MARYAGNES (MAGS)
From AlexBrownRacing
At the Fallon Feed Lot
Story:
Mary Agnes is a 10 year old TB that was pulled from the Fallon feedlot. One of our MD FOBs saw her and felt an immediate connection with her. She chose to help rescue her, with the assistance of Shiloh, and arranged to ship Mary Agnes to NLER. We are currently evaluating Mary Agnes to see what continuing care she will need and what she will be suitable for in her new life. She is a very sweet girl and loves her feed, treats, baths, grooming, and anything else that gives her all of the attention. I think we have another Princess on our hands.
In Nevada at Shiloh
At home now in MD 7/01/07
7/21/07 
Mags and her buddy Bather
8/12/07
In my new fly mask
8/18/07
9/22/07 Last picture of Mags before she left for her home.
1/5/08 from Carolyn
UPDATES
6/27/07: Mary Agnes (aka Maggie, yes another one)
has arrived and is enjoying her very own small
paddock with lots of grass, fresh water, and a nice
run-in. She was in pretty good condition when she
arrived, a bit dehydrated (which is to be expected)
and a little stocked up (also to be expected) but
oh so happy to get off of that trailer. She
hadn't even taken two steps off and immediately
dove down for the grass. Maggie is very friendly
and a people kind of horse. She enjoys being with
people and would always come back to us as she
explored her paddock. She's a little off but that
can be from the ride so we will wait at least a
week before making any determinations.
7/16/07: Mary Agnes had her x-rays taken and her teeth
floated and we should know in 2 or 3 days what is
up with her legs. Dr. Kabala took shots of all
four legs to be sure to cover everything.
7/18/07: Mary Agnes will have to have her x-rays re-taken
because 4 of the 6 did not turn out. I'll let you
know when that visit is scheduled. She is
otherwise doing well and also had her teeth
floated on Monday.
7/20/07: Mary Agnes, Bold Bather, and Mariah are all
doing well and enjoying the cooler weather. I'm
with them.
7/24/07: Mary Agnes and Bather are fine and have really
bonded. It's going to be interesting when we have
to separate them.
8/03/07: Mary Agnes had her radiographs re-taken and we
are just waiting to hear the results from Dr.
Kabala. She is doing very well and is a really
sweet girl.
8/08/07: Mary Agnes will have her first ride this weekend
and we'll see just what this lovely girl knows.
Her x-rays do not indicate any major problems at
this time, just some arthritis, and the vet
said, "put her to work". So that's the plan.
8/12/07: From Carolyn
I'm happy to report that Mary Agnes is a lovely
jumper. When I arrived this morning at Kingsdale
I had to lure her away from the crowd so that I
could work with her. I walked into the back
pasture with a 5-lb bag of carrots so I would get
her to follow me toward the barn - of course they
all did. I was able to sequester her in the front
paddock, and then was able to give her a good
grooming. When I went to put on the saddle pad,
she got a bit antsy so I decided to lunge her
without tack first. This girl knows what a lunge
line is, and behaved perfectly. However, it was
obvious that she was severely off at the trot
(more obvious to the right than left) so riding
was out of the question for today.
After we finished our little training session I
took her back to the front paddock for a bath. I
went back into the barn to get shampoo, etc. and
heard a major rucus. Mag's friends had all vacated
the adjoining pasture for the back one, and she
was none too pleased. This "lame" girl started
galloping in circles, bucking, squealing, with all
four legs off the ground at the same time. Then
she looked at me as if to say "see ya" and jumped
over the fence and water trough separating the
pastures. I must say, she had perfect form. She
made a stampeeding beeline for the backpasture
where her BFFs were hiding, and hung out there
until Susan, Terri, Cathy and I fed them brunch.
We then put the pick flymasks on those who would
tolerate them, and then sent the whole gang back
outside for a hay chaser. It was a nice day. Even
though I didn't get to ride Mags, I can clearly
tell she's had some training - particularly over
fences.
She cleared this fence and water trough like it
was nothing - it actually was really pretty to
see. The width of the two was easily four feet.
The sad part is that the vet says she has
arthritis in her hind legs, which basically makes
it impossible for her to do that on a regular
basis/shows. Anti-inflamatory treatments cost
hundreds per month, but I'm now looking into a
smartpak option for her. I think she was a
hunter/jumper in her past life, and I think she
was dumped at the feedlot because of the
arthritis. I have groomed every inch of her body
except her back left foot - whenever I try to pick
that up she kicks wildly at me. I can pick the
front ones anytime, and have about 10-12 seconds
on the back right (enough to get the crap out) but
that other hoof has been off limits from the
start. I really hope she becomes sound soon so I
can actually ride her.
8/30/07: Mags will be leaving sometime in September for her
new home.
9/14/07: Mags, Bather, Mariah, Marisol and Mellie are all doing
well. I will be moving Bather and Marisol to New Windsor
when Mags goes home.
9/23/07: Well it's been a very busy day for us and the horses.
Mags went home today, oh I mean to her foster home (G),
and should settle in within a day or two. She was not
pleased to be seperated from Bather but they are both
adjusting.
