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Kenda Equine

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Auburn, WV
Kenda Equine

Follow me on my journey with my Mustangs! Deep breaths and baby steps

01/14/2024

Obsessed with the transformation of this little guy. From aggressive wild child to being quiet on the ground.

10/31/2023

Oh Rook.
Does anyone remember when I sent Rook to a reputable trainer? September 2022? He was supposed to be there for 30 days but agreed on a maximum of 90 days and be atleast halter/lead trained. I just got him home august 25th 2023. He was held hostage by a man that was just too busy for me to come and pick up my own horse. Admittedly I did not go and physically check on him much I would trust the trainers words via text and call. I excused many times the language barrier with said trainer. Never did he mention he was deteriorating. When I did check on him I noticed how quickly he had deteriorated and asked why. The response was, “you only paid for your time and haven’t been paying board or anything. I haven’t been charging you board because I just want to help you. You should have been dropping feed off.” But when I would call and message to pick my horse up in the beginning the response I would get would be that he hasn’t had time to work with him and wanted to atleast achieve a halter on him because he wanted to ‘help me out’. Then he had no time or had too many people and lessons going on. I did not want to cause trouble by bringing authorities. Once, I showed up to an agreed time and day with truck and trailer and there were lessons going on. I had a bout with a couple serious sicknesses for a few months in the winter and could not make trips to get him. I had no support system in place for someone to get him for me. So I just sent money for feed or when I had a decent day would drop sacks off. He was still deteriorating which told me he was just not being cared for properly. He took 5 minutes to try and load him(unsuccessfully Ofcourse as he was still wild) and gave up. He would not let me try as he was afraid I would get injured on his property and he would be liable. I understood that and still did not want trouble. Rook is finally home now. He is as he was the day I dropped him off. Unhandled. I am angry. Angry at the trainer and myself for being too meek. Too understanding to realize I was being manipulated. Rook was not the only poor horse in that barn. I still do not want to cause trouble so I will not share the photos I took on property or disclose any names. I am between jobs now and am desperately trying to keep him; my first ever mustang. I feel stuck again, unsure of what to do. What is best for him? Should he remain a pasture puff until I have the funds to send him to a better trainer? Should I rehome him to someone who has the skill set and facilities or funds to train him? I needed help and thought I had found it but that was not the case. Rook has a strong flight mode and requires facilities and experience I do not have. He is a panel crasher when pushed too much. He has destroyed many panels and many boards and posts. First photos are the day I brought him home. Last are today.

01/08/2023

For some reason Facebook says I can’t post photos and a video together in the same post so I have to make this one separately but he’s also learning to tie:) absolutely SICK of this WV mud>:(

01/08/2023

Improvement with holding feet! He let me pick the fronts and apply thrushbuster to them. He’s such a smart boy! His personality is starting to shine the more comfortable he gets🖤

01/02/2023

Lazy! I’ve decided to name her Fancy because(if you can) her trot and canter are the fanciest naturals I’ve seen. This is her first time with a saddle on and she took it like a natural. This gal will truly make a great kids horse I don’t doubt that at all!

01/02/2023

Long video but, update on ol yeller: We’re picking up fronts (and holding briefly)!!!

11/30/2022

https://carsonjames.com

11/30/2022

Such a smart little lady🥰
Available after saddle breaking in the spring!

10/06/2022

First pedi! Gary only got around to the fronts but maybe next time she’ll feel comfy enough with him to let him touch her rears!:)

10/01/2022

This filly is going to make someone a great horse, she’s so patient. Dealing with an 8month old shepherd pup isn’t light work 😂

09/24/2022

Miss thing is now picking up and holding her fronts, this was only session 2 with her feet and legs. She’s made incredible progress since the halter has been on!

09/16/2022

Introduced the brushes and worked on touching back legs tonight. Overall super pleased with this filly. I noticed a HUGE difference when Rook was out of the mix. I feel he fed into her weariness and made her more difficult to work with.

