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The family who donated Caydee and Nico met them both in very poor conditions, and purchased them to save them from abuse and the threat of 'killing these useless animals'. They did their best to care for the 2 of them, despite limited horse experience. Then, human health issues intervened, and she could no longer provide for them. They donated them both to CWER, with hopes we can put their lives on the right track and give them meaningful futures as more than just lawn ornaments.

Nico arrived seeming fit and in good health, simply in need of some basic medical updates and needing significant farrier care. Despite the abuse, on arrival Nico seems level headed and managable.  Her abuse-based fears continue to show, however, relating to handling her hooves, even through several months of "take your time" careful work with her.

Sadly, despite 25 months of work, we had not been able to bring Nico riding sound. Her hooves were a nightmare when she arrived and she was VERY fearful of having them handled. By summer of 2009, she would allow basic trims on her front hooves, but could not use the stand and remained panicked about handling her hinds.  In Dec 2009, we were able to build a set of farrier stocks, primarily to help the big draft, Valiant, get through treatment for a very bad abscess. In the mean time, Nico learned to use the stocks, and received her first 'full' trim! AND CAME OUT OF IT SOUND!! Continuing forward, in January 2010 Nico RODE!! (details below)

Nico has been badly abused in her past, and requires intermediate and above level handlers. She is not trusting enough to be managed by beginner horse people. Nico now rides very nicely indoors, and in April 2010 was very successful in her first outdoor ride including a canter (video below). She would likely do very well as a trail mount and non-show arena work mount.

History:  

She needs significant farrier care, but otherwise, Nico seems healthy and fit. Her hooves are in very poor condition -- we cannot tell yet if they are just severely overgrown and split, or if she has foundered at some time in her life. In the next several weeks, we hope to get her trimmed and determine the status of her hooves, earn her confidence, and start basic ground training with riding training on her schedule once we're sure we understand her history, the triggers that cause her to rear, and that she tells us she is ready.

March 08: We believe the info we were given previously was confused. Nico is clearly the abuse case, although not nearly so bad as many we've met. She remains defensive and ready to use either flight or fight to protect herself, but she is making good progress. She comes to and from the barn with ease now, and is no longer attached to Caydee at all.

She still makes 'angry faces' when you bring her feed, but will step away from her tub and allow you to feed her respectfully. Most of the rest of the time, her ears are forward and she finds our human world interesting. We have done only minor work on her feet thus far, and will keep taking small steps forward with this formerly abused beautiful little mare.

Summer 08: Nico rushed into a partially opened stall, thinking another horse was going to bite her. She caught her side on the door latch and gashed into the muscle bank. We had to rush her to Dr King's office on a Sunday morning, sedate, clean and stitch both muscle and skin layer. She is healing nicely and has been very good about allowing us to treat her injury. It will likely be 60 days or more before we could consider even an untightened saddle on this little girl due to her new injury. She was surprisingly well behaved for her medical care, including injections and suture removal.

• is easily groomed and saddled/bridled, either tied or free within the arena;
• stands calmly to mount on a loose rein;
• remains standing until asked to walk forward;
• rides walk and trot, both directions with "normal" contact on her bit like a hunter under saddle english horse;
• rides walk and trot, both directions, on a very loose rein (holding only the buckle);
• halts easily with soft rein pressure;
• halts easily with no rein whatsoever -- simply the word "whoa" and a shift back of her rider's weight;
• trots easily over a ground rail;
• works figure 8s at walk and trot;
• stands calmly for long periods of time without fidgetting;
• stands calmly to be dismounted and remounted;
• is easily unsaddled and unbridled, with her head lowered to remove her bridle;
• is beginning to bend and leg yield to leg pressure.

GRAIN: thank you Elaine for sponsoring her Dec 09 through March 2010! Her feed costs are $35/month.

MED: She also needs a medical sponsor. 

Nico/Caydee's former Aunt generously donated the $150 it cost us to transport these two girls home.

Nico injured herself seriously trying to rush through a partially opened stall door Summer 2008, and had to have internal and external stitches, at a total cost of just under $300 plus gas to rush her over an hour each way to the Vet on a Sunday morning. At another point, we had to mildly sedate Nico to do some urgent trim work on one hoof, costing $75. She was unpredictable and scared, so only the most minimal work was done at that time. These expenses are in addition to the normal cost of annual coggins tests, vaccinations, dental check-ups, etc.

Your help with these expenses means the world to us. Even if you cannot be a permanent med sponsor for Nico, please consider making a one-time donation to help us to help these horses.