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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 984
  
Location: Southwest Minnesota | I haven't posted about my daughter before but have a question. My daughter, Gabrielle, was in a severe car accident June 5, 2016 that nearly ended her life. Well very long story short, she survived and is making incredible progress. Tuesday she will get on a horse for the first time since before the accident. She is going to a place near Omaha called HETRA (Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy). Which brings me to my question. Eventually she wants to ride her horse. A big, fat, Appaloosa gelding named Chico. He is a barrel horse...not a 1D barrel horse by any stretch of the imagination but still a barrel horse. He is pretty laid back here at home so I believe she will eventually be able to ride him. I want to know if any of you who train have any advice on assessing this gelding for this transition in his career. I'm sorry if this makes little to no sense. I really don't know what to specifically ask.
Also, if you are interested in reading any of Gabrielle's story here is her Caring Bridge site. https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gabbieholthe |
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 Quarter Horse HIstorian
Posts: 2878
Location: Aubrey, Texas | My suggestion, for what it's worth, would be to ask the people at HERTA to evaluate him. They will have experience in knowing what to look for- |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
 
Location: OH. IO | oh my gosh,im so sorry to hear about her accident! Im gonna read her story,how old is she? Many prayers for continued healing for her AND PRAYERS FOR YOU AS WELL. My husband was hurt very badly in a tractor accident two years ago,hes normally very self sufficient,but during the recovery it was horrible for everyone! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 984
Location: Southwest Minnesota | cloverleaf - 2017-01-29 5:47 PM My suggestion, for what it's worth, would be to ask the people at HERTA to evaluate him. They will have experience in knowing what to look for-
I did ask them...they don't normally do that but would look into it. I am hopeful that they will be able to help me out. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 984
Location: Southwest Minnesota |
Thanks for the prayers...I honestly believe that is why she is still here and doing so well. Gabrielle is 23 now, she was 22 at the time of the accident. |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | oh my,I just read the story,and ALOT of your updates from the beginning.You can definatly believe the prayers worked along her journey,and will continue for her.I dont know how I would handle something that difficult.Her photos of her learning to walk are amazing and gave me chills and tears. Is Travis her brother? Has she regained her speech? I would love for you to PM me your address. I would like to send a card. May the Lord bless you and keep you .You are a strong mom!!! |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | also forgot to ask,how long does the sponsor keep her going to the horse facility? |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | I had a very bad car wreck when I was 17; one of my injuries was an AK amputation. When it came time to get on a horse again, I was scared to death and knew I had to have a special one. I have two very close friends that I trusted implicitly and are true horse people---breeders, riders, rodeo, barrels, cutting, etc. They started looking and found Dan, who was unflappable and perfect. Becky (one of the friends) worked with me and him to get us "together" and make sure my confidence was growing. Her husband and nephew made me a stirrup for my prosthesis to fit in, and over time I was ready to buy Dan a sibling!! Becky and Sammy started looking again and found Facio, a 5 year old gelding. I was worried about his age, but after Beck rode him and then I got on him, I realized he didn't act his age---he was an old soul. Those two boys still reside in my pasture and I owe them (and Becky and Sammy) my horse riding to this day. Dan is now 38 and Faci is 22. I guess I said all that to say that I found someone I trusted with my life and that KNEW horses like the back of their hand to evaluate my "after the wreck" horses.
I tried to read her story but for some reason Google wouldn't let me in and I don't FB. I would love to know more about your daughter, even if you want to pm me. If there would be anything you think I could help with, please let me know. Many many prayers and good wishes for your daughter and your whole family, because I know from experience that something like this affects all of you. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | I have a horse that couldn't make $ runs. She was evaluated by a lady in our church for her program. I've never seen anything like it: She doned a hat with floppy stars and blew a kozoo walking up to my two mares that I had ground tied. Both mares had babies running in the pasture with them at the time. Well the babies took off but the mares stood their ground. My older mare really suprised me because all I did was run her one year in futurities. So she never had lots of out in the real world time. The younger mare that she took into her program I ran her two years. She was a rock in places many horses would fold. After the babies began running around their dams we looped the nearest truck grill guard and she continued her assessment. She and her partner took out rugs and drug them around both horses, they had various noise makers and moving objects that they clanged and ran around them. When they rode they had to stand for mounting and once they went thru the different gaits they intentionally slid off onto their sides. They both came to a standstill which is what they wanted. The younger mare was a college goat tying horse so I had my doubts if she was going to go back to her beginning foundation. She did and I can say that it brings me great joy to go out and see her work. I've watched men with horrific war injuries become whole as they ride her enjoying freedom of movement. I see parents crying due to their autistic kids being able to express themselves.
What you can do is something similiar and see if your horse has the apititude to handle the pressures of working with the unsteady. I had no idea how important the strong mental character of the individual horse had to be to work in this program.
