BEHS 529 – Donatello

When Donatello (aka Sam) arrived in the rescue in Feburary 2011, he hadn’t been handled much at all. He spent 3 months with a foster home working towards the 2012 Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge. She worked him through skittishness and issues on the ground. He learned to take things in stride, be touched all over, bathed, fly sprayed, saddled, and bridled. He became a more respectful horse on the ground. He also learned to ground drive and started carrying a rider. Sam occasionally has bucking issues and is a sensitive horse. He’s going to need an adopter who is a confident rider and willing to work with him consistently. He is a smart horse and tries to please, but he needs to stay in consistent work. Sam has been trick trained and will lay down on command, he is very willing to step-up on a variety of pedestals, and has been started on the Spanish Walk. He spent training time with Sue De Laurentis and his previous adopter continued working with him. Sam also spent time under saddle with Jack Lieser and his previous adopter, and he has about 120 days of riding. He will willing accept a saddle and a gentle bit. He has learned to walk, trot, and lope under saddle but steering is not great yet. He stops and backs up well. He is learning how to move off your leg. He willingly goes over a variety of obstacles. Sam is a horse that requires an extra amount of patience. Sam loves people and loves to see what you are doing. Sam is gentle and does not bit or kick but will still spook easy. He will stand fairly well for the farrier. Sam does still have a fear of a barn alleyway so it is best to do things outside with him. Sam hasn’t been ridden since the fall (2013), so he’ll need an adopter who can bring him back to work slowly.