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Least Resistance Training Concepts
Project Activity Album
Knightsen's Activities
OLYMPIC WILD HORSE & BURRO PROJECT
Part Three
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The horses were evaluated on 8-21. On average about a half hour was spent
on each horse. The photos were taken right after reentering the pens on 8-22
to illustrate the horses' behavioral characteristics. They were not actually worked
any further as we are saving them for the mentors.
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4784: Knightsen's Frontier Spirit
This horse is not upset by humans in his pen although you can see worry lines
over his eyes. He keeps a comfortable distance. He accepts
the pole from his poll to midway down his back legs without offering to kick.
He accepts contact from both sides. He's not quite ready to be touched.
By the end of the second day he would take hay from strangers standing
outside the pen.
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"That's the spot!"
Age: 3
Herd: Centennial
Area: China Lake, CA
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2262: Siskiyou Midnight Magic
This horse isn't really sure of people yet however if you are quiet he
is pretty accepting. He can be approached without leaving and the lead rope attached or
removed from the halter. He can be rubbed and scratched without holding
the lead.
This horse learned to give to the lead line pretty quickly. He doesn't seem
to want any trouble and is likely to really soften up once he realizes that nobody
means him any harm.
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No hands on the lead
Age: 3
Herd: McGavin Peak
Area: MacDoel, CA
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2829: Lassen Mountain Dusty
This guy is smart. He's figuring people out extremely quickly and is likely
to be spoiled. He will stand for the lead to be attached and removed from
his halter. He likes being scratched unless he spots a likely suspect outside
the pen from which to beg for food. It's cute so people do it. We're going
to have to control this.
By the end of the second day he was sticking his head out of the paddock and
swiping pears from a VIP visitor.
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Making friends.
Age: 5
Herd: New Ravendale
Area: Lassen Nat'l Forest, CA
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The burros were evaluated by mentor Patty Thomas on 8-22. They had no
formal work at the time of evaluation.
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5090: Mojave Desert Rose
Rose will come to you if you are real quiet and she accepts being touched on
the nose. She will also take hay by hand.
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Checking out the manure fork
Age: 5
Herd: Clark Mountain
Area: Mojave Nat'l Preserve, CA
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5093: High Desert Fancy
Fancy follows "Rose's" lead. If Rose touches it, she'll touch it.
We call her the "Velcro Donk" as she's literally stuck to the elder. We haven't
yet tried to separate the two.
(Rose is on the left and Fancy is on the right in this image.)
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Let's touch the camera. You go first.
Age: 2
Herd: Clark Mountain
Area: Mojave Nat'l Preserve, CA
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5098: Baker's Liberty Belle
Belle is quiet and studies everything for a while, then usually will
come around to check things out. You just have to be patient. She seems
sensible enough and should warm up just fine.
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Age: 5
Herd: Clark Mountain
Area: Mojave Nat'l Preserve, CA
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For more pictures of the animals, please visit Meet the Animals.
Wild Horse Predators
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Cougars, bears and wolves can take down wild horses, but as a
practical matter only the cougar is present where wild horses
range and only a few out of hundreds of herds are subject to predation by cougars.
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