August 2011 - Ourigan now called Nikan

Ourigan's new family have sent the following letting us know how he is getting on:

"We let him be for about a month, after his arrival, to allow him time to start feeling at home with us his new friends. Went to see them as usual in the field, but did not bother him otherwise. Little by little we started brushing him, gently, with respect and without imposing, to discouver his preferences, his doubts etc, and allow him to feel at ease. We also explained to him how we asked him to give his feet, and that he could really give them. We would only then take his foot. It took about three months until he was absolutely "at peace", not even the smallest sign of stress. He gave his feet, we had started cutting them to allow him to be comfortable, allow growth of less flat feet and natural concavity. Only then we saddled him, my daughter could ride him straight away and we went for walks in the woods, on the lunge first, then me on foot with one of his friends. He never ever stressed for my daughter getting on. He never kicked or caused trouble, and has let go competely of his defensive attitude with humans. My daughter can now prepare him on her own, safely: she cleans his feet, we can do maintenance cutting without any trouble, he gives his feet in anticipation, she can touch everywhere without him stressing (hind quarters also), we can pass behind without him stressing and us risking being kicked. He can be ridden with saddle, with bareback pad, or bare back, and my daughter can get on on her own without any trouble. He gets along very well with his friends and is a close friend of my dominant russian guy. So Nikan and Yannaï are now into consolidation of the basics of mutual respect and understanding "under the saddle".

He's an incredibly gentle and sensitive horse that just has not been understood, that has not been respected, and that has very much been over-asked. His reaction to that human aggressivity was to be defensive and fight, that is to first warn and then immediately kick. I think he has been seduced to cooperate with food, for at first he was very unpolite with the others. He is much better with that also! It was an incredible mistake to send this horse to be slaughtered!

Thank you ASHA, for saving his life, and for the other equine lives that you have been able to save! Please do continue, and let's cross our fingers that some day the human race will reflect more compassion and kindness, and that associations like ASHA will no longer be necessary ! "