Hamilton is His Name!

Tuesday was one for the books! I was up by 2:30am and picked up my two older sisters, and headed to West Virginia to find my partner for 100 days. I had my eye on a few horses from looking at them online before heading out. I had my sisters and mom all look at the potential horses and help me decide which ones I would consider. After we got there, we watched the horses come out and move around. I found a few more that I would consider, and also crossed off some that I knew wouldn’t suit me. I had my mind pretty set on a smaller pony gelding, but right before I was called to take my pick, he was taken. This led me to my second pick, Hamilton. Hamilton is a small, four-year-old Mustang. I loaded Hamilton up in the trailer and headed off for the five-hour trip home. Hamilton loaded well with a little hesitation at the beginning but then hopped right on. He was impatient in the trailer and pawed quite a bit, but the longer he was stuck in the trailer, the calmer he became. It was 11:00pm when I got home and got everything settled and didn’t have time to work with him that night.

Today, Wednesday, I let him settle a little before I worked him. I let him stay in his stall and brushed him and just spent some time with him. Hamilton seemed to be numb of emotion and personality. I put him in the round pen and he just walked around with no emotions and no interest in the other horses who were by the round pen. I then put him back in his stall until the evening, when I planned to work him. When I brought him back out and worked on some ground manners with him, he seemed to be a little pushy but quickly learned I did not want him in my space. After he understood some basic ground manners, I asked him to work a little bit harder by starting out slow on lunging. I have quickly learned that he is a hard-headed, heavily opinionated horse who knows how to throw a fit. Hamilton would like to do the bare minimum, that of a walk, and most defiantly does not want to do anything more than a trot. He completely refuses to lope. Hamilton will do anything he can to get out of work. I can tell that he has been heavily desensitized, which can have pros and cons to it. Heavily desensitized horses are good when it comes to not spooking, although he has been heavily desensitized with a stick in string, in which the tap of the whip does not phase him. He definitely has a lot more to learn.

Although these are just a few of the things I have learned about Hamilton, that has only been the first day and I have a LOT more to learn! Not only am I excited to see where he goes from here, but I am excited to learn from him and what he can teach me and grow me as a trainer. Although those were some things he struggles with, Hamilton is a smart horse, and understands what is asked of him fairly quick. He may test a few times, but he knows what is being asked of him after the first correction. There is a long way to go but I am very excited for the journey! Thank you for supporting #HOPteamHamilton throughout this experience!