Chavez

[ljbrooks]

I thought I had started a thread for Chavez. Apparently not. If you've read his thread on the old bb, you have already seen most of these pics. Just so you know.

If anyone doesn't know his story, I'll write it later, just ask. For now, know that he is healthy and learning more all the time. He let himself get caught quite easily for vetting a couple of weeks ago. His hooves are in excellent shape and my farrier only wants to do them about every other time he does the other horses.

He may go into training this April. Depends on if the trainer I want has time for him. Until then, he is hanging out with the fillies and strutting around. He is gorgeous and I can't wait to get my hands on him when it warms up a little. He'll be three this June.

This is the first day I got him. Halloween of 2005.


After castration, February 2006.


After returning from hell, I mean, from a very bad person. She was supposedly a trainer. Obviously, that didn't work out.




Home 10 days. He didn't lift his head up from eating for a couple of weeks. Seriously.


Feeling much better. Home not quite 2 months.




He is such a hottie!






Showing his wild side.


Looking pretty.


August '06


November '06




And...more recently.

[wendyp]

Lisa, he looks so cute an cuddly! When do you find out if he gets to go to the trainer? He is such a beautiful horse.........

WendyP/Bend, OR

[ljbrooks]

Hi Wendy! I was just thinking about you and Tonisha. Isn't it going to warm up soon so we can go riding?

I just sent an email to the trainer to see how she's doing and if she thinks she may have room for him. I haven't heard back yet, but she takes awhile to answer emails. Thanks for asking!

[tireddog]

Lisa, Chavez is the most beautiful horse I have ever seen - seriously. He is simply stunning. Do you know his age? Was he a CBER horse that went to CCG's? I guess I don't know his story, and if you ever want to share it, I will listen. When I saw that fourth photo (hind end?), I realized I know nothing of his history.

When I look at him, I think of the horses at my good friend's uncle's ranch - Cayuse Ranch (www.cayuseranch.com). I just wonder ... The next time she is out, I am going to show her photos of your boy. He reminds me of her Choctaw Lily (www.akalranch.com).

You are a miracle worker, Lisa. Thank you for loving this amazing spirit so much.

Modified, because I cannot count photos well.

[ljbrooks]

Hi Amy Jo. Look at that door you opened for me to talk for hours about Chavez..... ;D

Chavez is almost three. He is a Kiger Mustang born in captivity to previously wild parents (I believe). He was in a man's yard who got him FREE from a breeder who was going out of business. He had wire wrapped up in his tail, a rope halter tied to a lead rope that was dragging (you can see the marks from the halter in the first picture) that we had to cut off, it had been on so long. He was basically untouchable, hence them leaving the halter/lead rope on. They kept him in a pen that was maybe 10'x10' (I'm feeling generous tonight), up to his ankles in muck/manure and nasty water and "food". He actually led quite well even then, but had an explosive side that came unexpectedly. He wouldn't shy from a dog, but if he just decided you had pushed him to his limit, and he couldn't trust any more.

This is a good part of his story, that I don't think I've ever told. When the vet came out to castrate him and my PMU baby (Belgian butt you see in the 2nd pic), it took them about 1/2 hour just to get the first shot into him for sedation. Then he kept starting to wake up during the procedure (ouch!), so the vet tech just sat on his neck and continually pumped more drugs into his system. He did NOT want to be out and his mind, body just kept saying "Get up! Get up!". I held his hind leg out of the way, so the vet could work. When they were finally done (had to ligate because he was a bleeder), he got up almost immediately and walked away. He would have ran, but was woozy. The vet, who was by then very sweaty, commented "Ahhh...the Spanish blood runs deep in that one!" I guess I think that's kind of cool because he just never gives up. He will fight to his last breath if he doesn't trust. He stands up (or runs away) for what he believes in. I love his spirit that way.

Moving on. The whole CCG thing. She was great with drafts and mustangs...blah, blah, blah. Chavez went to her, he was there for approximately 2 1/2 months. I picked him up two days after hearing that he was in trouble. The 4th picture is his mandible area. That was a strangles variation that he did not have before he went there and none of my other horses ever came down with. He was quarantined at my house after CCG for a LONG time. We had him on super vitamins and anything I thought might be helpful or encourage him to eat. We had planted a new pasture last year in the spring and wanted to let it grow for a year. Well, when Chavez came home on June 23, we turned him out so if he was going to die, at least he would die happy, and I don't mean from colic or laminitis from the grass. I waited for almost a week to take him in to the vet. I wanted a hint of meat on his bones before they saw him.

I told the vet everything I knew and they checked him over and gave medications, ran tests and prescribed medications and supplements. He body scored 2 out of 10. All of his tests were fine except the ones showing nutrients/minerals/etc. He didn't have anything wrong beyond starvation. He had the strangles, but that was healing by the time I took him to the vet. It dried and scabbed within days of getting him out of that hellhole.

His was a very simple case. Feed him. He looked like a dull, lifeless coat of hair stretched over the skeleton of a horse. The vet said to let him eat whatever he wanted. That he probably wasn't fed AT ALL while he was with CCG. That trial is still going on, btw. She won't get much more than a slap on the wrist. The worst case scenarios for her means VERY little jail time and community service.

Are you bored yet?

