Taming a rescue Arab! HELP!

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lizzylouise

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I've had my seven year old, rescue arab a week tonight. Previously his experience of humans revolves around sugar beet for the last six months and before that NOTHING; the lady who rescued him from armpit high mud couldn't touch him or was too scared to be boss.
The farrier made his first visit today and I don't think he will be back. A week in and he is wearing a headcollar and lets me scratch down to his shoulder at the front and rub a stick down his legs. We managed to get his horrendous hooves trimmed at the front but no where near the back. Am I rushing him???? I think he is reacting perfectly normally for a horse who doesn't know what is happening but my farrier reckons he is dangerous. He has joined up with me and my son but EVERYTHING IS ALIEN TO HIM SO FAR. Any words of wisdom??? He has six months to show he has potential as at worst a companion and at best a riding horse. Plus he has sarcoids (not many and mangeable and a small cataract).
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ahh poor man obviously isnt understanding things due to background...time and patience he will no doubt come through small steps small steps....how is he to groom, head, tail end that kind of thing?
I had an arab mare at 5yro in foal too at the time she was basically wild...but with the love and fuss I got close enough to her, and was able to slowly pick her feet up - this had never been done to her before i got her i spent alot of time talking to her grooming her although she hated being groomed at first but again she came round, i changed her name too - i know bad luck but she responded better to this new name and it suited her....she was a chestnut arabb mare with 4 white sox and was an absolute beaut...loved her to bits but the owner took her back from me...and she had a beautiful paly foal....and arab mare is now with a man that truely adores her.
it can happen it just takes time thats all...i really wish you all the luck in the world.with him
 
I think it sounds like you are making progress, just keep it up slow and steady. Maybe a bit of sedation would enable his back feet to be done so he can be more comfortable and then you can work on touching his legs each day and slowly build up for the next time farrier is required. Has the vet seen his eye/ sarcoids i take it? If vet was happy with them then i would just take things steady and he will come round to you in (lots) of time.
 
I know!I loved those books! Still have a Devil to Ride! He is so beautiful, I know he is my Shantih - teenage girls do not know what they are m issing.
 
Got the vet over first day - I wanted to know if I was insane or just mad - mad was the answer but, he has potential. He had 6 ACPS and 5 ml of sedalin and was still able to fight or flight (even if he was yawning). I suppose that is arabs for you. Thank you so much, I know time is all he needs, I just need some reassurance. At 35, mother, rat race escapee and divorced you tend to doubt yourself a lot! LOL
 
Ah, well then your only option is lots of time, love and maybe some form of tasty bribery. I loved those books too!!! I think i gave them away years ago but am regretting it now. Will have to have a route around in parents loft.

Now for the next important matter- we need piccies! Is he chestnut? Arabs are the best, and chestnut ones especially!
 
Oh yes! Chestnut, white blaze and socks just got to work out how to post photies. You guys are amazing (too much time in California doing aromatherpay on race hoses)! Thanks you so much for your support! Our yard is feeling like a rescue home, laminitic shetland, wild arab, TB with broken pelvis. Bring back Jinny - not available any more - I think we maY START A REVIVAL! But they were in Scotland........
 
You mention Join Up, have you thought about getting a bit of help from an Intelligent Horsemanship associate?
Not only photos, we need bloodlines as well.
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Give him time he may take a bit longer as if he has a cataract he may be more spooky on that side. Arabs bond really well so what you put into him he will repay you two fold...take things slowly and be firm but fair with him which it sounds like you are doing, by the time the farrier is due again he will be more settled and easier to handle good luck with him and dont forget the photos
 
Absolutely, looking forward to YHL at Stoneleigh and Witney is half an hour away. Would like to do it all myself but prepared to make him a "student" there if necessary.
 
Firstly well done you for giving him a home. I've got five arabs and another one on the way (mare in foal) so you could say I'm a fan of the breed.

