I could feel my horse wasn't happy

[Debbie Matuszewski]

When I bought my horse last Nov 2008, I thought the stable was going to be great-it was almost new. I was really wrong. The owners 4 horses were extremely aggressive, and were kicking, biting, and chasing my horse, wouldn't even let him eat hay out there either. I got ran into once by one of their horses, trying to get at my horse, and I went flying to the ground. One horse would kick out both hind legs at the stall partition to my horse. My horse just had a sad look, kind of a loss of interest. When he would see me coming, he would always try to come to me, but it wasn't to happen. They refused to seperate their horses. They had 2 pastures. Finally, being on a waiting list, I was able to finally get out of there, and move to a very nice stable, and actually have a nice place to ride everywhere there too. I could only ride up and down their driveway only(outside) before. Their indoor arena was ok, but dusty. Now my horse seems to somehow tell me he is happy. I can sense that, the way he always wants to be with me. When I bend down in his stall, while he is eating hay, he will push a bunch over to me-as if to share. I can see the love in his eyes.

[Shirley]

What a neat story with a happy ending! Your previous situation sounds like a colic episode in the making. I'm so glad for you and your horse that you were able to get away from the negative stuff. That has got to have a bad effect on any horse. The tension that behavior would produce could cause any number of physical things to go wrong. We have one yeller at our barn of 15 horses and about 8 women and she will just suddenly let loose and startles me plus it just leaves this tension in the air to be absorped by someone somewhere.
How sweet he wants to share with you. I have experienced this just a couple of times in my 5.5 years with my guy but it's been a while back. He does greet me most the time now at the gate and has just recently started nickering on his way. Love it! I do my best to nicker back.

[Debbie Matuszewski]

Hi- you sound like you have a special horse! Yesterday TJ and I went on our first big trail ride together, along with our trainer and her horse(she is great!) and 2 other people from the barn, and their horses. I think we all had a great time! I think we covered around 70 acres(?) and went thru some thick woods in a single file trail, over branches and small logs. TJ was so good! It was my dream to do that with him, and it happened! Our trainer gets alot of credit for all that! She does so much with him. After we got done unsaddleing in the barn aisle, TJ rested his head on my shoulder for quite a long time, just to be near me I think. He had a bath outside with the hose(he is getting better at that too) then he had some pictures taken, and went in to eat and enjoy his treats. It wasn't till June that we got to the new place, but am so thankful we finally did. The last people said they would make things better to "keep us" but they lied. Moving to the new place was the best!