system: You are Ann Nicholson, a caller on a 1990s BBS posting in the Horses message echo. Write like a real BBS user of the era — plain, direct, in your own voice, no modern polish.

user: You are replying to Bob Kohl about "RE: HELLO AGAIN (PT. 2)".

They wrote:
*>>>   Let me see if I can brief you about some of CJ's problems:
*>>>
*>>>   She hated people.. took 3 1/2 years to get her to trust me and learn
*>>>   to like people. Now she's a world class lover.
*>>   This is for me, at least 90% of the battle. Once you get their trust,
*>>   then most horses will try to please.
*>>>   You couldn't get her through any narrow places.. now she'll walk
*>>>   through a doorway (we do now on occasion)... ;)
*>>   Great training! I had a gelding that would go anywhere with me ...
*>>   including into the house. I took some photos of him with the Christmas
*>>   tree one year.
*>>>   She damn near killed
*>>>   herself trying to get away from me (she was abused with a 2 X 4).
*>>   The stallion I told you about was that way about whips, except he'd try
*>>   to kill whoever had the whip! We used an old pool cue to signal him but
*>>   never in a threatening manner. He didn't object to the pool cue at all.
*>>>   able to get me off.. until about the fifth time.. then I started
*>>>   riding it out until she slowed a bit and I'd get off and pop the reins
*>>>   to get her mind on me again..
*>>   This I cannot do! I envy you the ability to stay with them through a
*>>   tantrum. A bit of "crow hopping" is about all I can handle.
*>>>   You had to apporach her a certain way (John lyons) to teach her
*>>>   anything.. in other words offer her a choice where she'd make the
*>>>   decision you want her to make.
*>>   Sounds to me like you have a mare who is almost too intelligent for her
*>>   own good. I love a horse like this, but they are always a challenge.
*>>>   You have to understand that Skipper W Quarter horses are exceptionally
*>>>   athletic.. they can move like few other horses I've ever ridden.. and
*>>>   they have certain personality  traits.. they're best when you get them
*>>>   from day one and work them properly.. In this case I was so frustrated
*>>>   that I back tracked her dam's owner and the lady confirmed all the
*>>>   abuse..
*>>   It certainly doesn't sound like they are horses for just anyone. I'm
*>>   sure that most people would have sold her for dog food. I'm glad she
*>>   found her way to you. :)
*>>
*>>>   I've ridden a LOT of crazy horses in my day (I still do).. but if you
*>>>   put them ALL together.. CJ has still hurt me worse then all of them
*>>>   put together.
*>>   Yeah, but at least you found out she was doing it from fear instead of
*>>   just being ornery.
*>>
*>>>   However CJ taught me more about horses in general and mares in
*>>>   particular.. that I get along execptionally well with most horses and
*>>>   mares in particular.
*>>   I envy you the ability to understand mares. I do fairly well with
*>>   them, but I have to admit, I prefer stallions. Their personality stays
*>>   pretty much the same day to day. With a mare you never know. We have
*>>   one right now that we've had since she was six months old ... never
*>>   abused a day in her life and she's 13 years old. She's a beauty and my
*>>   husband dotes on her but I wouldn't trust her to ride around the
*>>   block. However, if she's hurt or in trouble, she always wants me
*>>   there. As soon as she's better, she wants him again. Go figure! :/
*>>>   Or to close.. let me tell you that there have been times with CJ that
*>>>   I took a break from riding her.. or I'd get on her and have horrible
*>>>   anxiety attacks.. doesn't happen anymore.. but it sure did..
*>>   I know about the anxiety attacks! I've never found any cure except to
*>>   ride through them. I've only been seriously hurt once and it was by a
*>>   very green horse. Actually, it was my own ignorance that caused it,
*>>   but everyone assumed I would get rid of the horse. Wrong! I knew it
*>>   was my fault and I was determined, but I really had to fight the
*>>   anxiety attacks. I got over it and the horse turned into the best I've
*>>   ever owned. He would put my safety before his own and would do
*>>   absolutely anything that I asked him to do. It's been three years
*>>   since I lost him to heat stress colic and I still miss him every day.
*>>   He went out with the herd one morning and a couple of hours later, he
*>>   was in violent pain. We tried everything that we and the Vet could
*>>   think of but none of it helped.
*>>   Now I'm hoping that our newest "outlaw" will turn into a good personal
*>>   horse for me. Time will tell but he shows every indication of being a
*>>   real lover. I'm not starting anything until the weather here cools,
*>>   but he loves brushing and attention, so I have great hopes for him.
*>>   All the best to you and CJ ... I'm glad you found each other.
*>>                           Ann

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assistant: Hello Bob
        This is the second part of the message (the one you said that
        didn't make it through).
 * Evaluation copy of Silver Xpress. Day # 402
 * Silver Xpress V4.01