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Thank you for this!
She really has so much personality, and snorts at everything. It’s hilarious watching her react to things, because she makes her opinions well known.
I think she is beginning to settle down, but I felt horrible for her the other night. We got some insane, Monsoon-like rain and she was freaking out. I felt terrible-- only a week in a stall and then to have hail and monsoon conditions and thunder and lightening–it was a lot to process. Then the barn started to flood… I mostly gave her space, but would check in every few minutes to scratch her itchy face or just talk to her. After the rain calmed down and we stopped trying to control the barn, I saw that her stall had gotten a lot of water. So I moved her to an empty, dry stall for the night. I’m glad I was there, but I just felt so bad that she had such a stressful night after having only been with me for a week.
Followed all of the Bo saga on COTH and wow. I’ve got some ideas now on how to get some weight on her. Hoping we can have similar success! Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement!
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I had to share with a community who understands:
I’ve been real anxious about her eating and drinking. Especially her eating but after reading the whole Bo thread, I took a page from the book and added molasses. And she ate! Here’s me being emotional about it, plus some 1.5 week “progress pics”. Sorry she’s dirty. I just wanted her to eat. But I think she’s looking a bit better and her food isn’t falling from her mouth anymore! Yay dentistry! I’m so excited.
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Great job! She’s definitely looking better already! I can tell you’ve been grooming her a lot and that can make a big difference in a short time.
And if her teeth needed work, she’ll probably gain weight steadily now, if you find a good feed that she likes.
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She already looks better. Her whole expression seems so much calmer and relaxed.
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Awww she looks wonderful!
Oh! And mine are also very “busy” which some people interpret as nerves (and can turn into that if not channeled well). The first time one of mine cocked a leg under saddle and snoozed I just about cried. It only took 5 years of riding for him to stand still that long! But I wouldn’t call him hot or scary, just…busy.
I’m so excited to hear more about your journey with her!!! Keep us posted!
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I just lover her coloring! She already looks more filled out and chilled about life!
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Thank you so much! I’m really loving this time getting to know her.
Oh and I’m thrilled to report: today she joined the “clean plate club”. Guess molasses and messing with the water to food ratio were the keys. Watched her eat the whole thing and lick the pan. Yay! (Just a mix of beet pulp, alfalfa pellets, a tiny bit of her grain, and molasses. And water. )
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Years ago I got a very skinny mare. Discussed with my vet about adding a supplement to her grain that would help with weight gain.
Put it in her feed and she flipped the pan over! 
I told her ‘no wonder you’re skin and bones’. Stopped with the supplement, added sweet feed and she ate up everything.
Love your girl
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which reminds me of seeing my son talking with gentleman as the stood by the rail of the warm up ring at Morgan Nationals, they were viewing the horses and commenting to one another.
Afterwards I ask my son did he know who he was talking with? No but he was a nice guy who knew a lot about horses.
Son that was Herbert Kohler, his family owns Kohler Industries and the town of Kohler, Wisconsin (well it is referred to as a Village)
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Thank you! Yep sounds like honey all right!
Sorry all: this will just be constant honey pictures and updates.
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She was turned out in the outdoor for just a bit while the stallions were out on grass. This isn’t her usual turnout situation. I just wanted to clean her stall and water buckets.
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That full profile picture? That is a good example of what a classic ASB is supposed to look like. That head up, radar ears, wide eyed pose is deliberately sought out and bred for- they absolutely sparkle 
But that pose and sparkle can be misleading to those unfamiliar with the breed. For most of us, our horse takes that stance? Its an “oh crap” moment. Horse is focused in on something deciding whether to freeze or spin away, they are tense, waiting to blow, losing focus on the rider and/or changing the subject to avoid obeying. But for an ASB, its an end of the runway model pose, not an indication of fear, upcoming bad behavior or a threat. Its just their ASB body language saying “ look at me, aren’t I fabulous”.
Think of a male Peacock, blow up triple their size when they display but not aggressive…unlike a plain old goose that will aggressively go after you. Remember ASBs developed out of wanting to safely show off driving or riding around big cities back when, they were and still are show off horses.
Appreciate that in her…and remember, like the Peacock, its just showing off. Shes not trying to scare you or signaling trouble. Some people do find that intimidating and in some other breeds, it may be. Not here. just tell her shes fabulous and tell her what you want her to do
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Thank you! This is great to keep in mind as I am new to this breed and definitely, after my last scardey cat tb, have grown to watch for wide eyes and that type of stance as an “oh no” moment.
I’ll make a point to tell her she’s fabulous. 
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They love showing off.
They’ll put on a bug eyed, flared nostrils tail in the air performance around the ring, then come out and kick right back into neutral, after asking “did I look great, or what?”
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Oh…yessss. In aTB it sure can be an Oh No warning at home or they are standing behind the gate waiting to load 
While all horses are individuals and ASBs can be quite a handful and alot of horse, IME they lack the urge to react by exploding. That energy is much easier to direct and control. Plus they are very smart, some have learned simply striking “ the pose” intimidates some riders. Use that info in your overall strategy. The more you are around it, the more you will come to understand and appreciate her. Embrace it, its who she is. She will appreciate that from you and be a better partner.
You know, maybe its time to edit your title to reflect Honey’s progress ( it is Honey, right?) Easier to search for and she can join Matilda and Bo in her journey. All if them together form a great learning tool for others rehabbing very different horses recovering from very different stages of less then ideal care ranging from benign neglect to deaths door.
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100% on ASB personality. Mine loves to trot around like the world is on fire, then settles down and my 12 year old rides bareback with a lead rope.
They are snorty and looky but not spooky, they look for things to get excited about.
Such a fun breed if you can put up with an oversized lovable horse that generally live to be the center of attention and always trying to help.
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Good tips! Thank you! And I’ll edit that title now.
That bicolor mane is just wild. Here’s a vid I shared when Leslie Jordan passed. It’s spot on.
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Hehe she knows she’s pretty
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