My hope is that your horse is and your daughter will get to ride her horse one day soon! Prayers for healing and recovery. |
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| mom you get on fall all over her just wiggle fall go sideway but if in doubt round corral with you on a pony if she has balace it will come there is nothing more theraphy than riding a horse something about the way they move
?nick smith could help he is a quad and he rides lea jacob is a para in ia or neb she would be good also
?and bring jesus in pray over both and ask god to watch over |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | just watched her first ride,what a nice smile!!!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 899
Location: Idaho | Honestly, I would really focus just on her recovery now and not worry about her getting on her barrel horse till later. Equine related therapy can do wonders for mental health and trauma patients, but it takes time.
Depending on how she recovered and how much motor function she has, she may be able to ride him with time. But you would need to make sure he is BOMBPROOF. Usually horses that are in those types of programs are completely bomb proof; no spook, no buck, not bite, no rearing. they put them through all types of test to see how spooky or reactive they really are. But truly, I would keep her in therapy and make sure she heals first, then once she is able to ride and have at least a good seat, then maybe you can consider her riding her own horse. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 984
Location: Southwest Minnesota | DashNDustem - 2017-02-01 12:21 PM Honestly, I would really focus just on her recovery now and not worry about her getting on her barrel horse till later. Equine related therapy can do wonders for mental health and trauma patients, but it takes time. Depending on how she recovered and how much motor function she has, she may be able to ride him with time. But you would need to make sure he is BOMBPROOF. Usually horses that are in those types of programs are completely bomb proof; no spook, no buck, not bite, no rearing. they put them through all types of test to see how spooky or reactive they really are. But truly, I would keep her in therapy and make sure she heals first, then once she is able to ride and have at least a good seat, then maybe you can consider her riding her own horse.
Trust me....we are completely focused on her recovery. I'm not expecting her to run barrels again on this gelding but am praying and believing that eventually that will happen. What I want is for her to be able to ride HER horse and be safe. The therapy place she is at now is 3.5 hours from home with the riding place another half hour from there. We have no place like this anywhere close to home. She will hopefully get to stay at this rehab facility until May if the planets all align and insurance doesn't crap out on us. I have feelers out for something slower and more appropriate for her as an inbetween horse for her. Just wanted some pointers on possibly reprogramming her gelding to be okay for her. She loves him and his name was one of the first words she could say after her accident. She didn't speak at all until 86 days post-accident. We didn't know if she would ever speak. I think it's pretty important to her that at some point she is able to ride him again. He is her baby.... |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | chuckie31 - 2017-02-01 9:53 PM DashNDustem - 2017-02-01 12:21 PM Honestly, I would really focus just on her recovery now and not worry about her getting on her barrel horse till later. Equine related therapy can do wonders for mental health and trauma patients, but it takes time. Depending on how she recovered and how much motor function she has, she may be able to ride him with time. But you would need to make sure he is BOMBPROOF. Usually horses that are in those types of programs are completely bomb proof; no spook, no buck, not bite, no rearing. they put them through all types of test to see how spooky or reactive they really are. But truly, I would keep her in therapy and make sure she heals first, then once she is able to ride and have at least a good seat, then maybe you can consider her riding her own horse. Trust me....we are completely focused on her recovery. I'm not expecting her to run barrels again on this gelding but am praying and believing that eventually that will happen. What I want is for her to be able to ride HER horse and be safe. The therapy place she is at now is 3.5 hours from home with the riding place another half hour from there. We have no place like this anywhere close to home. She will hopefully get to stay at this rehab facility until May if the planets all align and insurance doesn't crap out on us. I have feelers out for something slower and more appropriate for her as an inbetween horse for her. Just wanted some pointers on possibly reprogramming her gelding to be okay for her. She loves him and his name was one of the first words she could say after her accident. She didn't speak at all until 86 days post-accident. We didn't know if she would ever speak. I think it's pretty important to her that at some point she is able to ride him again. He is her baby....
You bet its important to Gabby to be riding her horse again some day soon. Prayers and hugs for Gabby, Mom your doing good, give Gabby a hug for me please  |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | DashNDustem - 2017-02-01 12:21 PM Honestly, I would really focus just on her recovery now and not worry about her getting on her barrel horse till later. Equine related therapy can do wonders for mental health and trauma patients, but it takes time. Depending on how she recovered and how much motor function she has, she may be able to ride him with time. But you would need to make sure he is BOMBPROOF. Usually horses that are in those types of programs are completely bomb proof; no spook, no buck, not bite, no rearing. they put them through all types of test to see how spooky or reactive they really are. But truly, I would keep her in therapy and make sure she heals first, then once she is able to ride and have at least a good seat, then maybe you can consider her riding her own horse.
