Gypsy

[This is a horse being fostered by the Severi family]

Update: 4/3/12

Miss Gypsy is just hanging out. She has learned to be a little more dominant, thanks to my quarter mare, Melody. Gypsy has been on a workout schedule, and is now losing her belly and toning out. She still won’t really come to you, but is comfortable around kids.

Update:  3/16/12

What another great week for Gypsy Mare. I brought my friend Tami over to shake things up a bit for Gypsy. Gypsy allowed Tami to brush her, hand feed her, and love on her, and do a little bit of basic training. I was able to pick up each of Gypsy’s feet with a little struggle in her rear but accomplished it. We were finally able to get Gypsy’s hoofs trimmed! Gypsy has accomplished not being to afraid of you being near her rear. Gypsy has found a friend and is bonding with Snowflake & Tami.

Update: 2/27/12

Today, Gypsy got her first bath! Thank you to Tami Palladino who washed her, brushed her out, braided her tail and helped put on a sheet. I am sure today was her first experience eating an apple. She loved it! We also had our first experience putting on a blanket. She didn’t do too bad. She didn’t like the idea that something was touching her bottom. Gypsy is the softest horse I have on this property. I wish I could bring her in the house and pet her all night. She is softer then a plush blanket!

Gypsy was one of 6 horses seized from a field in Bakersfield. She was found knee deep in mud with her filly foal. Her hoofs were overgrown and curled up. She was underweight, run down and very, very afraid of humans.

Prior to Marley’s Mutts taking her, her filly foal was adopted out from Bakersfield Pound. Gypsy remained at Bakersfield Pound with 6 other mares, auction-bound. Once she was taken home with me on 01/17/12, she ran from me, scarfed down food like she had never seen it before, didn’t know what grains were, and hid in a corner and would not make eye contact.

Every day I have split up hours throughout the day talking to Gypsy, standing in her stall, trying to gain her trust. She would not allow me to halter her, touch her, or get closer than two feet.

The second day she was here, the vet, Dr. Nelson, came to do a well check on Gypsy. She found Gypsy to be around the age of 18-20 years, malnourished, sand in her gut, needed her teeth floated, wormed, and vaccinated. She stands about 15.5 hands tall, and looks to be a gypsy cross/paint.

A week and a half later, I have finally gained her trust to let me touch her, and groom her body. Trying to put a halter on her is still very difficult but once it’s on her, she is fine. She does not have any training, is not broke, and is very scared.

Every time Gypsy sees me now, she calls for me until I go up and talk to her. She loves her grains. She is like a child who never got to enjoy life. Now it’s her time. She is great with my kids and enjoys the company of my other horses.