I am new to the site. I was really relieved to see it and the posts here that sound just what like I am experiencing. Just last week I received my PMU gelding that I had been anxiously awaiting since December. I adopted "Charley" a 9 y.o. Clydesdale gelding, while he was still in Canada in November and he was picked up in December and taken to a trainer in Nebraska where he remained till March the 17th, when he was picked up by a transport company and brought to me here in Alabama. I had hoped that by sending him to a trainer beforehand that I would be able to handle him when he got here. Well, the transporter put him in a stall for me and it took me a over 24 hrs. to get the loose rope halter off him and another halter on him to turn him out in the pasture. I can't touch him. He puts his ears back and has swung his rear toward me several times and kicked. I am feeling overwhelmed and just don't know what to do. I have just recently began studying the Parelli techniques, so I am familiar with the level 1 seven games, but I don't know how to get started. I have sat in the round pen with him, and he just basically walked over once sniffed me and walked to the other side of the enclosure. If I attempt to clip a lead to his halter he tries to swing his hindquarters around to kicking range. I obviously do not have his permission to approach. What can I do? Anyone know of any trainers in the southeastern US that would be willing to work with us? I am going to read the "how to post a picture post" and try to get one of him posted. Anyways - new to this copmmunity. Hi There! Beverly.

I would start by calling the trainer. I assume you paid for the training services and get help on how to approach. Otherwise, just sitting in the pen for long periods of time, just being there without trying to touch him is a start.

I would agree with oteprocks. What did the trainers work on with him? Did they give you any kind of report on their progression? If they had him for three months what did they do?

As for Charley, just give him time. The more he sees you just sitting there ignoring him the more his curiosity will get the better of him.

Sitting in the area and letting him come to you is a good start. We hired a Parelli instructor, Christi Rains to work with Razza and within four hours we could touch her. Christi stood at Razza's withers, a good distance from her, facing Razza's rump. She slowly in a relaxed posture would reach her arm out and with the backside of her hand make small stroking motions. Anytime Razza looked nervous she would back away. Over time she kept going closer and closer. It was a lot of repetition in and out. Sometimes it looked like it was getting easier and then harder, but eventually she was able to touch her. After that we spent days going through the same deal, but each time it took less and less time, until we could walk right up to her. I'm glad we had professional help. I would encourage you to have help, but be careful, because we had one person that just made matters worse, and he meant well and was being gentle, just too demanding and expected her to respond faster. Razza is now a fantastic horse and we just had the ferrier out this week and she did great!
Best wishes, Jeannette

Beverly where is Alabama are you located? We live in Harpersville, outside of Birmingham. Please see my post about my mare won't let me near her. I am trying to locate a trainer near me but haven't found one yet. It seems some of them don't want to work with PMU or draft horses. I would like to keep in touch with you, perhaps we could exchange e-mail addresses and/or phone numbers.

Thanks to everyone for your replies and help. I have in fact tried to contact the trainer in Nebraska, but she has not returned my call. There were numerous geldings rescued at the time I adopted Charley; I am thinking that perhaps she just took on more than she could handle. Today, was actually a little better. After Charley finished eating, he flipped his bucket upside down. So, I went out with him and sat down on his food bucket. Well, this got me alot more attention than sitting with him in the round pen, I can tell you. He came right up to me like he just couldn't figure why I would be on his bucket. He really checked me out. He was snortin' and blowin' in my hair and on my neck, then he stood next to me with his ears FORWARD and let me touch his neck - albeit briefly. I just wish I could do something about his feet - they are horrible. And his legs are really itching him. The vet said I would need to shave off his feathers and clean with betadine or M-T-G. Ha! I haven't even been able to get fly wipe on him. Or touch his legs for that matter. Charley was pastured with 13 other Clyde geldings and he was the dominant horse when he was with him. I get the feeling that this is what he is trying to do with me. I know he is scared, but the way I see it, at this point I am the only other thing in the field with him (at this time), and he is working on some dominance issues with me, as well as being scared. Either that or my attempts at trying to interact with him have revealed me for the predator I am, hmmmm.......

Sounds like some progress! Eventually, he will trust you.

Finally, I got some info about what happened with the three months of training my Clyde Charley supposedly received. The trainer in NE it turns out was a very good scam artist. The rescue farm had recommended her for training purposes and everyone who adopted the Clyde geldings pretty much bought into it. The rescue farm as well. She had sent some of her own horses to this trainer. Anyways, all the lady did was basically put them in a pasture and give them hay. She did not train or handle them in anyway. She did not give them any vet care or have their feet looked after. As a matter of fact, it seems that she sold some of them and even told the lady from the rescue farm that one of her horses she had sent over had died. No one actually saw this happen it turns out, so now she is not sure what happened to her horse. Out of the 14 Clyde geldings that were rescued only 4 of them made it to their adopters. I believe some were sold and the others were just left abandoned at the farm. The rescue farm has now gone and re-rescued all the geldings, and no one knows where the supposed trainer has gone. I am trying to leave out actual names here, so hopefully innocent people will not get bad-mouthed as a result; ie: the rescue farm folks. Now realizing that I entered a stall with a horse - a very large horse - that has basically had very little human contact; kinda just turns my legs to jelly, you know. Update on my progress with him. After being turned down by NH horse trainer that stated 1)My horse had been too wild for too long, and 2) He was showing stallion like behavior - perhaps he had been "proud cut" and I nor anyone else should work with him till he had been vet tested - I think I got kinda mad. Here, I have paid for training I didn't get, and being told I need to get blood drawn from a horse I can't touch for a test. Shew!!! OK, so I set up my video camera on a tripod, and put him and myself in the round pen and attempted a little training myself. I think we actually made a little progress. He didn't act crazy, or dangerous. He never actually gave me his full attention, but I know he is well worth continuing to work with. The things some people will do for money - it just makes me sick.

