Exxcel WLF "Mr. Ex/Extra"
It is unsure at this time if Mr. Ex will be able to be re-sold in the future. It can definitely take anywhere from a few months to years if ever for me to trust this horse with someone else. If he can't eventually be ridden under saddle in a safe manner, my next plan will be to try to get him into driving as he is too young and beautiful to be thrown away! I am taking as much time as I feel necessary with working him and will do the best I can to turn this horse's life around and find him a job whether that is with me or someone else down the road. You're more than welcome to follow his journey or keep tabs on him just in case! :) Follow him here or follow us on Facebook!
Summary of Mr. Extra's story:
I bought Ex out of Ryon's Rescue Pen November 2022. He was everything I was looking for in a project for a future Endurance prospect. Then he developed the kill pen crud which put off most of our training until he was 100% better. I found out shortly after who he was and that he wasn't supposed to be re-listed for sale in the kill pen, he was meant to be shipped only. It is by chance I was able to get my hands on him, but it was apparently meant to happen. Mr. Ex was said to have a bucking problem, that he broncs like a rodeo, is claimed to be dangerous, defensive, and unpredictable. It was also said he has already had a year's worth of training put into him. So far it's also known he's been raised and trained for halter, loads in the trailer, picks up his feet, and ties.
The first couple months were quite a challenge with him here. He will lunge into gates if you throw food into his pen (no matter how gently, if it drops hard enough he's flying elsewhere in some direction), the wind blows wrong, you fill up his water bucket, you walk up to put a halter on him and he acts like you're going to beat him, runs away if he sees you have the halter, if you go to put said halter on him and move too quick he bolts sideways, etc. Total genuine fear anytime he is uncomfortable or unfamiliar with something which results in huge reactions when he acts out. But so far I haven't witnessed anything out of the normal for a horse with lack of training in certain areas. I decided to start out with trying to teach him a trick during quarantine that would hopefully help with a start to building trust and a connection. This boy learned how to say "yes" in less than 5 minutes! He took that and ran with it and is very animated. His favorite thing to do so far :) He is very intelligent.
Where we're at right now (1/28/2023).
After working with him for a couple months he has progressed a TON. When I tell you this is the sweetest boy! He is so gentle and those huge eyes of his will steal your heart. He trusts me as much as he can so far and it is helping him progress quicker by the day. I've started him first on desensitization which took some coaxing into, the first week was rough. The second week he finally was catching on that it wasn't going to eat him. I introduced stepping up onto a feed bag which is one of my many tricks for trust building. I have no expectations I'm holding him to right now. He is slowly retaining his training but I won't push. I always say a horse needs more positive experiences than negative to overcome a fear or something traumatic and sometimes we don't know how many that is or will be. Once he is 100% comfortable with everything he is learning as far as desensitization goes, I wholeheartedly believe he won't be the same horse after it. Every training session he has had progressed and he's became more willing than the last. Videos are below of the description with the day! I may be delayed with posting videos as I only have my phone to video with at the moment and it dies on me if it's too cold so I'm depending on good weather to film!
I bought Ex out of Ryon's Rescue Pen November 2022. He was everything I was looking for in a project for a future Endurance prospect. Then he developed the kill pen crud which put off most of our training until he was 100% better. I found out shortly after who he was and that he wasn't supposed to be re-listed for sale in the kill pen, he was meant to be shipped only. It is by chance I was able to get my hands on him, but it was apparently meant to happen. Mr. Ex was said to have a bucking problem, that he broncs like a rodeo, is claimed to be dangerous, defensive, and unpredictable. It was also said he has already had a year's worth of training put into him. So far it's also known he's been raised and trained for halter, loads in the trailer, picks up his feet, and ties.
The first couple months were quite a challenge with him here. He will lunge into gates if you throw food into his pen (no matter how gently, if it drops hard enough he's flying elsewhere in some direction), the wind blows wrong, you fill up his water bucket, you walk up to put a halter on him and he acts like you're going to beat him, runs away if he sees you have the halter, if you go to put said halter on him and move too quick he bolts sideways, etc. Total genuine fear anytime he is uncomfortable or unfamiliar with something which results in huge reactions when he acts out. But so far I haven't witnessed anything out of the normal for a horse with lack of training in certain areas. I decided to start out with trying to teach him a trick during quarantine that would hopefully help with a start to building trust and a connection. This boy learned how to say "yes" in less than 5 minutes! He took that and ran with it and is very animated. His favorite thing to do so far :) He is very intelligent.
