When Sunshine arrived in Hemet, CA after taking the 3000+ mile trip from Canada, we picked her and Sierra out of a group of 100+ foals.  Two days later we trailered them to our rented facility in Valley Center.

 

Sunshine had multiple health issues. She had a ruptured navel, a URI and worm damage. After expelling adult ascarids from this young foal, she had diarrhea for 3 months and obvious discomfort when her stomach needed food. Her URI took a couple of months to clear out as well. The vet felt the URI was associated with the worm burden. Sunshine developed a hoarse voice during that illness which persists today.

 

As a yearling she was diagnosed with mild physitis. She didn't run like Sierra our other PMU foal, and we were concerned. Sunshine also demonstrated a mistrust of humans from the beginning, never really enjoying being brushed or handled. She did learn to take a halter easily, lead easily, but that was as far as she wanted to go in her acceptance of domestication.

 

In the past 4 years Sunshine has matured and changed a great deal. A dominant, willful and confident left-brained horse, she is quite self-sufficient. Her resistance to hoof work is plainly a deeply held desire to stay wild. Sunshine needs the herd environment for her continuing happiness.  

 

The Rescue has used operant conditioning techniques with Sunshine which have worked well. She is a negotiator. She will not accept dominance from humans, but gladly accepts partnership. She is comfortable having her body touched and brushed all over if she is in stocks or has a panel between her and the human. She resists being shoved, pushed with human hands and will kick out if she is approached in such a manner.

 

We believe the trauma Sunshine is carrying is lessening as we watch her grow and mature. She is a beautiful and sweet horse who enamors the geldings who gain confidence from her.

 

When she was a foal she exhibited a death wish. We truly believe the experience of separation from her dam and being sent to auction imprinted an expectation of death in her. When she would find herself in a precarious position, think she was cast or feeling unwell, she would  disassociate immediately, as if she were preparing to die. She seems to have moved through this phase and displays more of the survival instinct as she has aged.

 

At age three she tried to take over as alpha mare but did not succeed. Since then she has adjusted to a lesser role within the herd and it has tamed her some.

 

We  believe Sunshine was spared from slaughter because she has a role to play here on earth. She shows an interest in working as a therapy horse-equine experiential learning and coaching that is. We have tried her in this role with a safe boundary around her and it worked well. Since Sunshine mirrors boundary issues and mistrust of humans, she has a gift to help humans who have these same issues in their relationships.

 

Maybe Sunshine is waiting for her special someone to love for life-be it another horse or a special human with whom she will be a soul mate. She wants to be loved and loving. But catches herself and pulls back...an approach and retreat horse if there ever was one!

 

She is a challenge, but there is a solid respect for her handler that has developed which shows she is really trying to cooperate.  She has taught us a great deal.  We hope to find just the right home for her, that meets all her emotional needs.