Chemosabe rides again!

My friend "Sparky" came to visit me for a week Memorial Day weekend. Although he does not yet own his own horse, he has an avid passion for horses and riding. When I mentioned to him that Ki, my friend Barb's horse had some major issues, his eyes lit up and he welcomed the opportunity to practice his knowledge hands-on.

The story of Ki is that she came to live with us in April 2008 just after my friend Barb was diagnosed with Cancer. Barb rode as a kid and like me, had always felt that void not having horses in her life. So we stumbled upon Ki, Barb fell in love at first sight, and Ki came home with us. Ki was 5 years old at the time and "green broke". The truth of the matter is that we believe she had maybe one week of training on her. This does NOT constitute "green broke", rather a crap load of work!

So I spent a couple of months working with her last year training her to neck rein and foot cue. She was coming along nicely and Barb was riding her until one day, it was like Ki flipped out. She threw Barb into the arena fence, breaking her ribs. Barb didn't ride her again due to her broken ribs and chemo treatments. So between me having another heart attack and Barb being so sick, Ki has been pretty much a "lawn ornament". Any time we would try to saddle her and put a bridle on her, she would freak out to the point we were afraid she was going to injure one of us.

So, after hearing all this, Sparky felt he was up to the challenge. I was leery of him getting hurt, but he had total confidence. The first day he was here, he decided that he would ride Ki...and he did! It took one day in the round pen and after that she was submissive to Sparky. He rode her every day he was here.

Barb is very grateful as now she can saddle her own horse without fear. Sparky turned Ki completely around and she is a whole new horse. She stands calm while you saddle her and we changed from her bridle to a hackamore.

Barb now rides with confidence, and is able to enjoy her horse. So when we are both feeling up to it, "Chemosabe" and the "Cardiac Kid" ride around my little acreage. :-) There is nothing like the healing power of horses!