Update on Colby's Excellent College Adventure
Monday, February 17, 2014
By: Deborah Kern

Colby is at Ohio's Findlay University

Colby is one of the many horses that received lifesaving care because of the HSHV Farm Animal Aid Fund (a fund only made possible because of generous people like you).  Colby has been with us for over a year.  There have been many inquiries but one issue prevents most people from adopting: he was never trained to be ridden.

Our Cruelty Investigators discovered the University of Findlay “Send A Horse to College” program and submitted Colby’s application. He was accepted and is now learning how to be properly ridden.  We thought you’d like to see this wonderful update written by his instructor.

It’s a very powerful example of how love and compassion can begin to heal the wounds left by pain and suffering.  

(LETTER FROM COLBY'S STUDENT INSTRUCTOR)

Hello Mr. Schaecher,

My name is Karis Frain and I am the student at the University of Findlay that is working with your horse, Colby, this semester. I'm sorry this message is late, I meant to update you at the end of January, but we had quite a few developments with Colby and I wanted to include them.

I am a senior in the Hunter/Jumper program, graduating in May, and Colby is one of my three horse assignments for this semester. When he came in his previous student assignment didn't feel she could put all the hours into working with a more unbroke horse like Cole so I volunteered, and I have fallen completely in love with him. 

I have had experience with young horses that had never been touched by friendly hands before, and my "specialty" is developing bonds with the horses. I didn't know much about Cole when I first took him on, but I had a feeling he could be a very nice horse. He was just nervous and untrusting, which I didn't blame him for with what little I knew of his past, and our school is quite big and busy which can be overwhelming. I spent a lot of time with him just standing in his stall watching him at first, then taking careful steps to get closer and get him used to being handled.

I have now been working with him three weeks to the day. In our first session we did a long free lunging session in the round pen, after which he began to respect me and now follows wherever I lead. Almost like a little puppy, Cole gets excited when he sees me pick up his halter. He's even willing to walk over flowerboxes and poles, through the plastic flaps on the big doorways (to help keep out cold) and even over a tiny crossrail. After several more sessions he has become quite used to me handling him, walking all around him and putting blankets on. I was happily surprised to find that Cole is quite a cuddly horse as well. He loves being scratched and even loves hugs now. It took a little time but he is very willing to greet my friends now and treats them similarly to how he responds to me. 

Sunday, Jan. 26th, was his first time with a saddle and bridle on, and the 27th, was the first time I got on him. Cole was fantastic for both.  I had spent plenty of time desensitizing him to me laying across his back when we were just hanging out in his stall, and then me standing on the mounting block. He didn't bat an eyelash. His first real ride didn't come until later, Jan. 31st. He was again fantastic. With all the work we did on leading he was very willing to follow an instructor while I was on him. He definitely needs some work with moving off the leg; I'm trying to be careful but he gets offended very easily with that. I have a feeling he might be a bucker until I can work that out of him at a later stage of his progression undersaddle. 

I'm sorry this message has gotten quite long, I am just so proud of Cole and his progress. I think over the next few months he will really develop into a nice horse. Thank you so much for sending him to the University's program, I have greatly enjoyed working with him.

Sincerely,
Karis Frain