Horse(s) of the Month - Rabbit and Mayhem

Horse of the Month - Rabbit and Mayhem

 

So it seems I let the ball drop and didn't do a horse of the month for September and October is tomorrow. But it does seem a bit fitting to put these two together.

 

Rabbit and Mayhem.

 

Originally I was looking for an older mare that would join the current mare herd. Queen had coliced and left Babe alone in her pen.  I didn't want her alone but didn't really think the few geldings that would tolerate Babe would work because I pull them for rides and she'd still be alone. So I went in search of an older mare. I knew at some point one of the two old mares would go and then they'd be left alone standing in a pen.

 

I found Rabbit.

 

Rabbit

She's a registered Quarter Horse, with a registered name of Rabbit Choker Nikki. Her previous owners called her Nikki but I couldn't do it. Her sire was Rabbit Choker (hence the name).

The person selling Rabbit had only had her for a few short months. She'd been bred when the person bought her and the foal was guaranteed to be a blue roan, which is what that person wanted.

What came out, was a replica of Rabbit. We affectionately call her Mayhem. She's register-able but there was some issues with the paperwork and we never got her registered. Mayhem was born on June 24, 2010 and as the pictures show, she's sorrel. She's a bit different in sorrel color. Rabbit has a bit more red when the sun shines in her and Mayhem is a little less fiery red when the sun shines on her coat.

But being that Mayhem wasn't a blue roan, the person didn't want the combo and put them up for sale in September 2010. I had thought Rabbit would be a good fit for Babe and Queen. She wasn't. She was much younger than those two older mares (late 20s early 30s while Rabbit was only late teens). I don't remember the specifics of how I introduced the mares, but it didn't go well and so we were left with two mare herds. Well, Rabbit actually prefers the company of geldings. She's a no nonsense kind of gal.

Mayhem and Rabbit

Unfortunately, Rabbit has heaves. I've tried an antihistamine and it doesn't seem to work. Humidity makes it way worse. She actually seems to do ok when she's on hay (not rounds mind you). But if I grain her with the antihistamine, she coughs. I'm not sure what to do with her. I was told she was broke to ride but she's off in the back end. I've not had her evaluated but didnt' figure on riding her. So she's been retired from riding and making babies ever since. I didn't think that she needed to be pregnant when she has to deal with heaves. It was too much stress on her body. After she'd had Mayhem, she'd dropped a considerable amount of weight and it took a full four months to get her up to the weight that I wanted her at.

Mayhem and Rabbit (Rabbit was shaking her head and about to clear her nose so that's why the funny look)

Mayhem was born with an umbilical hernia (which I have yet to repair. Every time there's money, someone else gets sick and there goes the funds to get it repaired). Mayhem always seemed a little on the small side so I never pushed her. In fact, I still see her as the little filly that jumped off the trailer at three months old, rather than the four year old that she currently is. (I know, I really should have gotten the hernia taken care of but the $400-$800 price tag slowed me down and saving for it is always a challenge when someone keeps getting sick).

This spring Mayhem did get sick (May 2014) and we hauled her in to Dakota Large Vet Clinic to discover that she also has a heart murmur. So that explains why she isn't as big as her momma. She isn't disproportionate but she seems a lot more petite than she should be.  So she's had a few hard knocks against her in her short life (born the wrong color, umbilical hernia, heart murmur). I'm still collecting funds for her umbilical hernia, but if anyone wants to help it would be greatly appreciated.

When I weaned Mayhem, I put her in with the ponies because they were the same size. The ponies tormented her but that kept her mind occupied. Rabbit had to hang out by herself. She's since been pasture mates with a few of the others that have come and gone (Dick the Percheron, Savanna, and Sahara).

I've also put Rabbit in with the ponies. She'll pin her ears and give them the stink eye but I really think she likes their company. I think she prefers to have a flock to look after rather than just her own daughter.

After awhile I put Mayhem in with the old mares. There's something about a young horse in with old horses that helps both. The old horses feel young again and the young horse learns so much from the old horses. I was able to teach Mayhem how to stand tied rather quickly. In fact, within days of teaching her to put a halter on, she was trained to stand tied for hours (I had to tie her so that she wouldn't steal the old mares' grain).

Mayhem looks a lot like her momma. But she also looks a lot like Maverick. I've on occasion had to do a double take to make sure Maverick wasn't in with the mares. When summers come around, Rabbit also has problems with bug bites and a weepy eye. We try desperately to keep a fly mask on her but she's amazing at getting them off. She also is turning into a hard keeper so I like to put a blanket or a sheet on her when the weather turns (or we get wet rain/snow). But she is a mare that prefers to keep her wardrobe to a minimum. She's destroyed every blanket or sheet I've ever put on her. She's also now teaching Mayhem to destroy blankets. Like mother, like daughter.

I am thankful to have the pair at the Sanctuary. Both deserve a save haven. Rabbit will enjoy the life of retirement, and Mayhem will start her education under saddle in the next year or two. I want to ensure that her body can handle the rigors of training before we proceed with further education.

Rabbit and Mayhem have come a long way in the few years they've been at the Sanctuary.