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"Samson"

Just adopted. A fuzzy, matted colt

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


Vital Statistics

Foaled: 2000 / Gelding
Herd: Little Owyhee HMA; Winnemucca, NV
Present Owner: Mitzi Nevin
Present Location: Pennsylvania
Email Mitzi: mitzi@bmicli.com

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