Mitzi Nevin writes:
I adopted Samson at a BLM auction in Dillsburg PA on March 24th, 2001. Samson
comes from the Owyhee Reserve in north central Nevada by the Idaho border.
He was captured at 2 months old with his mother and other herd members. The
BLM told me they would not have separated him from his mother until he was
at least 5 months old. He was held in Carson City for a time and then moved
to Nebraska until the Dillsburg auction in March 2001.At that time Samson
was 11 months old.
My first priority in picking a horse was temperament. I brought a friend and
horse gentler/trainer with me who helped me pick a horse with as he puts it
a "good mind". I really lucked out because Samson not only has a wonderful,
trusting temperament, but he is also turning into an absolutely beautiful
colt! He is kind, patient, glossy black, beautiful and very athletic. He has
already jumped a 4' fence three times... not to escape, just to visit horses
in other pastures. At 12 1/2 months old he jumped a 4' fence and mounted a 4
yr. old mare in heat! He has since been gelded but will still occasionally
jump a fence to visit other horses especially if he sees grain. Samson loves
his grain! We introduced him to grain when he was about 12 months old - just
a sprinkle on his hay. He immediately loved it. Carrots were another
story...he did not know what to do with a carrot, or an apple for that
matter. We grated them and then chopped them and mixed them with his grain
to start. Samson is such an easy keeper, he doesn't need much grain - about
2 cups per feeding so consequently, when he's done eating, the other horses
still have grain left so we must separate him from the other horses or he
will try and eat their grain. One day he just decided to help himself to his
buddies grain and jumped the paddock fence! He has a Knack for making
friends and has never nipped, kicked or in any way been aggressive to
another horse. Everyone seems to like him and they indulge him when he
sneaks up next to them and tries to scarf up their grain...they just share
with him! He is quite a politician, very diplomatic, and he certainly knows
when to lick and chew submissively, but he is not afraid of any of the
horses. He knows how to stay in good favor with an aggressive, dominant mare
or gelding. I love watching his interactions and body language with the
other horses.
Right now he is in a pasture with a 4 month old foal named Ollie, who lost
his mother when he was 12 hrs. old due to a ruptured uterine artery. Ollie
has not learned how to be a horse yet and has become very bonded with his
human caretakers. Samson is teaching Ollie how to be a horse. Ollie is
afraid of his little brother Houston, who is only 6 days older than him, but
Samson is so patient with Ollie that now Ollie is overcoming his fears and
is starting to play with Samson. I am so proud of Samson, he's really only a
baby himself, (he is now 15 months old), but he has become a "nanny" to
Ollie and is teaching him the ropes, so to speak. In another month or two,
Houston will be weaned and put in the pasture with Ollie and Samson and by
then I am sure Samson and Ollie will be very bonded and Samson will look out
for Ollie.
Samson is very laid back, he accepted a blanket and saddle without question,
he lets us pick out his hooves, he leads beautifully, and walked into a
trailer for the first time without even so much as a balk. He also backs out
of the trailer, even though there is room to turn him around. He comes to
greet me every morning and evening from the pasture and has already has a
little 5 year old sit on his back - just a quick experiment because he is so
laid back - and he was great! I can't wait until I can ride him myself but
it will be at least another year or more, depending on his growth. He is now
14 1/2 hands at the rump and 13 1/2 hands at the withers. He accepts
everything I ask of him - he is so trusting, and why shouldn't he be?... He
has been treated with love, kindness and patience. I can't imagine life
without him! I will never give up Samson...he's my wild dream!
|
All cleaned up!
Checking everyone out
Sheddng to a really dark coat
Saddle and pad
Bareback rides
Good friends
|