Where we're at right now (1/28/2023).
After working with him for a couple months he has progressed a TON. When I tell you this is the sweetest boy! He is so gentle and those huge eyes of his will steal your heart. He trusts me as much as he can so far and it is helping him progress quicker by the day. I've started him first on desensitization which took some coaxing into, the first week was rough. The second week he finally was catching on that it wasn't going to eat him. I introduced stepping up onto a feed bag which is one of my many tricks for trust building. I have no expectations I'm holding him to right now. He is slowly retaining his training but I won't push. I always say a horse needs more positive experiences than negative to overcome a fear or something traumatic and sometimes we don't know how many that is or will be. Once he is 100% comfortable with everything he is learning as far as desensitization goes, I wholeheartedly believe he won't be the same horse after it. Every training session he has had progressed and he's became more willing than the last. Videos are below of the description with the day! I may be delayed with posting videos as I only have my phone to video with at the moment and it dies on me if it's too cold so I'm depending on good weather to film!
(12/01/2022)
First real "training" session I've had with Mr. Ex since he's been in quarantine. He's finally starting to get over the kill pen crud. Quite the intelligent boy he is. Had him learning how to "say yes" in less then 5 minutes. Could use some work on personal space, but I'll take it. This will probably be his favorite thing to do until I teach him a new trick as that is always how it goes. Going to start with Liberty work and tricks on the ground first and see where that gets me. He reminds me a lot of my first Arabian horse I taught a ton of tricks to. Very aware and focused on everything to do with me. He is quite spooky and distrusting at the moment but that will change with time.
First real "training" session I've had with Mr. Ex since he's been in quarantine. He's finally starting to get over the kill pen crud. Quite the intelligent boy he is. Had him learning how to "say yes" in less then 5 minutes. Could use some work on personal space, but I'll take it. This will probably be his favorite thing to do until I teach him a new trick as that is always how it goes. Going to start with Liberty work and tricks on the ground first and see where that gets me. He reminds me a lot of my first Arabian horse I taught a ton of tricks to. Very aware and focused on everything to do with me. He is quite spooky and distrusting at the moment but that will change with time.
(12/28/2022)
His first day under saddle (for me). He was nervous and wide eyed throughout being saddled but we didn't run into any blow ups or bucking fits. I don't usually slap a saddle on, on the first day of training but since it was said he's already got a years worth of work into him, I at least wanted to see where he was at. He will need a lot of desensitization and trust building that I plan on doing yet as he is a very spooky boy. Can't even throw hay in his pen without him ramming himself into the gates. But this went pretty well for what I was expecting
If you'd like to continue to watch or follow his progress I'll mostly be posting him on my page here so far and I'll try to post as much as possible as his training continues. As of now, I have no plans of selling him UNLESS he gets to the point where I know he can be safely ridden by other people.
His first day under saddle (for me). He was nervous and wide eyed throughout being saddled but we didn't run into any blow ups or bucking fits. I don't usually slap a saddle on, on the first day of training but since it was said he's already got a years worth of work into him, I at least wanted to see where he was at. He will need a lot of desensitization and trust building that I plan on doing yet as he is a very spooky boy. Can't even throw hay in his pen without him ramming himself into the gates. But this went pretty well for what I was expecting
If you'd like to continue to watch or follow his progress I'll mostly be posting him on my page here so far and I'll try to post as much as possible as his training continues. As of now, I have no plans of selling him UNLESS he gets to the point where I know he can be safely ridden by other people.
(01/05/2023)
Took a video of Mr. Extra today before I start his desensitization to show how he reacts to new things. His reactions are always big and distrustful. But he's learning quick that if he gives it a chance after it scares him, it isn't so bad. So far he seems like the type of horse that if you work on something one day, even if he learns it's not going to cause him harm and actually likes it, the following day it's just as scary and we're starting all over with the same thing. The only difference is he doesn't have as big of a reaction and is more willing to relax or become comfortable sooner then before. Which is okay, he isn't hard headed or making things more difficult than they need to be, he just doesn't naturally trust and is lacking confidence.
