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Bonnie
Over the past 2 years, I've gone through various "horsey" traumas resulting in no horse and a major loss of confidence. I contemplated giving up horses altogether but they are in my blood so decided to buy a foal that I could bring up my way. In July 2006 I bought a 3 month old ID x TB filly with the added bonus that her mum came too. The foal was a typical baby, adorable, very friendly, inquisitive and just a fun little horse. Bonnie however was different, not friendly at all and wouldn't tolerate anything being done with her. She would come to me for a bucket of food but other than that, she didn't want to know. I couldn't pick her feet up without her striking out with the front or kicking with the back. I put it down to the fact that she was just a protective mum and maybe things would be better once baby was weaned. Once they'd settled down from the initial separation, I began to try to do things with her - just basic things like bringing her into her stable to groom her and generally just trying to build a 1:1 relationship with her. She fought me every step of the way - and she won every time. As if dealing with her from the ground wasn't bad enough, she was even worse to ride. I was getting nowhere and with my confidence already in tatters, I decided she had to go. My farrier came to do the best with her hooves prior to her ad going in the paper and after hearing about the trouble I was having, gave me a business card for Chiron Horsemanship. I spoke to Ian that night and arranged for him to come and see us. What happened over the following weeks, amazed me. I would watch Ian working with her in complete awe and hardly recognised Bonnie as the horse I'd had all these months. His methods are kind and straight forward and he gets a response from the horse. He turned my bolshie, no respect mare into a mild mannered, calm, sweet natured one. She is now a pleasure to own. Ian is currently working with me to help re-build my confidence and for the first time, in a very long time, I feel good about my horses again. I also truly believe that Bonnie is happier too. Without Ian and Chiron Horsemanship, I would have sold Bonnie and God only knows where she would have ended up and how she would have been treated. Bonnie and I would like to say a BIG thank you to Ian and Chiron Horsemanship !!