"Patience pays off!  I just got back from an 11 mile ride on a really special horse that I bought from Dreamcatcher Horse Rescue in Colorado a year and a half ago.  He is a pure Polish arabian that arrived at the rescue 2 years earlier, still a stallion, poorly halter trained and in retrospect, probably abused at some level although he was physically in good shape.

I was not looking for a horse, I was taking someone else to find a horse.  But when I saw his conformation and mountain climbing butt, I couldn't leave him there!  Our training would progress in spurts and also lots of backtracking as I found and tried to fill holes.

Bahzra would follow me anywhere, but would still tuck his butt in fear that I would smack him with his own tail!  We worked through a lot, but he is a very broad and strong horse and willful enough to win if I picked the wrong fight.

I didn't want to lose the wrong fight, so I had Brian put a month on him.  He started with the basics of ground driving and despooking and soon had him moving well in all gaits and going out on the trail.  The first trail ride was a long walk at 105 degrees (I got heat rash), but saw that Bahz was very steady minded.  Brian's second trail ride on Bahz was out in oil fields with cows and rocky canyons at our training pace where the footing allowed.

Part of the reason Brian does so well with such a wide range of horse breeds, temperaments and disciplines is his balanced seat and soft hands - it's really enjoyable to watch Brian ride any horse!

Now I'm continuing and the horse is amazing!  He goes out alone, hardly spooks and his second encounter of the cow kind was a total non event!  Bahz is very steady in varying terrain, listens for minute cues to move in and out of ruts and has a great canter.  Step 1 of our Tevis training plan - check!"

November 2010 update - Bahzra has now done 4 Limited Distance rides (25 and 30 miles) and 2 50 mile endurance rides.  He has been amazing!  He loves working and has a great attitude.  Step 2 of our Tevis training plan - done!
Marlene Moss