So, he came home - again - and he gained weight very quickly. He was running and bucking within a couple of months and now he is fat and sassy. He will eat out of our hands and I can always catch him if I have a treat. He has been trimmed and vaccinated, most recently today. He got his Rabies and booster of ...something...and the vet commented on how much better he was. He moved a bit for the shots, but didn't careen into the fence trying to get away. Big improvement.

He licks my hands when I come to visit. If my back is to him, he'll come up and nuzzle my head and back, maybe nibble my hair or hat. He is extremely sweet and desperately wants to be affectionate. I don't think he knows how. He prefers to meet people over the back of another horse (usually the filly), but is the strongest, most athletic horse we have.

He is getting taller and wider and he let the vet pet him past his shoulder, which she was very impressed with. He wouldn't take a treat from her though, and Chavez NEVER turns down a treat, so he was definitely holding a grudge.

His name comes from Young Guns. My husband named him and wants Chavez to be his hunting buddy for the next 20 years. I think there is a very good possibility of that happening.

[tireddog]

Lisa, thank you for telling his story. I have no idea what he had been through. He IS a Spanish Mustang, through and through. I would just love to see he and Lola Mae play together ... what a pair they would make!

Thank you again for that huge heart God gave you. Thank you for listening and taking the path where you have been directed ...

[atticus]

I had no idea about Chavez story as well, thanks for telling it. He is such a beautiful boy!

[agilitygal]

Oh, my. He's in good hands now! He looks gorgeous, too! Love their intelligence and awareness.

[MustangAppy]

Sigh...I just love the Mustangs, can't help it. Could stare for hours....

[beckybee]

If I had such a incredibly beautiful horse I don't think I'd get anything done. I'd just stare at him all day! I'm bad enough with my two boys, who are, I believe, only significantly above average

[ljbrooks]

I have spent the last couple of afternoons with the youngsters, Chavez being among them, and I am so impressed with his willingness and intelligence. All you mustang people are going to say "I told you so", but it's true. He is so sharp! In a good way.

I have been doing some Clinton Anderson type desensitization with him and he is doing well. I have also been giving him some treats just so he doesn't always think he's working. So, now he's coming up to ME!! This is unreal. I know it's so basic and yet, with Chavez...the boy's had a hard life and he's not even three. I am so pleased with his progress.

This evening the whole family was outside. The kids were playing in the horse-free pasture and Adam and I went to pet the horses on the other side of the fence. Chavez was mauling us with love. Adam had his arms around his neck, scratching his ears, etc. We fed him treats too, but only after loving on him for quite awhile. He was licking us and nuzzling our heads and it was so cute and fun.

[ljbrooks]

I thought this was so cute that I had to take a picture. These are my youngsters. They all ate and then fell asleep in their breakfast. A la Mode is all but hidden in the back. Joan Jett, the Appy filly, is in front with her head up. Chavez is on the right, laying flat out. ;D

That's Gambler's rear off to the far right. He almost always stays standing and awake when the young ones are resting. He feels it's his job, I think.

[caryn]

LOL....full bellys and a sunny day make babies sleepy That is too cute!!!

[eirualaerdna]

wow, it's amazing how much he looks like Birdie. One of those pictures I would SWEAR was my horse. haha, he's so cute!

[ljbrooks]

You can't have him! He does look like Birdie though.

Chavez is getting braver all the time. He came up to Faith while she was eating a protein bar to see what she had.


"Whatcha got there?"


Can Faith pet his nose...?


Nope!

[oliveoil]

that is suck a cute picture with faith trying to pet him... good luck with him!

[atticus]

He is so funny!! I like that "nope" and he runs off.

[ljbrooks]

A couple new pictures of the boy. These were taken a couple of weeks ago, while playing with the other horses.

[ljbrooks]

Chavez is getting to be a hound for love. He is almost always the first one to meet me at the fence or gate. He gives up his spot to the older horses and sometimes the younger ones but is finding his way quite well. I was worried for awhile that he just wasn't going to fit into a herd situation, but something clicked a few months ago and he is getting along great, even with the ones that previously beat him up.

So, some new pictures.

My daughter, Faith, and Chavez, talking over the gate.


He's snuffling her here.


And, after opening the gate to "greener pastures", he galloped right through.

[nalasmom]

He is soo cute! Love Love Love the Forelock!! ;D

[ljbrooks]

I posted these on the general thread a couple of weeks ago and forgot to put them here. Chavez is here with the gal that has been working with him twice a week for about a month and a half. She is making great progress with him and hopes to at least sit on him by this fall. We are not rushing it and I really don't want him ridden much, but she is such a skinny little thing, I think it would be good for him to get used to some weight up there before we start riding him "for real" next year. I plan on ponying him this fall, but need to get him a little more predictable first.

He has had a saddle, sans stirrups, on since these pics, but I didn't get pictures of that. I'll work on that next week when she's here.

[gratefulknits]

I love that last picture! It looks like he's thinking "How cool am I, huh, how cool am I?"

[ljbrooks]

Not much to report on Chavez. He's hairy and chunky. He is in with June, A la Mode and the pony. He is the low man, but is standing his ground a bit longer than in the past. He isn't getting beat up, just letting the girls be in charge. Continuing to work on just affection and relationship with him. I haven't ponied him at all. I admit to being selfish and when I have a chance to get away, I just get on my horse and go...