He does look so much better. Looks like you were able to get the feet tended to at least?
Yes, no more flipper feet. They’ve still got some distortion, but we will fix that over the next few cycles and hopefully he’ll be good as new!
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As long as they were it would take a few cycles to do it right. I love giving a guy like that a fresh start.
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It’s definitely a rewarding experience! I’ve bought nothing but fixer uppers for the last 15 years or so - I really enjoy the process of transformation.
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He’s going to be lovely when he sheds out and puts on some tone and weight. And when he gains confidence.
I totally get the ‘rewarding experience’ part. There is such feel-good to help a needy horsey.
How did I miss this? Hugely improved!
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Oh, he’s looking grand. Cannot wait to see that shiny summer coat!
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He is definitely in need of confidence, as far as existing in the human world. He’s much better than he was, but he’s still sometimes over-reactive to normal human movements. The weight is coming on slowly, and the hair is coming off - he looks like a molting bird right now, weird patches and tufts all over with hints of a darker, shinier coat underneath. 
Overall though, he’s a good egg with a funny personality. He stomps his little feet at me when I don’t dump his mash fast enough. I need to measure him and see what his predicted height will be - I think I may have another large pony on my hands, which is ironic since I’m 5’7"!
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Still looking patchy, but coming right along.
And a little video clip, in case you wondered how a grade, feral pony youngster might move 
:
*disclaimer: I do not lunge him regularly, this was maybe his third time on the line - just enough to introduce the basic skill.
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He’s a pretty cute little mover.
What an improvement in looks!
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Huge improvement! He’s looking cute!
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You must be giving him confidence 
If he behaved for his trim that’s encouraging - coming from your original “picks up one foot” 
Looks like he might end up chestnut w/flaxen mane/tail.
How fun!
Like unwrapping a present 
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Oh, I actually trim myself - he learned to pick all four feet up on about day 5, and has been getting mini trims every week since then. He’s almost better than my other pony about it!
He is definitely red with flaxen, plus rabicano. I don’t think I have any good pictures that show the rabicano yet.
He also went to the vet earlier this week to become a gelding! Woohoo!
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looks like he might be a fancy little mover.
I missed this the first time around and even though you are already on first name basis, “Maynard” jumped into my head.
Some horses, and ponies, simply want to do a job. You might have stumbled on to one who actually wants to have something to do.
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I’ve been meaning to dress him up and get some updated progress pics, but honestly haven’t had time. However, for all who were curious to see him slicked out and well fed, here is little Fern now.
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Oh, just look at him taking his new found prosperity for granted!
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I completely missed this thread somehow!! What an adorable little pony you picked up… and holy crap, what an improvement. He is so CUTE and I love his name.
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He is stinking adorable. And now he lets me squish his little face! He’s still extremely cautious, but we’re working on it.
I should’ve also mentioned that he is now a gelding 
I had to schedule him as a bilateral cryptorchid because I couldn’t find any testicles - thankfully they were able to find the tiny things way up high, so he avoided surgery and I avoided a four figure bill.
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Since it came up on Bo’s thread, I thought I’d bring this back to life with an update two years later.
Fern moved with us to TX in 2022, along with my other horse (pony). This year he turns 4 - although my history on him tells me, and his teeth generally confirm, that he was born late in the year so at this point he is more like 3.5yo.
He does all the things you’d expect of a horse his age. He never lost the cautious/suspicious nature and strangers still get the side eye until proven trustworthy but he’s my personal shadow. He actively enjoys nose kisses and face squishes, has finally learned how to take cookies (but not from strangers!). I lightly started him under saddle in January and he’s got about a dozen rides under his belt. He has been VERY easy and willing, learns quickly and we’re having so much fun.
He’s grown to 14h +1/2" at this point with good bone, and I expect he’ll finish out just under 14.2. I haven’t shrunk and am still not “pony sized”, but he carries me easily and I don’t look grotesquely large on him. He does have kind of a coarse head in profile, but he’s still working on growing a neck to even things out.
Recent pix:
Videos from a few of the rides here:
https://www.youtube.com/@DCRoyalFern-nv9gu
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This guy always makes me smile, I’ve said it before (enough times to be boring) but he reminds so much of my Doodles who was the Best Pony Ever.
Love to see his progress.
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