Colbert Nation

I have adopted a new horse and given him the name Colbert, after my favorite comedic actor of all time - Steven Colbert. He is a gorgeous 12 year old quarter horse gelding who was just saved from the Fallon Feedlot (for slaughter-bound horses) by Shiloh Horse Rescue. Jill Curtis told me that she believed he had been a ranch/work horse who spent many hours a day just working, with little affection or care. Some cattle ranch horses are rarely thought of as little more than a piece of machinery, are worked long hours, and then cast off when they are no longer useful or needed. Although Colbert is very well broke, he seems somewhat confused by all the affection and pampering he is getting right now. Rachel and I have both ridden him briefly, but I will be doing quite a bit of ground work with him over the next couple of months so that he'll gain some respect, and learn to ENJOY the work, instead of resent it. He is already showing a lot of trust and interest in us, and he loved getting a bath. We really pampered him!

Wishes got her hooves trimmed for the second time ever today. Last time she had to be sedated in order to stand still. Osvaldo is a wonderful and patient farrier, and I will most likely use him in the future, unless we can get a "natural hoof care provider" to come out to the Shiloh. I hope to be able to do the trimming myself someday, but it's much harder than it looks, and will take a lot of training and practice. Today's pics include Rachel on Colbert. Me working with Colbert in the turn-out. A cute pic of our buddy, Eric, with Rachel. And some shots of Osvaldo trimming Wishes' hooves.