By how I've seen him react to things, and being told he's unpredictable and dangerous under saddle, he is going to receive thorough desensitization and groundwork to the point where he stands still enough for me to act like a complete idiot whipping bags all over as well as anything else regarding desensitization before I try getting in the saddle for the first time. I want to build enough trust and confidence in him that I feel he's ready mentally to handle taking things to the next step. Because of how big his reactions are now, where he is at mentally, and the lack of desensitization I've seen since he got here, I wouldn't be surprised if he took off across the barn bucking people off left and right. So I'm hoping that's all this "bucking issue" really is and if I'm wrong, we'll get to that road when it comes. I've been working on putting pressure into the stirrups, putting all of my weight into the saddle, shaking the saddle, lunging him at all gaits and have yet to see one buck or unpredictable move from him which I'm thankful for but sure would prefer to see on the ground first.
On a positive note, there is a lot of progress so far with wanting to be around me instead of being too scared to try. He has started walking up to me whenever he sees me (bobbing his head yes ) and waits at the gate if I'm working other horses hoping to be let in. He at first, would be terrified if I walked up to him too quickly and would run off. It was difficult even getting a halter on him without him fleeing. Once in a while if I move too quickly, he still moves away from me or gets uncertain to the point where he doesn't trust me all over again but he continues to come back and try again. The one thing I noticed though if he is doing something he enjoys (eating hay) and I have the halter or lead rope he does try to run around and make it difficult to catch him. So I'm not as fun as eating hay yet but I'll take that as a challenge because that won't last long here.
Took a video of Mr. Extra today before I start his desensitization to show how he reacts to new things. His reactions are always big and distrustful. But he's learning quick that if he gives it a chance after it scares him, it isn't so bad. So far he seems like the type of horse that if you work on something one day, even if he learns it's not going to cause him harm and actually likes it, the following day it's just as scary and we're starting all over with the same thing. The only difference is he doesn't have as big of a reaction and is more willing to relax or become comfortable sooner then before. Which is okay, he isn't hard headed or making things more difficult than they need to be, he just doesn't naturally trust and is lacking confidence.
By how I've seen him react to things, and being told he's unpredictable and dangerous under saddle, he is going to receive thorough desensitization and groundwork to the point where he stands still enough for me to act like a complete idiot whipping bags all over as well as anything else regarding desensitization before I try getting in the saddle for the first time. I want to build enough trust and confidence in him that I feel he's ready mentally to handle taking things to the next step. Because of how big his reactions are now, where he is at mentally, and the lack of desensitization I've seen since he got here, I wouldn't be surprised if he took off across the barn bucking people off left and right. So I'm hoping that's all this "bucking issue" really is and if I'm wrong, we'll get to that road when it comes. I've been working on putting pressure into the stirrups, putting all of my weight into the saddle, shaking the saddle, lunging him at all gaits and have yet to see one buck or unpredictable move from him which I'm thankful for but sure would prefer to see on the ground first.
On a positive note, there is a lot of progress so far with wanting to be around me instead of being too scared to try. He has started walking up to me whenever he sees me (bobbing his head yes ) and waits at the gate if I'm working other horses hoping to be let in. He at first, would be terrified if I walked up to him too quickly and would run off. It was difficult even getting a halter on him without him fleeing. Once in a while if I move too quickly, he still moves away from me or gets uncertain to the point where he doesn't trust me all over again but he continues to come back and try again. The one thing I noticed though if he is doing something he enjoys (eating hay) and I have the halter or lead rope he does try to run around and make it difficult to catch him. So I'm not as fun as eating hay yet but I'll take that as a challenge because that won't last long here.
(01/13/2023) - 6th day of desensitization.
Started off with Ex blowing up being tied at the trailer today while I was setting up the camera. He was bouncing from side to side in a panic over his hind legs being in a snow drift.. quite the silly boy he is. Desensitization went well and I find with every session it takes less time with him becoming more comfortable with the desensitization objects. He's allowing the feed bag to be all over him at a faster pace. His really touchy spots are in front of his chest, his legs, and his butt. His legs need a ton of desensitization especially witnessing the snow drift issue today. I introduced stepping onto the feed bag yesterday which he picked up very fast and is willingly going out of his way to attempt doing so whether it scares him or not with no pressure put on him. He's really starting to enjoy being worked with and now nickers to me anytime he sees me in a week or two the next step will be desensitization with the mattress and a large tarp.