09/10/2022

The baby let me put a halter back on today!! She will be available late spring;)

09/04/2022

After almost 8 months of trying with Rook, I decided it was time for someone with more experience to get their hands on him. I sent him to a local trainer who has experience with Mustangs for 30 days with the expectations equal to TIP requirements. Since I work nearby I can visit after work to watch his progress! I desperately hope this trainer can help us!🤞🏼

07/10/2022

My pick for the 2022 GA TIP Challenge. She’s a hateful little baby but man is she smart!

04/16/2022

Rook was exposed to a lot of new things this weekend; the lawn tractor, dogs, neck/wither pets and watching me ‘attack’ cricket from her back. He didn’t know whether to run from us or to us but he knew whatever was going on was NOT normal. 😂

04/07/2022

In addition to Rook getting a brand new round pen (huge thank you to my family who pulled together to help get it built), he also got some pasture! The first chance he got he rolled in the mud like a pig LOL. We’re neck petting now and I’m beginning to untie his neck tag. I’m running into a problem though; I have no idea how to untie it. I’ve been trying to unfasten it but I genuinely am just fiddling with it to try to get something lose because I don’t know where to start🥲

03/28/2022

Rook has slipped his neck tag over one of his ears. He acts like it kinda bothers him; he’ll hold it back sometimes. I was going to try and get it off this day(saturday) but by the next day it was slipped back over. I was worried I wasn’t going to be the one to take his tag off! I’m also glad I decided not to rush and take it off too soon and cause him to regress. But we’re getting better and better at face touches and approaching with steps:) he even started greeting me when I walk up to his pen.

03/07/2022

Rook has decided I’m not so scary he would just rather not have me touch him. He knows it doesn’t hurt he just doesn’t want to be bothered😂 he practices avoidance well but the sweet temptation of grain is just too strong. This past weekend we worked on me approaching him via arms and hand and towards the end of our little session, taking a step forward with an outstretched arm. He figured out quickly he didn’t get grain if he stepped back or avoided me with his head. I also began stretching my arm out in different areas instead of just straight to his muzzle;neck, jaw, shoulder etc. he’s one smart cookie.

01/26/2022

Making the connection:
I had some time this morning to spend with Rook before I had to leave for work. I got a little brave and decided to reach out farther and scratch him more. You can see in this video his brain working and figuring out that my hand isn’t an inanimate object. He also didn’t walk away when I walked away and then re-approached him. Before I started videoing I had scratched so far up his jaw did I got to feel his neck tag!

01/24/2022

ROOKS FIRST TOUCH!!!!
After so long thinking I’ve made next to no progress, not enough progress etc. Rook surprised me today with touches. I almost cried. His neck tag is still on, I didn’t want to push it. He had the largest crowd around him today. Very scary. Very snorty. But he calmed right down after he thought about it. Kelly got in with him to show me some things. I’ve learned a good bit today and so has Rook! Thank you so much Kelly Patterson and Eli for your help today!

01/22/2022

Day 42 with Rook formerly #5553:
It’s been very very cold here! I figured out how to hook up his water heater. I’ve never had to use one before and was afraid he wouldn’t drink with it inside his trough but her doesn’t mind it! We left off with him approaching me when being fed grain a week ago. A week of me standing around and refusing to leave until he approaches and drops his head to a vulnerable position to eat. Still no touches, but he doesn’t back away when I reach out now. He’s one tough cookie. I was worried about his fetlock from the trailer but it isn’t swollen anymore and he doesn’t rest it as much. I try to talk constantly while I’m with him and I’m now trying to talk with my hands more to help him get used to movement in close quarters. Unfortunately his mane may not be saveable if I can’t touch him soon. It’s pretty tangled. He’ll need a good hoof trim in another couple months. Thank goodness my farrier is willing to help me with a wild one!

