KBR Training Case Study: "Tonopah"

KBR Training Case Study

"Tonopah"
(Formerly called "Blue")

A Virginia Range "Comstock" Horse

Tonopah in his pen in Nevada

Tonopah was gathered in as a young stallion from the Virginia Highlands area of Nevada. The Virginia Range Wildlife Protection Association was holding him for adoption, but an ungentled former stallion, even though well built and gelded, isn't in much demand during the snowy winters in Nevada.

LRTC agreed to take in Tonopah at the Learning Center at KBR. Our objective is to gentle him and find a suitable adopter. This case study starts with his first full day after arriving.

Day 1

Tonopah and his Comstock companion, "Hope," settled in fairly well but they both seemed very edgy when people would were moving around nearby. We waited until the place was quiet and worked with Tonopah using Quiet Hour approaches and the Bamboo Pole Method. In a few minutes we could quietly walk up and scratch him on the withers if nobody was moving around outside his pen, but he still had a long way to go before really getting settled with people.

First night here

In the pen with a wary horse

Avoiding the pole at first Working back to the rump Sliding up the pole First contact	"That's not so bad" Curious about the pole Ready for contact Walking up and scratching
Later Corrine Davis returned to the ranch from an outing with her mustang, River, and popped in to get in some work on her own.
Worried about a new person By the end of the first day Tonopah was adopted by David Harris, Corrine's husband. Continue to Part Two	Starting to relax End of the day - checking out the grain bowl
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