Started off with Ex blowing up being tied at the trailer today while I was setting up the camera. He was bouncing from side to side in a panic over his hind legs being in a snow drift.. quite the silly boy he is. Desensitization went well and I find with every session it takes less time with him becoming more comfortable with the desensitization objects. He's allowing the feed bag to be all over him at a faster pace. His really touchy spots are in front of his chest, his legs, and his butt. His legs need a ton of desensitization especially witnessing the snow drift issue today. I introduced stepping onto the feed bag yesterday which he picked up very fast and is willingly going out of his way to attempt doing so whether it scares him or not with no pressure put on him. He's really starting to enjoy being worked with and now nickers to me anytime he sees me in a week or two the next step will be desensitization with the mattress and a large tarp.
(01/13/2023) - 16th day of desensitization (1 week off due to below temps and windchill).
Mr. Ex has been doing great for most desensitization objects. We started on the mattress a few weeks ago. I decided to take my time with him on it as he doesn't like it very much. Although, he is willing and tries hard for me. He isn't a fan of his hind legs touching it, walking over it, or balancing on it and that's okay. We'll get there eventually but it is important that he learns how and does so comfortably so future occurrences such as mud or anything to do with unbalanced ground doesn't have him surprised and blowing up down the road. He is good for his front he does really well even though it took a little to get him to fully want to step a foot up onto the mattress at first.
Today: Decided to try desensitization on the saddle to get him ready for riding. I was fully expecting some blow ups and surprisingly we have no bucks yet. Kicking on the other hand... I had to make the video short, unfortunately, as the string holding my phone up was getting in the way and making the focus bad. The clips go in order from what I could pull from the video, and we left on a good note with him not minding my shenanigans so much and not kicking out. He doesn't mind me tossing the feed bag full of hay all over him, at him, on him. He's okay with it bouncing around on his back (to my surprise). It's just when it starts moving down the saddle or by his hind end that he feels he needs to protect himself. So yet again, showing that his hind legs/end need a lot more desensitization work.
Mr. Ex has been doing great for most desensitization objects. We started on the mattress a few weeks ago. I decided to take my time with him on it as he doesn't like it very much. Although, he is willing and tries hard for me. He isn't a fan of his hind legs touching it, walking over it, or balancing on it and that's okay. We'll get there eventually but it is important that he learns how and does so comfortably so future occurrences such as mud or anything to do with unbalanced ground doesn't have him surprised and blowing up down the road. He is good for his front he does really well even though it took a little to get him to fully want to step a foot up onto the mattress at first.
Today: Decided to try desensitization on the saddle to get him ready for riding. I was fully expecting some blow ups and surprisingly we have no bucks yet. Kicking on the other hand... I had to make the video short, unfortunately, as the string holding my phone up was getting in the way and making the focus bad. The clips go in order from what I could pull from the video, and we left on a good note with him not minding my shenanigans so much and not kicking out. He doesn't mind me tossing the feed bag full of hay all over him, at him, on him. He's okay with it bouncing around on his back (to my surprise). It's just when it starts moving down the saddle or by his hind end that he feels he needs to protect himself. So yet again, showing that his hind legs/end need a lot more desensitization work.
(01/13/2023) - 16th day of desensitization (1 week off due to below temps and windchill).
First time working on the mattress after a week off of training and he climbed right up and went over it without a problem! Getting his hind legs over the mattress wasn't an issue at all this time which makes me happy to see. We had left off with being scared of even getting a hind foot onto the mattress with our last session and bouncing sideways or going really fast over it, so he didn't have to step on it.
First time working on the mattress after a week off of training and he climbed right up and went over it without a problem! Getting his hind legs over the mattress wasn't an issue at all this time which makes me happy to see. We had left off with being scared of even getting a hind foot onto the mattress with our last session and bouncing sideways or going really fast over it, so he didn't have to step on it.
(03/07/2023)
"Mr. Extra" - project horse 2023
- 25th day of training. (On and off training with the weather and no suitable places to work horses in).
