This message is from: "jgayle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
In this case I doubt Beth's pessimism. You are describing my Charley, who
just left this earth two months ago at twenty five, a sweetheart and my best
friend. C. was born huge and dwarfed his follower mother. My old Arab
gelding would let him play with him nipping legs all day. C. was difficult
to lead, did exactly the same thing on the lunge of escaping, loved to nip
anyone who was not looking and tried his best to take advantage of his great
size. Many is the time I let him have it with the crop. He laughed! I was
told this was not a woman's horse. Trainers were afraid of him and his size
and he made fools of them in the early shows. I was raised very strictly as
a child and believe me I was not easy on his bad behavior and he got his
punishment.
I think Charley's problem was he was overly bright and he thought himself an
equal with his rider. He loved crowds and knew when they adored him. "Here
comes Charley" "Yeah Charley!" He was so big he could stretch that long
neck from his stall across the aisle to nip anyone going by. I was dressage
and finally found him, did not start breaking him until seven, a male rider
who handled him beautifully and they made great progress until Charley at
age 14 and third level, winning, caught his leg under my arena door and
popped a sesamoid. He had wanted to come home and would hide behind the
barn when I got the trailer out.
He mellowed as he grew more mature, was my best pal and family. So do not
give up. The colt probably sees you as Mom and needs a good nip and
eventually a shoe in the right place. I think, barring some genetic
disorder, you will find him your smartest and most winning fellow.
Jean Gayle
Author
'The Colonel's Daughter"
Occupied Germany 1946 to 1949
Send: $20 to Three Horse's Press
7403 Blaine Rd
Aberdeen, WA 98520