01/07/2022

At 13° and 9in of snow in West Virginia, I figured I’d drop Rook and extra bale and started him on more feed. Rook walked up to me and my scary bucket, let me dump it out in his pan, bend down to slide it under the panels, and allowed some close ups after fumbling my phone out of my pocket to show everyone his hair-cicles. AND he only snorted at me ONCE. Still no touches but he’s gaining weight and tolerating more and more human presence.

12/28/2021

Rook: 3wks2days…
Listening when I talk.
Better about not retreating when I approach him.
Consistency is key!

12/26/2021

ROOK
Darn this Eastern mud. ITS ALWAYS SO NASTY OUT, the horses can’t catch a break. Rook an I haven’t made much progress. He now only allows me to stand an elbows length away, but walks away at the slightest reach of engagement. I was making faster progress without the touchy stick, so I decided to give up on it for now and see how it goes. Yesterday, he spooked himself with his feed pan and kicked at my head. Felt the air from it!😬close call. He’s eating a little grain daily, and looks forward to it. He’s beginning to approach with some distance during feeding time. Patience sure is a wonderful thing to have!

12/11/2021

Rook let me lay in his hay bale, he figured he could eat around me so why not🤷‍♀️ he nuzzled me several times and smelled my breath, something I’ve been trying to get him to do for a week! I still can’t seem to make enough room for any videos long enough to save, so still trying to figure that out🙄

12/07/2021

First touch around the neck tag with the touchy-stick! Rook says he thinks it looks like a snake! Unfortunately my phone is completely out of storage and the video I took wouldn’t save:(

12/06/2021

Rook is home! Hes a 5yr old 15hh gelding from the Crooks Mtn HMA! He came from the BLM storefront in Pikeville, TN. He’s cut up, and super sore but he’s home. Yesterday I was picking hay out of the roundbale and sitting it on the rails, he reached for it as I was laying it down and his nose touched my fingers so he paused cold as stone for several seconds before he just decided to keep chewing🤷‍♀️ he reached for my hand several times in an attempt to connect, but he was still so stressed out with everything that went on that day he wouldn’t Step forward. Which is best anyways, I want him to work at his own pace and for him to think it’s all his idea anyways. Follow my page to see updates about our progress!

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Videos

Improvement with holding feet! He let me pick the fronts and apply thrushbuster to them. He’s such a smart boy! His personality is starting to shine the more comfortable he gets🖤

Long video but, update on ol yeller: We’re picking up fronts (and holding briefly)!!!

This filly is going to make someone a great horse, she’s so patient. Dealing with an 8month old shepherd pup isn’t light work 😂

Miss thing is now picking up and holding her fronts, this was only session 2 with her feet and legs. She’s made incredible progress since the halter has been on!

Making the connection: I had some time this morning to spend with Rook before I had to leave for work. I got a little brave and decided to reach out farther and scratch him more. You can see in this video his brain working and figuring out that my hand isn’t an inanimate object. He also didn’t walk away when I walked away and then re-approached him. Before I started videoing I had scratched so far up his jaw did I got to feel his neck tag!

Day 42 with Rook formerly#5553: It’s been very very cold here! I figured out how to hook up his water heater. I’ve never had to use one before and was afraid he wouldn’t drink with it inside his trough but her doesn’t mind it! We left off with him approaching me when being fed grain a week ago. A week of me standing around and refusing to leave until he approaches and drops his head to a vulnerable position to eat. Still no touches, but he doesn’t back away when I reach out now. He’s one tough cookie. I was worried about his fetlock from the trailer but it isn’t swollen anymore and he doesn’t rest it as much. I try to talk constantly while I’m with him and I’m now trying to talk with my hands more to help him get used to movement in close quarters. Unfortunately his mane may not be saveable if I can’t touch him soon. It’s pretty tangled. He’ll need a good hoof trim in another couple months. Thank goodness my farrier is willing to help me with a wild one!