9/24/07: Mags is doing really well and has become quite popular
very quickly. Spencer is smitten with her and spends
more time with her than anyone else. It is so rare to \
have a new horse at this barn so all the regulars are
competing for fence time with her. It really is quite
funny to watch. Tomorrow we'll put Hayla in with her and
see what happens - Hayla is alpha mare so this should be
interesting.
The weather has been so nice that she hasn't been in her
stall yet - I've been taking her food out to her in the
pasture. They'll be plenty of time for that stall as the
weather turns for the worse.
Tonight I called out to her like I do with Spence each
night, and she looked up at me. That made my day.
Spencer will just walk toward the barn when I call him
for dinner, so I'm hoping she'll do the same. As you
saw, they both have really big pastures so it's nice not
to have to go on a safari to get them fed.
I promise to get some pictures of her in her
new "foster" home very soon.
9/25/07: Mags had a nice day today. We opened the gate
between the upper and lower pastures so the
girls could meet each other. Mags was a perfect
lady and very calm, but alpha mare Hayla had a
hissy fit. Everytime Mags came near her she
tried to kick her, and she positioned
herself between Mags and the gelding pasture so
Mags couldn't get near any of "her boys." Talk
about mean girls! Eventually Mags just gave up
on Hayla and ran off to play on her own. Hayla
should come around with time, but clearly she
was the problem, not Mags.
Mags also had her first meal in her new stall
today. Spencer was right next door due to his
thrown shoe. They actually touched noses through
the stall partition and seemed very taken with
each other. It will be very hot tomorrow so
Spence will be in during the day. I may
bring Mags in to keep him company, although I
know the hot weather isn't as much of an issue
for her. We'll see what the day brings. I love
having her here. I brush her coat and talk with
her while she eats, telling her how pretty she
is. She absolutely loves the attention and
seems to be very happy.
10/17/07: Here's a brief Mags update - we put a saddle
and bridle on her for the first time tonight,
and it was totally no big deal to her. She has
responded amazing well to her training - her
trainer (Gina) commented that she seems to
really "like her humans" which I've also
observed when I go out to the pasture to get
her for meals - she'll pin her ears at her best
horsey girl friends who come within five feet
of me! She's gained at least 100 pounds and we
pulled her mane - she's looking gorgeous. I
know - pictures pictures pictures - you all
know that's my weakest link. I will give her
and Spence baths this weekend and try to get
pictures of both - especially her. Next Monday,
Gina will get on her and see what we've got
under the hood. This is truly exciting for us -
thanks to all of you for helping to save her.
10/22/07: Today was a big day for Mags and me - our
trainer Gina finally got up on the saddle and
walked her around. She was perfect. Mags is so
well trained that Gina only had to shift the
weight of her hip to get her to respond
correctly. This girl definately has had
dressage training. She is very sensitive to the
girth - but Gina thinks it may be because she
was ridden in too tight a one too often and has
bad memories of that experience. There are no
injuries in that area as far as we can tell. I
was beyond thrilled to see this happen - hard
to believe she was in a feedlot just five
months ago. It was really cool to see everyone
else at my barn stop what they were doing with
their horses and all watch this process - it's
like everyone held a collective breath and then
let out a huge exhale. We're going to spend the
next few weeks seeing what she's capable of,
and I'm hoping to start riding her in about a
month. I know it shouldn't surprise me based
on all that we've seen on this board, but I
just can't believe that someone would just
throw her away like they did. But I feel the
same way about my beautiful 11-year old lab who
I saved out of the shelter nine years ago - she
was just two days away from being put down when
I found her - thank god.
As barns go, mine is a lot less snobby than
most with show horses. But I've known since I
brought her here that most people doubted her
abilities - if you spend 5 $$$figures to buy a
horse why would you think that a rescue horse
would amount to anything even remotely close to
what you have??
I can't tell you why, but I knew from looking
at Mags in a web photo five months ago that
this girl is special. They've all been kind to
her - in fact three people helped pull her mane
and give her a bridle path - but I don't think
any of them believed in her like I do until
today. Gina got on her and within two minutes,
Mags was doing side passes - that's leg cross
overs in dressage language which doesn't happen
by accident. I really loved watching the jaws
drop around the barn tonight. I don't know how
good she is yet, but she certainly could be a
poster child for what gets dumped in a feedlot
to be slaughtered alive in Mexico.
12/25/07: From Carolyn: I bought electric water buckets
for Spencer and Mags - no more ice picking!
And in a major move in family relations, my
husband gave me a name plate for Mags' stall
with both our names on it! He's not been to
barn the to meet her yet (he's only been
there once since January anyway) but this
gift makes it seem that he's accepted the
fact that she'll be hanging out with us for
some time!
STATUS
Mags is at her foster home with MD FOB Carolyn.
Click here to read Mags' full story from the board. http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=alexbrown&msg=10653.1
Click here to go to the Main MD FOB thread. http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=alexbrown&msg=5879.1
Click New Life Equine Rescue to go to NLER Main Page.