You sound like you're doing everything right and making progress already. Can't believe your farrier called him dangerous... not very understanding. As long as the feet aren't so bad they're causing him pain I'd leave them be until you can pick up his feet safely. Arabs are so bright and human friendly it shouldn't take too long. Arabs want to bond with human beings, it's been bred into them over centuries of living in tents with their Bedouin owners. All mine love people and are incredibly polite and easy to handle - everyone comments on how easy they are... the usual comment is 'I can't believe they're arabs'. The common misconception is that arabs are hot and flighty and difficult to handle. You have to handle them with sensitivity and respect but unlike other breeds they tend not to barge, kick or bully you. Even if they're spooked they'll do their utmost to avoid crashing into you.

Whereabouts are you? Post some photos when you can and keep us up to date on progress. You might also want to visit the arabianlines forum - a mecca for arab fans and always full of helpful advice.
 
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Can anyone tell me how to upload piccies?
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Best way is to get a photobucket account and then upload them onto there (it's really easy- photobucket basically talks you through it) And then copy the IMG code under the uploaded pictures.

Look forwards to seeing them, he sounds lovely.
 
I've never seen a horse with kinder eyes. The moment I met him and he sniffed me all over I knew he was to be with me. I've ridden arabs before and I've always been told I have an affinity with them- saracen bride dragged back to Britain in the crusades according to my ancestry. Thank you everybody for your support! Northamptonshire but near Banbury. x Rafferty doesn't have a bad bone in his body, he just reacts as any wild horse would do but he loves me from the moment I met him x
 
Lovely looking boy....

Time, patience and consistent handling will win the day...arabs need the reassurance that comes from a calm confident handler...

The bond you will get with your lad will be second to none.

Good luck...keep us informed
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Hi lizzylouise,
Firstly I will ditto what Gedenskis Girl has already said.

Time. Patience. No rushing things. It doesn't sound like you are rushing things anyway, but as has been said above, the back feet can wait - it's better that way then making it an even more traumatic experience for him by trying to do it now.

Anyway, just had a quick look at the piccy of his feet in your photobucket and tbh, once that toe has eventually been trimmed off, I think he's got the makings of quite a reasonable pair of feet under all that!

The horse sounds like he is scared and nervous rather than dangerous. Yes, there are genuinely dangerous horses, but it sounds to me as if your farrier may well be another person holding the unfortunately all too common misconception that Arabs are loopy. I've got 3 purebreds and one Anglo and am constantly coming up with the same attitude from others, which I've learnt just to ignore.

On that note, my EDT who I've been using for a good number of years now - when I used him for the very first time he turned up at my place, saw the horses and said "oh God, I hate Arabs". After that first visit he walked away having told me that having treated my horses, he'd revised his opinion of the breed entirely, and they were nothing like the nutty Arabs he'd believed them to be, and he constantly reminds me on each subsequent visit of how my horses transformed his opinion of the breed for the better!

Anyway, good luck with your boy. I'm so pleased that his luck's in and he's found a good home.
 
Thank you so much for the reassurance. He has done really well today and I managed to lunge him for 5 minutes AM and PM and stroke all four legs with the lunge whip - fronts fine, backs still kicking out but not at me just normal reaction. Thank you!
 
Hi! Thank you so much. My farrier did say all Arabs were nutty - maybe they are more intelligent therefore more of a challenge! I hope I do him proud! Cheers. Liz
 
Once you have earned an Arabs trust you have it for life, but its bloody hard work getting it! Just take it nice and slow and Im sure he will be fine. I think you should get a more understanding farrier though. We had a little Arab colt at work that was a little sod with his feet (got 2 farriers+me on the floor once) but with lots of practice with me, and an amazingly patient farrier who would come and see him every week for cuddles +to stroke his legs/pick up feet withouth trimming for months he is now perfect. Only that one farrier can do him though-any of the others try and he shoots to the back of the stable shaking (typical Arab). And no you cant have my farrier hes perfect
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