Surprise Package
Breed: Thoroughbred
Sex: Mare
DOB: 1998
Height: 16+ hh
Color: Chestnut
Markings: Star, snip, RR stocking
Location: Alvin, TX
Adoption Fee: $350

Temperament: Prise really is a nice mare and mostly cooperative. She can be an absolute sweetheart, and is trainable for anything, you just have to know how to handle her.  She is a bit of a bully and if she thinks she can get one over on you, she will.  She spent the first two weeks literally pushing her foster out of her way, but when pushed back, she quit.  She needs someone very confident to handle her or she will walk all over them.  This animal will make someone a wonderful trail horse if they can match her in personality and have the patience to train her right.

Physical problems / health issues: Prise had a hernia on her side that LSER had successfully repaired surgically on November 2, 2004.  This will have no affect on her physical abilities in the future, she's 100% healthy. 

In August 2006, Prise overreached and sliced into her left front.  The injury was serious enough she spent a month on stall rest. The injury sliced through coronet band, cartilage, everything--hoof was flopping!  But she is 100% again, no lingering effects other than BA.

While vet was tending foot, he checked her right eye to clear up any questions about her vision.  There is no pupillary reaction at all, she is totally blind in that right eye.  It doesn't seem to bother her except when she will walk into a tree now and then.  Also, she does not like having her right eye to person in ring so will only lunge counter clockwise, balks at going clockwise. 

Interaction with horses:  Gets along fine with others, does not cause trouble in a mixed herd with all ages. Can be dominant in some herds.

Interaction with people: Prise needs a patient handler, she can be spooky with new things. She is very good with being handled, although she tries to get her own way. For the most part, she is a sweet, obedient mare. It is only when you come up against things she is unsure about that she will balk.

History: Prise was purchased at an auction for horses at risk of going to slaughter.

Training / abilities: Prise completed 30 days of training under saddle, but then had an injury which required stall rest. Once she had recovered, she lost some ground with training. She remembers everything, just chooses to be hardheaded about it.   She threw a fit the first time saddle was put back on her, did a real rodeo tryout.  Once she calms down and realizes it doesn’t get her anywhere, she starts cooperating.  She lunges well, but can be reluctant about it. Her foster home has not been able to work with her consistently, so she will need some more work. At this point she needs an experienced rider, as she starts out fighting her rider. After a bit, she settles down, but she will need consistent riding to get her comfortable with it. This is a strong willed mare, but with time and work, she will be fine. Prise is just really spooky with new stuff and needs constant, consistent work. 

Could do anything an adopter wanted to do.  This is a big boned, very tall mare with a lot of presence.  Her size would be ideal for larger riders.

Experience level required to work with this horse: Intermediate on the ground, experienced under saddle since still very green.

Has this horse ever: Bucked? No. Reared? No. Kicked? No. Bitten? No. Other?

Ground handling: Catch? Yes. Lead? Yes. Tie? No - she has some trust issues with being tied, probably due to fear from a past bad experience. It is reported that she will do it if she is tied above head, but if you try to tie her to fence, she won’t tolerate it.  She leans back, digs her heels in, and pulls till whatever is holding her snaps.  Then she will just stand there and look at you as if she's saying "was that all you got?". Trailer? Yes, but needs work. Clip? Unknown. Trim Feet? She will let you handle them all day long, just won't pick them up.  Not fear issue, just refusal.  Her current foster home is working on this  She's done it before, just not with the current farriers.  A patient farrier is needed because she will not tie, and shouldn’t be pushed.  Bathe? Yes.

Special needs: Prise is a smart mare with a lot of potential for the right person. She is fearful of certain things, and she tries to boss her handler so she doesn’t have to do those scary things. Once she knows that she can’t take advantage, and that she can trust her rider, she will be an excellent riding horse. 
 

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Adopt: Please contact us regarding adoptions at adoptions@habitatforhorses.org or call 1.866.HFH.LSER (866.434.5737).

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Sponsor her through our Virtual Foster program.

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