Bandit (Lazy Horse Rescue)

[April]

I thought it would be appropriate for me to start a thread in here about Bandit so you could all get to know him!

I adopted Bandit through Lazy Horse Rescue in September 2006. Thank you Gabi!!! I also have CBER to thank because I found out about him needing a home on the old board. I did my senior project in high school on the Premarin industry and got really into helping the horses, but it wasn't the "right time" to adopt. So, I put all my energy into re-training Franky, our former racing Standardbred. I also started teaching him tricks, which he loved to do. I got really attached to him, not that I wasn't already, just more so.

In July, Franky coliced really bad and my Dad (a vet for those who don't know) did all he could for him. We decided to take him to surgery. He passed away on the table and I was heartbroken. I did not want another horse after that.

I still wasn't "over" Franky's death when we went to meet Bandit. There was just something about him that captured me. My Mom and I stood at the fence for about an hour, poor Ruth (foster mom) was busy with other people coming to look at one of her own horses. Bandit was really shy, hiding behind Keera for the first 30 minutes or so. Slowly he decided we were okay and by the time we left, I was able to pet his face and neck.

It all snowballed from there and everything went really smoothly. He loaded right into the trailer, even after having previous bad experiences and being all alone. He was definitely meant to be, kind of like Franky picked him out for me.

He is a great horse, I love him to pieces! He is smart as a whip too. After overcoming a little bit of a snag with leading, he started picking up new things like a piece of cake. I taught him with the clicker to pick up his feet and he successfully had his first trim without sedation or bribery at the end of January. He can even lift up his feet just by me tickling the top of his legs now, back up just by reading my body language, accept the surcingle, etc..

Some pictures from his journey so far:

Baby Bandit (Still in Canada I believe?)


At Gabi's House


At Ruth's House


First Day Home


Halloween Costume(This is where the Bandito nickname originated)


November


December


Christmas


Early March - shedding out with white hairs...


Technical stuff:
Either full Percheron or Perch. cross
16.0 hands as of March
Will be 2 years in late May-June
Don't know color yet, he changes weekly. Right now he looks like a roan, but I'm thinking he is slowly turning gray. Only time will tell. ;D

[atticus]

What a sweetie pie!!! He is gonna be a big boy!

[April]

Thank you! ;D

I know, he's already huge! When I stand next to him his butt is level with my head. Ruth said I'm going to need a ladder to get up on him! I think she may be right

[patrolhorse]

Love that first day home picture!! He has a very kind expression- looks like a big teddy bear.

[April]

Thanks ;D, I wish I could get more pictures with that expression. He is a big teddy bear, the lady I work for called him a buffalo.

My Dad's favorite nickname for him is the "Baby Face Bandit." So that is what his registered name is going to be....if I ever get the papers. What is it with registries taking so long anyways?

[April]

April 4th 2007

Look at this boy's color! Any thoughts?

[eirualaerdna]

me thoughts? He's doign exactly what birdie's doing! weird... I think he's turning dark roan.. maybe blue roan?

[eirualaerdna]

make that red roan... i can't make up my mind, you never know with these guys!

[April]

LOL! I know, it's so fun to go out and see what color your horse has decided to be for the day ;D.

[April]

April 12th, 2007

Lookin' like a Draft horse now!

[cybercat]

What a beautiful horse, April! He has such a warm fuzzy look to him and look at his soft eye...

[April]

New Pictures Taken June 4th, 2007








^"His white spot"


^All the white coming through in his tail...

He is doing really well, though he is looking a little on the thin side. I read that it is pretty common in growing drafts to have their weight fluctuate here and there(?). Anyways, we will be uping his portions .

Thanks for looking!!! ;D

[April]

First "Saddle" June 16th 2007

Okay, so it really isn't a saddle saddle, but it comes close. Everyone is so touchy about having weight on their backs, so the soft saddle can't be more than 5 pounds, I think. He can most certainly handle that! ;D It will get him used to the swinging stirrups and the cinch being a little tighter. He took it like a pro, like he'd been doing it for years. Granted he has had surcingles on before. He is such a great guy! ;D


Ignore me . You can see just about how big he is getting when I'm next to him with the Danes.


I know you have candy....


Pretty please give me some candy!

[April]

Hey all!

I thought this was kind of exciting, at least at my end! I signed up for the PMU Lines newsletter from UAN a long time ago, when I opened it today - Bandit was in it! It isn't a big part, just a little picture. But he is still "famous!" ;D ;D I posted on their message board in response to another lady that adopted from Lazy Horse Rescue with a picture of Bandit. They cropped out his head and put it in the letter!

I can't figure out how to show you guys, they don't have this letter available online yet. But I wanted to share anyways because it was so exciting.

Thanks for reading! ;D

Here is the link - www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=54
The issue he is in is the June 2007, not the one they say is the current issue .

[gypsy79]

What great pictures! And what a pretty boy.

My 2 cents, I think he'll turn grey.

Thanks for sharing the pictures!

[April]

Thanks for the comment on my boy! ;D I think he is going gray too, but the process is an interesting one. Right now he is looking like he did when I adopted him, that sooty buckskin color. And it isn't sun bleaching like I thought it was!

Hopefully I'll have even better pictures soon. My sister is supposed to be getting a fancy-schmancy camera, and she takes awesome pictures.

