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Frosty, an adopted Pony & Pony of the Americas Mix in Willard, MO_image-1
Adopted
Frosty Pony Pony & Pony of the Americas Mix Willard, MO
- Adult
- Male
- Small
- White, Gray, Appaloosa
About
- Characteristics
- Friendly, Affectionate, Gentle, Smart, Loves Kisses
- Health
- Vaccinations up to date, spayed / neutered, special needs.
- Good in a home with
- Dogs, cats, children, other animals. Farm animals (goats, sheep, ducks, etc.).
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Meet Frosty
Meet Frosty
Looking for the softest nose and fuzziest ears you’ll ever have the pleasure of snuggling? Look no further! Frosty is the kindest, gentlest, most adorable pony you’ll ever meet! From kid’s pony rides to parades to playing dress up on Halloween, Frosty will do anything and everything for a little love and a handful of hay pellets!
FROSTY'S BACKGROUND
Frosty was dumped at our local stockyards along with over a dozen other ponies. He had gone down in the trailer and was trampled by the other ponies. As he struggled to navigate due to full blindness, the slaughter traders made fun of him and chased him with paddles and prods, causing him to crash into the steel panels and fall to the ground repeatedly. A kind woman finally walked up and put a rope around his neck, and she was able to lead him with ease.
When we went to load him on the trailer, Steph gave him a small handful of feed and he pressed his nose firmly against her arm. He followed her through the maze of pens and up onto the trailer, never letting his nose break contact with her.
Frosty was sore and terrified, but otherwise luckily unscathed. He quickly habituated to his new surroundings at SKE and has embraced everyone he’s met with kindness and friendly, gentle nose nudges.
Frosty has quickly become a farm favorite and has a long-term sponsor in the event he needs to remain at SKE for the rest of his life. His adoption would allow for more ponies to be rescued and rehabilitated at SKE, though, so we are still hoping he can find a dedicated forever home!
FROSTY'S TRAINING
Frosty is easy to handle and loves giving pony rides! His education has been 100% R+ (clicker training, fear-free/force-free) since arrival. His list of behaviors includes:
- Haltering
- Leading (with halter, off a target, or off body language/at liberty)
- Nose targeting (target stick & hand targets)
- Stationary targeting (at a cone, mat, or bucket)
- Body handling (for brushes, petting, vet, etc.)
- Veterinary handling (checking eyes, ears, nose, teeth/mouth, teats, etc.)
- Cooperative injections (IV & IM)
- Cooperative oral medications (via syringe, though she will also eat medications mixed into food)
- Cooperative eye drops/ointments
- Cooperative aerosol spray (like aluminum spray / aluspray)
- Cooperative fly spray
- Trailer loading (both ramp & step up; turning to walk off & backing off)
- Tacking (saddle pad, saddle, girth, bitless bridle)
- Standing patiently for mounting
- Safely leading with kids on his back (for pony rides)
- Basic riding skills (stop/go, steering at the walk)
Frosty is a reliable, consistent pony but does require a few accommodations due to his lack of vision. He prefers to use auditory targets (ie, we’ve used a bell from a cat toy attached to a target stick). He also prefers to be led with tactile cues, ie, consistent contact on the rope/reins (similar to how he will press his nose to your arm–constant, steady pressure he can follow).
Frosty is capable of becoming overwhelmed or scared if he “loses” his person–ie, he cannot clearly hear or feel where his handler is. He’s had a surprisingly good time at loud events such as parades and birthday parties, always with a familiar handler maintaining tactile contact. He’s also done well without constant tactile contact provided he’s in a quiet area where he can easily hear his handler’s footsteps, breathing, voice, etc. Even when overwhelmed, he is easy for any average handler to manage and calm down, but might be too much for a beginner to confidently handle. When relaxed, he is easy and reliable for beginner handlers.
Frosty has done countless leadline “pony rides” but minimal independent riding. He requires clear and consistent communication from his rider in order to navigate successfully, otherwise he will simply “park” and wait for someone on the ground to direct him. Given his size, most of his riders are children who are too young/inexperienced to help him develop further riding skills. We’ve embraced him as the perfect pony ride mount, and a skilled adopter could likely help him develop independent riding skills for a special youth, too!
FROSTY'S HEALTH HISTORY
Frosty is the perfect age at approximately 15 years old. He is a grade (no papers/registration) miniature horse/pony. We suspect he carries some appaloosa-color genes, given his mottled skin and eye condition (genetically linked to appaloosas).