Talk about progress! "Mr. Extra" and I have still been working with his legs with desensitization objects, throwing objects onto his back/butt area (As it's been a very sensitive area for him). As well as dragging objects. Dragging objects has been a challenge for him too but he is willing and okay with it as long as his legs don't get tangled into anything, which is understandable. He has greatly improved on allowing the bag full of hay to get tossed around, fall off of him, touch his legs. As you can see today he had a "brain fart" as I call them, when the bag fell down on the opposite side that hadn't got worked with yet today and he kicked out at it. The first day working with him on this, all he did was kick at the bag. But there is progress and from the last video of this, to now, you can tell he is more trusting with it. The reason why I am insistent on him being okay with this form of desensitization with the bag is 1. He needs to get used to things touching his body all over the place 2. I want him to be okay with objects on his back and specifically by his legs. 3. So I don't get kicked while I'm down if he bucks me off. That's the first thing I see in my mind when he kicks at things by his hind feet. It's just his natural response to things touching his legs or falling down by them at the moment and I would rather we change that behavior into something positive before taking saddle training to the next level with riding around as a precaution.
I got on him today! To me, this is a huge success. Especially since this isn't the first time I've been on him but the first time he was comfortable with it! I unfortunately didn't get a video of the first time because it was an impatient night shift training session with the thought process of "this training session is going so well, I want to at least try it before quitting" type deal at 3 in the morning lol. That session he was very anxious though. He does this mouth thing where he moves it non stop as if he were searching for food in an anxious manner, he was yawning the entire time, and licking his lips. I didn't ask anything from him other than to stand still and allow me on his back without issue. Which he did as he did here in this video too. Only difference in this video is that he was so much more calm and happy with me in the saddle. I'm hoping for things to continue well in the saddle as time goes on. But I'm a little disappointed that communication between his previous trainer is not going well as she apparently refuses to give me any information of where he is or was currently at in training when he was with her or go further into detail on the issues she claims he has. SO I guess I'll just continue as I'm doing and hope for the best! He is such a lover boy and he seems to be enjoying his time with me I love him to pieces already.
"Mr. Extra" - project horse 2023
- 25th day of training. (On and off training with the weather and no suitable places to work horses in).
Talk about progress! "Mr. Extra" and I have still been working with his legs with desensitization objects, throwing objects onto his back/butt area (As it's been a very sensitive area for him). As well as dragging objects. Dragging objects has been a challenge for him too but he is willing and okay with it as long as his legs don't get tangled into anything, which is understandable. He has greatly improved on allowing the bag full of hay to get tossed around, fall off of him, touch his legs. As you can see today he had a "brain fart" as I call them, when the bag fell down on the opposite side that hadn't got worked with yet today and he kicked out at it. The first day working with him on this, all he did was kick at the bag. But there is progress and from the last video of this, to now, you can tell he is more trusting with it. The reason why I am insistent on him being okay with this form of desensitization with the bag is 1. He needs to get used to things touching his body all over the place 2. I want him to be okay with objects on his back and specifically by his legs. 3. So I don't get kicked while I'm down if he bucks me off. That's the first thing I see in my mind when he kicks at things by his hind feet. It's just his natural response to things touching his legs or falling down by them at the moment and I would rather we change that behavior into something positive before taking saddle training to the next level with riding around as a precaution.
I got on him today! To me, this is a huge success. Especially since this isn't the first time I've been on him but the first time he was comfortable with it! I unfortunately didn't get a video of the first time because it was an impatient night shift training session with the thought process of "this training session is going so well, I want to at least try it before quitting" type deal at 3 in the morning lol. That session he was very anxious though. He does this mouth thing where he moves it non stop as if he were searching for food in an anxious manner, he was yawning the entire time, and licking his lips. I didn't ask anything from him other than to stand still and allow me on his back without issue. Which he did as he did here in this video too. Only difference in this video is that he was so much more calm and happy with me in the saddle. I'm hoping for things to continue well in the saddle as time goes on. But I'm a little disappointed that communication between his previous trainer is not going well as she apparently refuses to give me any information of where he is or was currently at in training when he was with her or go further into detail on the issues she claims he has. SO I guess I'll just continue as I'm doing and hope for the best! He is such a lover boy and he seems to be enjoying his time with me I love him to pieces already.
