Project Hope Horse Welfare Victoria Inc.

Introduction

PHHWV Matthew (Matt) is one of the 11 Portland horses that formed one of the largest rescue efforts PHHWV has completed to date. An undernourished mature stallion at the time of rescue, Matt’s story is one of the many successes that have eventuated from that day. We hope that this story gives you an insight into the some of the challenges, work, effort and enjoyment that PHHWV volunteers experience with the successful rescue and rehabilitation of a neglected horse.

Matt arrived at my place late in the evening after the long trip from Portland. On the cattle truck with him were the other 10 horses including mares, yearling colts and filly, one weanling, another mature stallion and one Shetland pony. They had all traveled well, utilising the three pens on the truck to keep the two stallions apart. I was fortunate to have a well lit ramp and yards, making it easy to separate the stallions as soon as they came off the truck. For the first night all the horses were kept in our cattle yards with feed and water as it was too late to put them out into strange paddocks in the dark. The following day Matt and the other stallion ‘Omar’ were brought down to the horse yards nearer the house. Matt was in fairly bad condition, approximately 1.5 to 1.75 condition score. His long mane was matted and his coat dull and rough. Despite being a stallion from day one Matt proved to be an exceptionally well-mannered horse to handle. As with the other rescue horses he was wormed, vaccinated and started on a planned feeding regime in the first week (Thanks to feed store and Kentucky Equine Research for donations and advice). As soon as it could be organised all the horses had their teeth done by Mark Burnell and their feet trimmed. During this time I was able to shuffle our own horses so that Matt and Omar could go out into safe, double fenced and electrified paddocks, where they could see the other horses but not get near them.

Matt’s condition improved quickly and I soon fell in love with him, a smart and sensitive horse, who seems to really enjoy human company, adoring a good scratch and always such a gentleman. As soon as he was healthy enough he was gelded and although it went well he did swell up significantly, which is likely to be the result of being done as a fully mature horse. After a couple of weeks of looking a little unhappy and walking quite stiffly he began to improve and has never looked back.

Breaking him in was the next task and I spent quite a bit of time mouthing and long reining him. We spent many hours wandering around the farm, over logs and creeks and up and down banks- sort of cross-country on foot. As I am now too chicken to give horses their first ride Matt went to well known show jumping family The ‘Allens’. As with most things he was a bit nervous to start with but soon settled down and after a little while with the Allen’s I was able to have a few rides myself. After coming this far and having built such a relationship with Matt I was very keen to keep him in my care, unfortunately though we were due to move house and already had enough horses in our care. The time had come for Matt to be placed in permanent care, being such a special horse though it was essential that he be placed in the care of someone able to commit to his continuing education and ongoing care. I was pleased when one of our new members, Corinne Rice was able to take him on.

At this point the author of Matt’s story shifts to his current carer Corinne Rice

Story of life after rescue:

In December 2005 I was approached by PHHWV to take on Matt on a short term basis. Being horseless at the time and wanting to increase my involvement with the organisation I jumped at the chance of being able to care of this very special boy. When I collected him from Nicola Fanning he was very green having only been recently broken in and he was very wary of me and the whole riding process. A couple of weeks were spent with me just handling him on the ground, playing games and spending a lot of get to know each other time. This time has since proved very valuable as the pair of us have formed a really special bond and the trust and respect he shows towards me continually amazes me. He seems to really enjoy being in my company with the scratches being a definite favourite; I have to keep my fingernails long just for this purpose!

When the time came for me to ride Matt for the first time I recruited the help of my neighbour and PHHWV secretary Samantha Forrest and we slowly reintroduced him to the saddle, bridle and myself as rider. The time I had spent with him on the ground really paid off here as he quickly became accustomed to me being on his back and putting him through some basic paces.

I am constantly aware of the fact that Matt was once a stallion and while he very rarely shows any stallion tendencies, some of his little quirks are reminiscent of the days when he ruled the mares! His neat paddock being just one of them! Matt is a very intelligent and sensible horse, his actions are never with out reason and once he understands what it is that we are on about he is completely at ease and very confident about it all.

The result of this amazing partnership was the committee’s decision to allow me to adopt Matt on a permanent basis in February 2006. The following month I relocated to Echuca in the north of Victoria for work and Matt came with me. I now live and work in the same town, which means I can spend so much more time riding and playing with Matt. I visit him every day and we go for a ride about two-three times a week. After a change in agistment properties Matt is now happily living in a large paddock with 8 other horses (3 of them mares), He instantaneously became much more settled in this new environment, and is now a very relaxed and happy horse. Having the mares and Matt in together causes no difficulties with the only tiffs occurring at dinner time as Matt is rather protective of his bucket of feed.

Matt’s schooling has continued to improve over the past twelve months despite the discovery of some old muscular injures that were causing him some physical difficulties when being ridden. This was soon sorted with a few visits from the chiropractor. With the help of the property owner, Matt’s abilities under saddle have quickly increased and he is now happy to work in a consistent outline. Recently we joined the local adult riding club and are really looking forward to competing in our first dressage competition next year. Matt is a

real pleasure to take out and about; he behaves beautifully and very rarely gets above himself unless there’s a good reason, strange noises and motorbikes being the common ones. Our favourite excursion to date has been a 2 hr trail ride along the Murray River, which was a real achievement for the two of us.

I have never experienced a relationship with a horse like the one I currently have with Matt. People tell me that his bond with me is another stallion trait but I’m more inclined to think that Matt is genuinely a smart and sensitive horse with a real affection for human company - he knows where he’s got it good that’s for sure!

I’d like to thank PHHWV for providing me with the opportunity to have Matt in my care and importantly I’d like to recognize the enormous effort that the committee put into rescuing Matt and his fellow Portland Companion. And finally a big thank-you to the generous donations from feed suppliers and equine specialists who have meant that I am able to spend my riding days with such a unique, amazing and sensitive creature.