Casper
Height: 11.1 hh (est)
Weight: 675 lbs (est)
DOB: 2009 (est)
Sex: Gelding
Color: White
Breed: Welsh/Shetland Pony
DNA: 1st Suffolk
2nd Cleveland Bay
3rd Shetland Pony
Adoption Fee: $TBD
Category: Under Evaluation
Weight: 675 lbs (est)
DOB: 2009 (est)
Sex: Gelding
Color: White
Breed: Welsh/Shetland Pony
DNA: 1st Suffolk
2nd Cleveland Bay
3rd Shetland Pony
Adoption Fee: $TBD
Category: Under Evaluation
Casper's Story
Casper came to AAE in January 2021 with a group of four other ponies: Ace, Bucky, Minnie, and Pearl. AAE got a call from Wilbur Hot Springs in Williams, CA requesting help for this little herd. These sweet ponies were part of a larger herd of feral ponies, the Robinson Creek Ponies (click for history), that came from the hills west of Ukiah in Mendocino County. This group separated from the main herd and wandered dangerously close to the highway. In 2019, these ponies were relocated to the 1,600 acre nature preserve at Wilbur Hot Springs in hopes they could resume their free-roaming status and live among the other wildlife on the preserve. Sadly, in 2020, some of the ponies foundered from eating so much of the green grass. Though they were treated by a vet and had hooves trimmed, in late 2020, it was discovered their hooves were getting overgrown again. They were still feral and not easily caught or handled. Staff recognized the ponies could not live wild and without maintenance care, but they did not have the experience to give the ponies the attention they needed. Staff was connected with AAE, and our team drove out to the nature preserve, loaded the five ponies into a trailer, and brought them back to AAE for gentling, and hoof care, along with radiographs for those that appeared they may have foundered.
Once at AAE, they all had hoof and dental care, vaccines, and deworming. They each also got a microchip and DNA analysis. Casper's hooves were long, but in other fairly good condition when he arrived. He was very reactive, untrusting with humans, and lacked confidence. Over the past several months, the ponies have been gentled, and they have been learning basic groundwork, hoof handling, and how to stand quiet for the farrier. Casper is improving every day, He's getting more curious and growing more confident every day. He is not quite sure he wants to be with humans but he willing and tries hard.
Casper leads and stands fairly quietly for grooming and hoof cleaning. He's still learning patience with the farrier and struggles a bit with his left hind, but he's making good progress. He accepts fly spray and a fly mask without much concern. He's come a long way and though he's not quite as far as the others, with consistency and ongoing handling, this guy is going to make nice little pony for an experienced family.
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, chickens, and mini horses, as well as various wildlife including frequent turkeys and squirrels 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. Neighbors have weekly gardeners that utilize various power tools, and children that are active in yards adjacent to some stall/paddock areas. Horses at AAE are accustomed to a more active environment as opposed to a quiet/sterile environment.
Once at AAE, they all had hoof and dental care, vaccines, and deworming. They each also got a microchip and DNA analysis. Casper's hooves were long, but in other fairly good condition when he arrived. He was very reactive, untrusting with humans, and lacked confidence. Over the past several months, the ponies have been gentled, and they have been learning basic groundwork, hoof handling, and how to stand quiet for the farrier. Casper is improving every day, He's getting more curious and growing more confident every day. He is not quite sure he wants to be with humans but he willing and tries hard.
Casper leads and stands fairly quietly for grooming and hoof cleaning. He's still learning patience with the farrier and struggles a bit with his left hind, but he's making good progress. He accepts fly spray and a fly mask without much concern. He's come a long way and though he's not quite as far as the others, with consistency and ongoing handling, this guy is going to make nice little pony for an experienced family.
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, chickens, and mini horses, as well as various wildlife including frequent turkeys and squirrels 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. Neighbors have weekly gardeners that utilize various power tools, and children that are active in yards adjacent to some stall/paddock areas. Horses at AAE are accustomed to a more active environment as opposed to a quiet/sterile environment.
