Rosie

3/17/12 Update:

Rosie continues to improve. We have had to do a lot with Mea Ola the last couple of weeks and even the vets noticed that Rosie wasn’t screaming and trying to kill herself when she couldn’t see Mea Ola! We started lounging her and she is very good. She is still nervous and a tad untrusting, but we are moving forward. She has taken a liking to Lawrence, one of our volunteers. He grooms her and spends time with her every time he comes over to help. She also has been pacing when she wants our attention which is something she didn’t do until about a week ago. When she is turned out and she sees outside, she comes to the fence and will pace back and forth for attention!

2/6/12 Update:

Rosie is doing quite well. She is comfortable with Mea Ola in her foaling stall all night, out of sight. She enjoys attention so much and is the perfect angel when asked to do anything except be away from Mea Ola. She was a gem for the Girl Scouts.

Rosie needs a special person. If there is anyone who might be interested in having a loyal, best friend, please get in touch with me. She is the type of horse that will bond tightly with a person and I think this will help to get her separated from Mea Ola. Rosie does not need to make a bond and have it broken again. She is a “special” horse. I have seen this before in dealing with Arabs in the past. There were some, not all of course, that were a “one person horse” and Rosie is one of those. She needs an experienced, patient person. She is approximately 17 years old and still has a lot of life left. We have saddled her and bridled her, but not ridden her yet. I am sure she is broke, but would still be too difficult to ride away from Mea Ola. This process is going to take some time and I firmly believe that, with the right person, we can give Rosie a chance for a great and useful life.

1/26/12 Update:

Well, Rosie is making some progress but this is going to be a difficult task when it comes to her being out of Mea Ola’s reach. I tried turning her out in a big turn-out across the yard from Mea Ola, but had to retrieve her after about 2 minutes because she had already worked herself up into a drenching sweat and was shaking all over! She has settled with the fact that she can no longer see Mea Ola when she is in her foaling stall, but one step at a time. Rosie is the sweetest thing and loves to be groomed. She especially enjoys a butt scratching. I was impressed that she was relaxed when I took her for a walk away from Mea Ola this week, but I can not leave her alone if she is away from Mea Ola yet.

1/16/12 Update: 

Rosie is making exceptional progress. Our biggest challenge is to get her to relax when she cannot see Mea Ola. I put my gelding, Romeo, next to her and this has helped, as they have become friends. We lavish her with attention and take her away from Mea Ola for very short periods. This seems to be helping. Also now that Mea Ola’s foaling stall is almost complete, Rosie cannot see her if Mea Ola is in her stall. At first, Rosie was very upset. She has now relaxed and it is at peace when she can not see Mea Ola in the stall. Today, I took Rosie out first to her turn out. It was the first time she has not called to Mea Ola while being away from her. Good job Rosie!

Rosie is a 17-year-old chestnut Arabian mare.  Rosie and Mea Ola were rescued together and, at that time, there were six horses in one corral.  Rosie has self-appointed herself protector of Mea Ola, possible because of Mea Ola’s lameness.  Rosie will not eat in order to keep other horses away from Mea Ola when she is feeding.  If another horse is nearby Rosie will put herself between the other horse and Mea Ola, flattens her ears, teeth bared and feet flying!

Rosie, however, loves attention (so long as she can see Mea Ola!).  They are in pens next to each other.  It is hoped that after Mea Ola foals, and perhaps her severe soreness abates, the two mares can be successfully separated.