Frosty stands approx. 12hh tall, the perfect size–not too big, not too small! He can easily carry up to 50lbs for routine, medium-impact riding or can handle up to 75lbs for routine, low-impact riding. His max weight limit is likely around 900lbs for infrequent, low-impact riding.
Frosty is an easy-keeper who does great on grass hay without needing any additional grain or supplements. Being a miniature, he is high-risk for laminitis and should not be kept on pasture grass nor fed any sugary feeds/treats.
Frosty has excellent hooves that self-trim reasonably well on a varied-terrain track system, and he stands very nicely for cooperative hoof trimming.
Frosty does not appear to have any athletic/soundness limitations, but was injured when retrieved from the stockyards (likely from falling and being trampled on the trailer, and likely worsened by cruelty he experienced at the stockyards). He recovered very well, but still displays some soreness in his hips infrequently. We make sure not to ride him if he’s sore, though this could likely be managed with herbal supplements or medications, too.
Frosty is fully blind and has been since before we met him. We believe this was caused by Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU), also known as “moon blindness,” which is an autoimmune disease that causes cataracts, glaucomas, and eventual blindness. This condition is present in all horses who carry the LP gene (which causes spotted appaloosa coat color patterns) though most horses will not develop symptoms until 10-20 years old, and a lucky few don’t develop symptoms until 20+ years old.
Other than his eye condition and the injuries sustained before his arrival, Frosty has only had one major medical issue that we’re aware of–he once suffered from heat stroke after his water trough was moved from its usual place. We realized the issue a bit too late, but he was quickly cooled down without further issue.
FROSTY'S SPECIAL NEEDS
In order to safely navigate his environment, Frosty needs a few accommodations:
- Safe Fencing: All fences should be secure and solid, so he does not run the risk of entanglement. Electric fencing must be above 48” from the ground, as he likes to follow the fencelines with his nose in order to navigate and will shock himself if electric fencing is in his way.
- Accessible Resources: All resources (hay, water, shelter, etc.) must be along the fenceline of his enclosure. When Frosty gets disoriented, he uses the fenceline to navigate. If any of his resources aren’t along the fenceline, he may not be able to find them.
- Safe Companions: Like any horse, Frosty needs secure herd membership to feel safe. He does well with just about anyone, but like most blind horses, his behavior can be confusing for some sighted horses (ie, he can’t see them pinning their ears, so he doesn’t know they’re upset with him and doesn’t respond like a sighted horse would).
Though most sighted horses will eventually learn he’s different and find other ways to communicate, it’s important he doesn’t get hurt in this process (ie, from a kick or being chased into a fence when a horse gets upset with him for not responding appropriately to their pinned ears or other visual warnings). This means he needs gentle, tolerant companions that won’t hurt him if conflict arises.
Frosty currently lives with the very feral mini-hinny, Olaf. He and Olaf are established companions and do well together, though they certainly aren’t bonded and are fine to be integrated into other herds if adopted separately. That said, Frosty’s adopter is welcome to a waived adoption fee for Olaf, if you’d like to adopt the pair together!
- Potential Eye Complications: It’s possible that Frosty’s eye condition will stay the same for the rest of his life, but it’s also possible it will get worse. SKE is committed to supporting Frosty and his future adopters in the event that his condition worsens. We will always remain available for consultations or assistance, and Frosty will always be welcome to return to SKE for advanced veterinary care or retirement (a “safety net” option for any equines adopted from us). Additionally, a portion of his adoption fee goes into a savings account that can provide assistance if he needs expensive veterinary interventions in the future.
HOW TO ADOPT FROSTY
SKE seeks adopters who have good intentions & good core values to direct them on their horsemanship journey - plus the knowledge, resources, & facilities to provide a great life to their adopted equine. If you feel that describes you, we would love for you to provide Frosty with an amazing home!
Frosty is available for adoption through SKE for $1500. He’s located in Willard, Missouri, USA and transportation is available in the US & most of Canada.
Start the application process by filling the adoption application:
skequine.com/adopt
Contact SKE with any questions or concerns:
adopt@skequine.com
Thank you so much for considering Frosty! He is certain to warm the heart of anyone lucky enough to bring him home!
Looking for the softest nose and fuzziest ears you’ll ever have the pleasure of snuggling? Look no further! Frosty is the kindest, gentlest, most adorable pony you’ll ever meet! From kid’s pony rides to parades to playing dress up on Halloween, Frosty will do anything and everything for a little love and a handful of hay pellets!
FROSTY'S BACKGROUND
Frosty was dumped at our local stockyards along with over a dozen other ponies. He had gone down in the trailer and was trampled by the other ponies. As he struggled to navigate due to full blindness, the slaughter traders made fun of him and chased him with paddles and prods, causing him to crash into the steel panels and fall to the ground repeatedly. A kind woman finally walked up and put a rope around his neck, and she was able to lead him with ease.