OMG! Unfortunately, I am not surprised. I certainly hope this person can be tracked down and made to pay for the scams -- basically stealing from you and others. The Parelli method is a really good method. I have started working on the 7 games with one of my horses and she is responding like a dream. Training is expensive, but if you could swing a couple sessions with a Parelli trainer that would give you a really good start. They also have home programs that you can purchase and do on your own.

I am so sorry you got scammed and I hope everything turns out okay for you.

Beverly,

My name is Theresa and I am so glad I did a search on Horse Training Scam in NE!!!!

I have Ronan, who was in the same group as Charley!!! Matter of fact I had narrowed it down to Charley and Ro when I chose!

I have had Ronan since 2/23/06. Lexi's scam (I can use the name it was phoney anyways) almost got my hauler injured and cost me over 600 in additional vet bills. Ronan broke out of the trailer at a water stop in Iowa and was running loose for 4 days. Had to have him tranq darted and reloaded and then have my vet here to cut out the darts upon arrival! I did speak to her for several days after he got here and she kept telling me some "hints" at how she got him to behave so well. Like you I'm glad I had enough sense to back off or I could have been hurt badly.

I have really started having some great success with him. I started in the round pen by getting him to turn intowards me to change directions. Then I'd walk away. Each day I did a little more and now I can put a neck rope on him, lead him and groom him.

He is like Charley, no obvious agression and will do anything and everything to avoid bumping me if he turns to flee. Now that I can approach him from the sides and the front, life is getting better each day. He will start to paw when I approach from straight on but I think it's just a sign to let me know I'm at the edge of his comfort zone. Tons of approach and retreat, leave before he moves and then go back.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I'm so glad to hear he is safe with you and I bet your glad to hear it's not hopeless! Don't listen to what any trainer says, I have a 22 year old pmu mare that now lets me catch her groom her and give her her weekly shot of glucosomine...they are never too old.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Theresa

Theresa,
It is good to hear from someone else who adopted one of these geldings, and is having some success. That is some story about him getting loose for 4 days, and I thought my experience trying to get a halter on Charley was bad! I could tell that the transport folks who brought Charley were very worried about unloading him. It just gets me mad all over again thinking about all the people Lexi put in danger with her scam! Charley and I are still not really connecting. I just don't know enough about working with horses, and can't find anybody willing to work with us. I can't even find a farrier in the area willing to trim his feet while the vet gives him a sedative. Everyone is concerned about his extra large size - and I don't blame them; I just feel bad for Charley. It's funny that you were looking at Charley, because Ronan was my first pick and I was told he had been adopted. He is a fine looking fellow. How long did it take before you were able to actually groom Ronan? At this point, I just feel like I will never get there. When I do get the chance to touch Charley, he does some major "skin shaking" like I am a big ole fly. He is always interested in me though. While I worked to make my round pen a little bigger (added several extra panels), he stood close by me. He just dosen't like it and will usually put his ears back, if I try to touch him. I'm going to keep up the round pen work, and do the approach and retreat as you suggested. Again, I am glad to hear of your success with Ronan. It does give me hope, and it is good to know that at least some of these geldings have found their way to good homes.

I CAN DO IT!!!

Bev

Theresa is on my yahoo rescue group and what a story about the scam artist. That is aweful. I am new to the board. My name is Traci and I own a PMU mare that I adopted from UPF 2 years ago. I would post a pic of the two of us however this whole picture posting thing is confusing to me. If anyone wants to see pics of us let me know and I can email them privately.

Traci

Beverly, in March my two new 11 month old darlings were delivered. TAKE YOUR TIME! I know there is the necessity for caring for them and the overwhelming motherly urge to touch and love on them, but If you give it one month of just minimal contact to the point he will allow it, and don't push it, he will come to you when he is ready emotionally for you to "be with him" both my fillies had a rough start here, and turned tail on me anytime I went near them, but after about three weeks, they made the decision I wasn't going to hurt them and now they come running when I go out to the pasture for a little loving. I tried to start with Parelli seven games myself and was butting my head against the wall, because if a horse turns his butt to you it is a huge sign of disrespect- I went against all the things I had read regarding horse behavior and just did what I thought a mom would do for a toddler and my girls are now officially yearlings and love to be groomed, touched, led, etc... just because I didn't rush them, I don't know what horrible things they suffered on the way to the kill pens and they had a general distrust of humans. I won't say take your time with him, but I will say take HIS time with him. Julie