Drifting Apart

[Miranda Florin]

[Miranda Florin]

01: First Impressions

So, today we received a surprise from Dr. Carr. This journal will document my work with the gelding "Drifting Apart", otherwise known as Zagg. First things first, he is a five-year-old black tobiano Tennessee Walking Horse, standing at about sixteen and a half hands.

According to Dr. Carr, Zagg (and his 'sister', the American Saddlebred mare Drifting Away, or Ziggy) belong to a friend of hers. This friend trained them from the ground up, then sent them to a trainer. Only a few weeks later, upon retrieving them, the horses had lost almost all training, appeared very shy, and most strangely, started walking as if they were stepping on hot coals, very gingerly. According to her, they don't like having their feet or legs touched, although I haven't even done more with Zagg than let him sniff me (and discovered that he likes carrots).

Some questions that remain: Why send them to a trainer in the first place? What methods are used to train gaited horses, and why is it making them move so carefully? What did the trainer do to them?

The plan going forward: Do some research on gaited breeds, as well as spending some time letting Zagg get to know me.

[Miranda Florin]

02: Some More Information

Yes, I know. Two reports in one day, but after I wrote the last one, Othello and I spent more time researching and with the horses, so I have some more to put down.

At least Zagg seems comfortable as he possibly can around me. When I was working with him, he lay down, a sign of sored horses, and it gave me an ideal opportunity to test how far he would allow me to go down. It wasn't too far, only around halfway down his barrel, but considering that he met me earlier today, I'd say it's a good starting point.

Now I really will leave him alone. I don't want to push him too far in one day, it could only have negative repercussions. I'll see how he reacts when we feed him tonight.

What methods are used to train gaited horses, and why is it making them move so carefully? - It's called soring. The horse's feet are chemically or physically treated to make them walk in the distinctive gaited way.

What did the trainer do to them? - The trainer appears to have used chemical means, wearing sores into Zagg's legs. His skin is still raw in places, and the hair looks strange, both signs of chemical responses.

Some questions that remain: Why send them to a trainer in the first place? How severe are the chemical burns on Zagg's legs?

The plan going forward: More time letting Zagg get used to me. Maybe I can move closer towards his legs soon.