She was not expecting Gabby to try to do barrels, shes wondering if theres a way for Gabbys horse to accept Gabby and help her with her therapy, if anyone has had any experience with this. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Chandler's Mom - 2017-01-29 7:54 PM I had a very bad car wreck when I was 17; one of my injuries was an AK amputation. When it came time to get on a horse again, I was scared to death and knew I had to have a special one. I have two very close friends that I trusted implicitly and are true horse people---breeders, riders, rodeo, barrels, cutting, etc. They started looking and found Dan, who was unflappable and perfect. Becky (one of the friends ) worked with me and him to get us "together" and make sure my confidence was growing. Her husband and nephew made me a stirrup for my prosthesis to fit in, and over time I was ready to buy Dan a sibling!! Becky and Sammy started looking again and found Facio, a 5 year old gelding. I was worried about his age, but after Beck rode him and then I got on him, I realized he didn't act his age---he was an old soul. Those two boys still reside in my pasture and I owe them (and Becky and Sammy ) my horse riding to this day. Dan is now 38 and Faci is 22. I guess I said all that to say that I found someone I trusted with my life and that KNEW horses like the back of their hand to evaluate my "after the wreck" horses. I tried to read her story but for some reason Google wouldn't let me in and I don't FB. I would love to know more about your daughter, even if you want to pm me. If there would be anything you think I could help with, please let me know. Many many prayers and good wishes for your daughter and your whole family, because I know from experience that something like this affects all of you.
Hugs I knew that you were a special one  |
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 Expert
Posts: 2258
| We had a horse here that I bought and sold and ended up with him back again several times. He went to a therapy program to see if he would be a fit I honestly didn't think it would be his thing. He is a rock star at it and went to the Special Olympics this past year. He seems to just know that they need him and he seems to need them. I can probably give you the number to the place he went and I bet she would be happy to share how they evaluate horses. Prayers for your daughters continued healing and progress. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 984
Location: Southwest Minnesota | cutnrunqhmt - 2017-02-02 12:15 AM
We had a horse here that I bought and sold and ended up with him back again several times. He went to a therapy program to see if he would be a fit I honestly didn't think it would be his thing. He is a rock star at it and went to the Special Olympics this past year. He seems to just know that they need him and he seems to need them. I can probably give you the number to the place he went and I bet she would be happy to share how they evaluate horses. Prayers for your daughters continued healing and progress.
That would be great! |
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | chuckie31 - 2017-02-01 9:53 PM
DashNDustem - 2017-02-01 12:21 PM Honestly, I would really focus just on her recovery now and not worry about her getting on her barrel horse till later. Equine related therapy can do wonders for mental health and trauma patients, but it takes time. Depending on how she recovered and how much motor function she has, she may be able to ride him with time. But you would need to make sure he is BOMBPROOF. Usually horses that are in those types of programs are completely bomb proof; no spook, no buck, not bite, no rearing. they put them through all types of test to see how spooky or reactive they really are. But truly, I would keep her in therapy and make sure she heals first, then once she is able to ride and have at least a good seat, then maybe you can consider her riding her own horse.
Trust me....we are completely focused on her recovery. I'm not expecting her to run barrels again on this gelding but am praying and believing that eventually that will happen. What I want is for her to be able to ride HER horse and be safe. The therapy place she is at now is 3.5 hours from home with the riding place another half hour from there. We have no place like this anywhere close to home. She will hopefully get to stay at this rehab facility until May if the planets all align and insurance doesn't crap out on us. I have feelers out for something slower and more appropriate for her as an inbetween horse for her. Just wanted some pointers on possibly reprogramming her gelding to be okay for her. She loves him and his name was one of the first words she could say after her accident. She didn't speak at all until 86 days post-accident. We didn't know if she would ever speak. I think it's pretty important to her that at some point she is able to ride him again. He is her baby....
I think what you're doing is wonderful and will mean more that a lot of folks may know. The bond she and her boy share will help her mentally and emotionally and she'lll draw strength from him. Keep doing what your momma radar tells you to do. . . . |
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Southtxponygirl - 2017-02-01 10:44 PM
Chandler's Mom - 2017-01-29 7:54 PM I had a very bad car wreck when I was 17; one of my injuries was an AK amputation. When it came time to get on a horse again, I was scared to death and knew I had to have a special one. I have two very close friends that I trusted implicitly and are true horse people---breeders, riders, rodeo, barrels, cutting, etc. They started looking and found Dan, who was unflappable and perfect. Becky (one of the friends ) worked with me and him to get us "together" and make sure my confidence was growing. Her husband and nephew made me a stirrup for my prosthesis to fit in, and over time I was ready to buy Dan a sibling!! Becky and Sammy started looking again and found Facio, a 5 year old gelding. I was worried about his age, but after Beck rode him and then I got on him, I realized he didn't act his age---he was an old soul. Those two boys still reside in my pasture and I owe them (and Becky and Sammy ) my horse riding to this day. Dan is now 38 and Faci is 22. I guess I said all that to say that I found someone I trusted with my life and that KNEW horses like the back of their hand to evaluate my "after the wreck" horses. I tried to read her story but for some reason Google wouldn't let me in and I don't FB. I would love to know more about your daughter, even if you want to pm me. If there would be anything you think I could help with, please let me know. Many many prayers and good wishes for your daughter and your whole family, because I know from experience that something like this affects all of you.
Right back at you |
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