Matteo
Height: 14.o hh (est)
Weight: 850 lb (est)
DOB: 2013 (est)
Sex: Gelding
Color: Black
Breed: Mustang (captive bred)
DNA: 1st Venezuelan Criollo
2nd Welsh Pony
3rd Mountain Pleasure Horse
Adoption Fee: $TBD
Category: In Rehab/Under Evaluation
Weight: 850 lb (est)
DOB: 2013 (est)
Sex: Gelding
Color: Black
Breed: Mustang (captive bred)
DNA: 1st Venezuelan Criollo
2nd Welsh Pony
3rd Mountain Pleasure Horse
Adoption Fee: $TBD
Category: In Rehab/Under Evaluation
Matteo's Story
Matteo came to AAE in September 2023. He is a mustang stallion who had never been haltered and most likely had never been touched prior to his arrival. He developed an enormous summer sore and no one could treat it because no one could approach him. He had been living in about a 24' x 24' paddock for a year, and had no turn-out or opportunity to run.
In the time he's been here, we've made progress. Matteo is very curious and getting brave. He's accepting touch, and growing a bit more inquisitive with humans, though, he's still very reactive and skeptical. Under direction of our vet, he got a round of antibiotics, and we treated the sore with various topicals. It wasn't the prettiest, but it was effective. The sore was well on its way to healing, and thankfully, with the change in weather (reduction in fly irritants), the sore was able close and heal. Matteo is much relieved.
Unfortunately, it seems he's prone to summer sores. This past summer, he ended up with two small sores that eventually resolved. Matteo is quite a challenge; he's not really interested humans touching him, though, he's making slow progress. Fortunately, he's curious and he's food motivated, and we'll keep working to break down his walls, little by little. Hopefully, with time, he'll come to realize we're here to help him, and he'll learn he can enjoy humans.
Matteo was gelded in 2024, and once healed, he was introduced individually to some of the geldings. He was recently moved to the mustang pasture (about 20 acres). For the first time in a long time, he can run with and interact with a group of other horses (geldings), and he's enjoying it immensely. Once the weather changes in spring, he'll come in again for a little more learning, and I'm sure we'll learn more from him. For now, he's a pretty happy pasture horse.
In general, there is a lot of activity around AAE including foot traffic in and out of paddock/pasture areas, mucking with wheelbarrows, grooming and care activities, weekly farrier visits. There are resident dogs, cats, pigs, cows, and mini horses, as well as various wildlife including frequent turkeys, squirrels, deer, and coyotes in and around paddock/pasture areas. AAE is situated on the corner of a busy road with high speed vehicles, trucks, and sirens. Tractors are used in and around pasture/paddock areas, trucks deliver feed, and a squeeze is occasionally used for unloading hay. Horses at AAE are accustomed to a more active environment as opposed to a quiet/sterile environment.
In the time he's been here, we've made progress. Matteo is very curious and getting brave. He's accepting touch, and growing a bit more inquisitive with humans, though, he's still very reactive and skeptical. Under direction of our vet, he got a round of antibiotics, and we treated the sore with various topicals. It wasn't the prettiest, but it was effective. The sore was well on its way to healing, and thankfully, with the change in weather (reduction in fly irritants), the sore was able close and heal. Matteo is much relieved.
Unfortunately, it seems he's prone to summer sores. This past summer, he ended up with two small sores that eventually resolved. Matteo is quite a challenge; he's not really interested humans touching him, though, he's making slow progress. Fortunately, he's curious and he's food motivated, and we'll keep working to break down his walls, little by little. Hopefully, with time, he'll come to realize we're here to help him, and he'll learn he can enjoy humans.
Matteo was gelded in 2024, and once healed, he was introduced individually to some of the geldings. He was recently moved to the mustang pasture (about 20 acres). For the first time in a long time, he can run with and interact with a group of other horses (geldings), and he's enjoying it immensely. Once the weather changes in spring, he'll come in again for a little more learning, and I'm sure we'll learn more from him. For now, he's a pretty happy pasture horse.
In general, there is a lot of activity around AAE including foot traffic in and out of paddock/pasture areas, mucking with wheelbarrows, grooming and care activities, weekly farrier visits. There are resident dogs, cats, pigs, cows, and mini horses, as well as various wildlife including frequent turkeys, squirrels, deer, and coyotes in and around paddock/pasture areas. AAE is situated on the corner of a busy road with high speed vehicles, trucks, and sirens. Tractors are used in and around pasture/paddock areas, trucks deliver feed, and a squeeze is occasionally used for unloading hay. Horses at AAE are accustomed to a more active environment as opposed to a quiet/sterile environment.
