July 2021 Issue

Page 18 July 2021 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN Maryland Trainer Selects a Feral Mule for the Appalachian Trainer Face-Off MD, Lacey said she believes Ma- vis’s background plays into every part of her behavior. “She came from a farm where she was able to roam mul- tiple properties, we think without a barn or stall. She was only with her mom and her mom was her confidence,” Lacey said. “I am trying to transfer her confidence to me. I am trying to be as prac- tical as possible and am hoping to get her comfortable with walk, trot, canter and with carrying stuff. I want to get her familiar with umbrellas and bicycles and anything she might encounter on the trails, like opening and clos- ing gates. Mules are most often used for trails.” Many of Lacey’s early days were spent just sitting with Miss Mavis, getting to know her. “I’ve worked with a couple of other rescues. I have seen abuse cases and feral cases and I’ve learned that time spent is always your biggest asset. Hang- ing out with them, seeing what they like and what they don’t like and what they are uncomfort- able with can help you get them comfortable with it. Then slowly introduce things. Mavis wouldn’t come in and out of a stall. She didn’t want anything to do with a halter. I had to sit on the ground with a food pan and rub her head while she was eating, slowly standing up.” After getting Mavis haltered, Lacey moved to the lead rope. “I tried hooking a lead rope to her halter, and she sent me ski- ing,” she said. “It took 15 to 20 minutes to get the lead rope off.” Next, Mavis conquered the cinch, a bareback pad and was finally saddled up. “She is good with anything as long as you’re very slow with her,” Lacey said. “At four weeks, she could be caught and haltered, and led around. She is learning to trust following me wherever I am going.” On competition day, Miss Mavis will face an obstacle course and perform freestyle in the arena, and then adopters will be able to meet contestants and try out pro- spective horses in the riding ring. Johnson said they try to bal- ance the competition with about 20 amateur trainers and 20 profes- sional trainers, plus a small group of youth trainers, who train horses under the age of two for an in- hand demonstration. A fourth cat- egory, Showcase Horses, doesn’t compete but participates in a small show before going through the approved adopter auction. Johnson said some showcase trainers may choose to adopt their horses out before the actual event, with all the details approved by HOP. All previously unhandled horses go to the professional group. “Trainers must demon- strate that they are professional and that their facility is able to accommodate a feral horse and is safe,” she said. “They must have a relationship with their farrier and veterinarian, who will confirm horses have all their shots. They also must have references, includ- ing client references. They have to submit groundwork and riding videos and we ask that the horse being videoed is fairly untrained.” According to Johnson, Heart of Phoenix turns away few horses, and with one trainer (Erin O’Neill) on staff, this competition is a big help. “There are so many horses out there that don’t receive any training,” Johnson said. “They will more than likely be found in the slaughter pens. They don’t have a safety net to fall back on.” “This year, at least five of the 70 competition horses came from the feral mine horse roundup. Some are rescues, and we have a bunch of BLM horses that fell through the cracks - people took them but they were too much to handle. We also drove to Texas and took on a feral herd there that need- ed help. Mavis and her momma belonged to the neighbors of one of our adopters. The mare was limp- ing and had something on her face. The [owners] couldn’t afford to do anything with them. Mavis, who is four years old, could not be han- dled at all. After they came to us the vet said [Mavis’s dam] would never be comfortable or sound, so we had to put her down.” Tinia Creamer, founder of Heart of Phoenix Horse Rescue, spoke of how the ATFO has been a giving event. “I believe the ATFO is absolutely the greatest thing to ever happen for our region's horses that have been left behind or failed by people,” she said. “It inspires trainers, potential adopt- ers and future horse people, while changing the entire outlook for horses that would have otherwise faced a bleak future.” For Lacey, the experience has also been a giving one. “I have been enjoying the camaraderie between trainers,” Lacey said. “I really want to see everyone succeed. They all have been fantastic, with a great sense of humor about everything. No one takes themselves too serious- ly, and that’s nice.” Seeing how bad the situation is for many horses in the Appala- chian Mountain region has been eye-opening. “Thousands of these horses don’t have the resources they need. There are behaviors I didn’t even know existed, and so many of the horses have had people experiences that were not good.” Being a part of the solution is bittersweet for Lacey. She says it will be hard to let Mavis go, but she will not keep her. “I am already in love with her,” she said, “but I have done this so many times. I get super, super attached. I know I will be a ball of tears, but it would be super selfish of me to keep her because with all my clients I barely have time to ride my own horses. It would not be fair to her. She deserves more.” In the past, the Appalachian Trainer Face-Off has seen up to 1,000 people in attendance. Top auction price in 2020 was $13,000, with trainers receiving 50 percent of the adoption fee and additional prize money for first, second and third place awards. The Appalachian Trainer Face-Off will be held August 19-21 at the Winfield Riding Club in Winfield, WV. Judges are Carson James, Patrick King and Michael Lyons. Learn more online at: appalachiantrainer faceoff.com . (Continued from page 1)