Our second featured horse actually features 4 very special ladies. Janet Bissonette and her PMU mare "Whisper" and Susan Mitchell and her PMU mare "Rumor Has It"
It all started back 4 years ago when Susan was boarding her first horse, "Lady" at Janet's farm in Vergennes, VT. Susan approached Janet about adopting a pair of PMU babies. Janet's initial response was, "No way, I have too many horses all ready!" But in a move all to familiar to horse owners everywhere, a few months later she called Susan and said...you still interested in adopting a PMU?
2000 was the first year that Spring Hill Horse Rescue in Rutland VT attempted a PMU rescue. Gina Brown and her husband, Curtis held a fundraiser that both Janet and Susan attended in August. In mid September, the Browns took off to Canada for the PMU foal sales and brought home 32 beatiful foals on September 15. The very next day, the friends headed up to Spring Hill to see what Gina had brought them.
Susan had requested an appaloosa cross...hopefully a filly. The first one she was was a cutie but a colt. Then she saw her foal. Rumor is a beautiful golden appy with wonderful color! Next it was Janet's turn...her wish had been for a pinto. Unfortunately Gina was unable to get enough pintos to fill the requests. So Janet picked a stunning red dun Quarter horse filly with tiger bars and a dorsal stripe. (When they look like her, you don't need spots!!) The friends loaded up their new additions and headed home.
The two women wasted no time in training their fillies. The next day they had on halters and were leading all over the farm. They learned to lead, to tie, to pick up their feet and be groomed in no time at all. The girls even wore pony saddles! The women used clicker training to teach the "girls" many things. The two fillies were fast friends and spent their first year together, terrorizing Janet's other horses.
Unfortunately, Susan's life changed and she had to move herself and her two horses to a new town. The two have remained friends...or should I say the four?
Janet continued to train Whisper using Clinton Anderson's method and began riding her sooner than Susan rode Rumor. Susan was all new to the "baby game" and pursued the help of several trainers. First was Lisa Moreno who helped start the lead training. When Susan moved she enlisted the help of Mindy Berg at Water Tower Farm in Marshfield VT to prepare Rumor for riding. (Mindy, by the way, adopted her own PMU "Topaz" in 2003!) After lots and lots of ground work on March 23, 2003, Susan got to sit on her filly for the first time. "Tears in my eyes for that!" said Susan.
Susan and Rumor are now working with two talented women, Jane Creah and Stephanie Ducharme on more ground work, "never enough!", and proper body position in the saddle. Susan says "I'm extremely lucky to have these two working with us. I think it is a strength to know when you need help and to look carefully to find the help you need" ...We couldn't agree more!!!! Susan is an active participant in Rumor's training and the results show she must be doing a pretty good job!! Rumor has been on trail rides, knows several tricks and has even been used in some therapeutic riding lessons!!!! Not bad for two beginners.
Janet has also turned Whisper into a fine riding horse and the four companions plan on many trail rides and attending clinics to further polish their skills.
Congratulations to the two special ladies on their two special fillies!!!
|
