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• Standing to Mount: A, steps up nicely, doesn't move as rider mounts and gets stirrups;
• Standing to Dismount: B, is still slightly unsure as rider's weight shifts to dismount. Doesn't move, but searches for her balance.
• Walking under saddle, B. Still needs some encouragement at times to keep walking.
• Steering at a walk, B. Most of the time, she steers smoothly and easily -- note figure 8s and other figures on video 2, above. Occasionally drifts wide or needs a tug to remind her to turn when asked or to go straight.
• Trotting under saddle, C-. Taylor has only trotted twice under saddle as of 7/1/10, and while her balance is surprisingly good and her steering is also surprisingly good, she needs significant encouragement to get going and more to keep going. She also needs to make wide, sweeping corners yet at the trot, as is perfectly normal for her current experience level.
• Canter under saddle, NA. We will not do so for likely 10-15 rides.
• Riding outdoors, NA. We will not do so until she is very comfortable under saddle, inside.
• Backing under saddle, NA. We have not yet asked Taylor to back while ridden.

Overview: Taylor was badly abused -- details below. She was signed over to the county, who released her to a private rescue in the area who sent her to us. Taylor's weight recovery was easy, and she has obviously always been an easy keeper. She had mild damage in the foreleg and one hoof, from trying to paw through the dog cable to free herself. Her leg healed well, and the hoof was x-rayed and pronounced healthy without future concerns!

Spring 2010: Taylor is sound and has finished pre- riding training; she had her first ride on 4/30/10. She's looking for a great forever home!!

HISTORY: 

(click to see this and other photos of her progression)

Pre- Arrival: In November 2008, Taylor was the focus of an alleged animal abuse case in northern Indiana. Taylor had been tied to a tree and was in very poor condition when the county arrived. Her body condition was a 2 on the Henke scale (0=dead; 5/6 = normal/healthy), and she was severely dehydrated. (She gained 40 lbs, primarily water weight, during her 4-day stay at Purdue.) Her weight at time of pickup was 750 lbs; her estimated ideal weight is approximately 1000-1200.

The vet describes her as "emaciated. Slight fat covers base of spinous processes, transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae do not feel rounded. Spinus processes, ribs, tailhead, hip joints and lower pelvic bones are prominent. Withers shoulders and neck structure faintly discernable...A mild, holosystolic heart murmur ...unknown whether the [murmur] has clinical relevance....[may] self correct once the horse's body condition is improved....poor hair coat, elongated dry with moderate dandruff...typical of an underconditioned, poor nutrition horse..."

The owner signed over ownership of the mare to the county, apparently in an attempt to avoid prosecution on the neglect charges. As we understand it, he was on probation for child neglect type charges and so had violated his probation and will be returning to jail. We believe the neglect/cruelty charges will also be pursued.

On Arrival: Taylor arrived on 12/14/08, with her leg wound in exceptionally good shape, but needing regular bandaging/monitoring, daily hand walking, and careful treatment of the injury for some time. Her body weight is now roughly 825-850 lbs, with at least 200 lbs of weight yet to be regained. Time will tell if the heart murmur is clinical or simply a symptom of such severe starvation.

She is quiet, and a little timid with people, but quickly responds to a gentle hand. Dr. King will have his first visit and care for her injuries and weight on 12/17/08, and we will hopefully get to determine if chiropractic care will also be needed (likely) to help her body recover from such neglect.

Taylor is extremely lucky to have a long winter coat which helps to keep her warm and avoided her wasting away still further. It also hides just how bad her physical condition is quite well. Only visiting up close will you realize that you can see and count every rib, that her hips jut out unnaturally, that there is NO fat padding her spine at all...the vet's description above covers her condition quite clearly. In layman's terms, while not a 'walking skeleton', Taylor was bony in all the wrong places and severely dehydrated and starved.

1/21/09:

She is now current on all her shots, and Dr Dan King has given her approval to begin light work and to go out into the main pasture with the rest of the herd. Taylor could not have been happier at that suggestion, and immediately hurried out the gate and made friends with Tessa.

She is a sweet little mare. She is quick to come to the gate for meals, waits patiently outside the barn to be put in a stall to eat, and enjoys grooming and attention. She is still cautious about her hind legs, but has made significant improvement. She now allows her front hooves to be cleaned and farrier work with ease.