.

Day 5.
Razza is starting to fit in, and has really chowed down on the new taste of Thrive. One night he managed to eat nearly 15lbs and was so mellow the next morning. I am noticing attitudinal changes happening almost daily. He still insists on being very “studdy” with Marshall, a practice that has gotten him more than his fair share of scrapes, but it’s gotta happen, he has to learn how to conduct himself in a herd environment and how the heirachy works. He will now walk up to me and stand to be groomed (I got all the dreadlocks out of his mane the other day) and brushed. He is still sore from the gelding and will take a few more days to heal up. I did work him on the ground to ascertain his mental acuity, he passed with flying colors, and I can’t wait to start working with him and ultimately riding him on the trails around North Texas. Someone is going to end up with a very lovely riding horse when my work is done, he will be a standout!

Change is setting in and Raz is settling down.

Day 8.
Saturday Oct. 24, the sun is shining and it’s time for a photo or two. Raz is looking like a show horse already, he is now alert, yet calm, I can catch him in the 5 acres he is in without problems, he is eating plenty of fresh grass and Thrive, plus alfalfa. I love to watch the changes every single time, like a miracle unfolding before your eyes, happening quickly enough to let you see the changes almost daily. Needless to say I am very happy with his initial progress.

Dirty mess, happy horse!

Day 16. Nov. 4. 2009
For the first time in Raz’s life he is stall free, and discovered rolling in the mud, a pastime he relishes, the dirtier the better. He is a lot more relaxed now, putting on muscle at an appropriate rate, and settling into his new and enjoyable way of life. His ground training has already commenced and he displays enjoyment interacting with me on the new tasks he undertakes. The blue tarp is a real milestone, he is learning to control his emotions and handle stress well. I enjoy working with him and watching him change.

One month of equine luxury for Razza

Raz has settled in really well now, I have started training him a few days ago and he is working solid on the ground. Being a hot adapted horse his flight response is acute, so it’s easy to make him move. His biting and running over you has gone for good, he works well on a lead, walks precisely at your side, and moves around me well. Raz enjoys learning and is getting more and more relaxed each session, accepting the training as part of his new life. He has no flaws, and is behaving just as I imagined he would. His hind hoofs need a lot of care, and the incremental trimming I am undertaking is going to require a few months to get the results I demand.
I am happy with his progress, he will be excellent!