Thanks again! ;D

[horsegal0308]

I support the greying theory--especially from lazy horse rescue

[April]

July 23, 2007


But I don't want my picture taken again mom!


Maybe if I tip this thing over again she'll leave me alone?


What are you looking at?


Okay, maybe just one good one...

[catandminot]

wow he looks great April!

I think he's a Perch cross-- he looks SO much like Minot. (She's even beginning to get grey hair, though not as much as he is!)

Great job with him though-- seems like yesterday that he came home! ;D

[April]

Thank you! ;D You should see him now, he almost looks like a roan. I have a horse of many colors!

[atticus]

He is so handsome!!! And he is much BIGGER than the last pics I saw of him! WOW!!

[katyk1]

I love those drafts and draft crosses! Another handsome one

[April]

Thank you guys! He is very special, Sunday is our 1 year anniversary . I can't believe I've had him this long...

[gypsy79]

April, it's been, like, 2 months since we saw a new picture of him! Get with it! I want to see the more roaning that's going on.

It looks like you are doing great with him.

[April]

LOL! I hadn't checked here in a while ;D.

Yesterday was our 1 year anniversary! It is both easy and hard to believe that it has been a year. Looking back through his pictures you can see the gradual build up of trust in his eyes. It really amazes me. Plus, on top of not learning how to even lead when he first got here to being able to sidepass from the ground now. He is one smart cookie. I'm looking for a newer, lighter surcingle now. And I want to get him a bitless bridle so we can start learning how to ground drive. Of course we can do that without, but I'd like to get him familiar with the kind of equipment he'll be ridden in.

Hopefully I'll be *lightly* riding him by this time next year! I can't wait. ;D

I'll get pictures uploaded tonight. My sister finally got that camera and we got some good pictures of him today.

[jdw2w1]

Hi April,
Guess what? I adopted Keera from Lazy Horse ;D
I was looking to adopt Keera and Bandit when you came out to Ruth's and decided to adopt Bandit. I was at Ruth's the day you came out to see him; I believe you were with your Dad. I had my 2 little boys with me.
Ruth told me you made a real connection with Bandit. As soon as I seen you on this board: Coarsegold/Bandito, I knew you had to be the girl who adopted him. I just found this thread and wanted to say "hi" ;D
Everything worked out very well for us. Right after you picked up Bandit, I had Ruth pair her up with a 2 yr old PMU Pinto gelding she had for sale "Sky". They immediately fell in love; Ruth trailered them both to my boarding facility on September 30, 2006. My 1 year anniversary is also coming up ;D
I'll post photos soon. She is a Shire and a big girl but I know Bandit stands taller. He was quite a bit taller when they were together at Ruth's.
I'm new to posting here, I don't know how to post a photo.
I have a photo from Gabi's site that has Keera and Bandit together; really cute!
Stephanie

[April]

WOW! It is a small world! I often think about Keera and how she is doing now. She was a real sweetheart when we were there. Lots of people actually wanted Bandit, I feel so honored to have been chosen by him.

When I was there with my Dad we were handing over the payment. When I was there with my Mom it was the first time we got to see him. I didn't want to leave! I know there were quite of bit of people there when we got there, and Ruth was a little stressed. But I honestly don't remember what any of you looked like .

They were so close, I was worried how they would be when seperated. Bandit did really well though, Keera let out a whinny as if to say goodbye when he hopped into the trailer.

I can't wait to see the pictures of her! Maybe, one day, they'll end up getting to say hello to one another again! Not through selling of course , but maybe some kind of get together trail ride or something.

[jdw2w1]

Hi April,
The first time I went out to Ruth's, Bandit was a real wild child! He was running back and forth and snorting the whole time; he did not want to be touched. Ruth told me he was quite a challenge. I was pretty intimidated. Keera, on the other hand was so mellow! I felt guilty about leaving him and taking her
The next time I came out, you were there with your Dad trying to figure out how to trailer him.
I stayed out of the way with my boys. Nobody else was at her place, we just visited her horses until you guys left. Ruth thought it was best they were separated, because he did tend to hide behind her
I think we were both lucky to get horses that Ruth fostered; I love her!! She really cares about her horses. Keera has got the best temperament; everyone loves and wants her! I credit Ruth with the great start she gave her. Next year I will take her to the trainer to do more ground work. We won't ride her untill she's 4 yrs old. I've told my husband she is for him ;D He's 6' about 250 lbs. so I want to make sure she can handle that kind of load ;D Currently, Sky is in 90 days training! Can't wait to see!

[mykingdomforahorse]

Wanted to jump in here -- I adopted Mr. Bean from Gabi at Lazy Horse Rescue -- he's 1/2 Perch, 1/4 Clydesdale and 1/4 Standardbred. He's blue roan now, such an interesting coloring, but was almost black on arrival at 1 1/2 years old.

He's 3 now, and he's 17.4 hh! I hadn't measured him since last winter, and just measured him 3 times, because I was shocked. Knew he was big, knew he was growing, knew he was sprouting up like a weed, but that's big! I'll post his photos soon, still trying to figure out how to, after finally figuring out my avatar.

And yes, wanted to add that when the draft youngsters go through growth spurts, they can end up a little gangly-looking for awhile.

Em