When we went to load him on the trailer, Steph gave him a small handful of feed and he pressed his nose firmly against her arm. He followed her through the maze of pens and up onto the trailer, never letting his nose break contact with her.
Frosty was sore and terrified, but otherwise luckily unscathed. He quickly habituated to his new surroundings at SKE and has embraced everyone he’s met with kindness and friendly, gentle nose nudges.
Frosty has quickly become a farm favorite and has a long-term sponsor in the event he needs to remain at SKE for the rest of his life. His adoption would allow for more ponies to be rescued and rehabilitated at SKE, though, so we are still hoping he can find a dedicated forever home!
FROSTY'S TRAINING
Frosty is easy to handle and loves giving pony rides! His education has been 100% R+ (clicker training, fear-free/force-free) since arrival. His list of behaviors includes:
- Haltering
- Leading (with halter, off a target, or off body language/at liberty)
- Nose targeting (target stick & hand targets)
- Stationary targeting (at a cone, mat, or bucket)
- Body handling (for brushes, petting, vet, etc.)
- Veterinary handling (checking eyes, ears, nose, teeth/mouth, teats, etc.)
- Cooperative injections (IV & IM)
- Cooperative oral medications (via syringe, though she will also eat medications mixed into food)
- Cooperative eye drops/ointments
- Cooperative aerosol spray (like aluminum spray / aluspray)
- Cooperative fly spray
- Trailer loading (both ramp & step up; turning to walk off & backing off)
- Tacking (saddle pad, saddle, girth, bitless bridle)
- Standing patiently for mounting
- Safely leading with kids on his back (for pony rides)
- Basic riding skills (stop/go, steering at the walk)
Frosty is a reliable, consistent pony but does require a few accommodations due to his lack of vision. He prefers to use auditory targets (ie, we’ve used a bell from a cat toy attached to a target stick). He also prefers to be led with tactile cues, ie, consistent contact on the rope/reins (similar to how he will press his nose to your arm–constant, steady pressure he can follow).
Frosty is capable of becoming overwhelmed or scared if he “loses” his person–ie, he cannot clearly hear or feel where his handler is. He’s had a surprisingly good time at loud events such as parades and birthday parties, always with a familiar handler maintaining tactile contact. He’s also done well without constant tactile contact provided he’s in a quiet area where he can easily hear his handler’s footsteps, breathing, voice, etc. Even when overwhelmed, he is easy for any average handler to manage and calm down, but might be too much for a beginner to confidently handle. When relaxed, he is easy and reliable for beginner handlers.
Frosty has done countless leadline “pony rides” but minimal independent riding. He requires clear and consistent communication from his rider in order to navigate successfully, otherwise he will simply “park” and wait for someone on the ground to direct him. Given his size, most of his riders are children who are too young/inexperienced to help him develop further riding skills. We’ve embraced him as the perfect pony ride mount, and a skilled adopter could likely help him develop independent riding skills for a special youth, too!
FROSTY'S HEALTH HISTORY
Frosty is the perfect age at approximately 15 years old. He is a grade (no papers/registration) miniature horse/pony. We suspect he carries some appaloosa-color genes, given his mottled skin and eye condition (genetically linked to appaloosas).
Frosty stands approx. 12hh tall, the perfect size–not too big, not too small! He can easily carry up to 50lbs for routine, medium-impact riding or can handle up to 75lbs for routine, low-impact riding. His max weight limit is likely around 900lbs for infrequent, low-impact riding.
Frosty is an easy-keeper who does great on grass hay without needing any additional grain or supplements. Being a miniature, he is high-risk for laminitis and should not be kept on pasture grass nor fed any sugary feeds/treats.
Frosty has excellent hooves that self-trim reasonably well on a varied-terrain track system, and he stands very nicely for cooperative hoof trimming.
Frosty does not appear to have any athletic/soundness limitations, but was injured when retrieved from the stockyards (likely from falling and being trampled on the trailer, and likely worsened by cruelty he experienced at the stockyards). He recovered very well, but still displays some soreness in his hips infrequently. We make sure not to ride him if he’s sore, though this could likely be managed with herbal supplements or medications, too.
Frosty is fully blind and has been since before we met him. We believe this was caused by Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU), also known as “moon blindness,” which is an autoimmune disease that causes cataracts, glaucomas, and eventual blindness. This condition is present in all horses who carry the LP gene (which causes spotted appaloosa coat color patterns) though most horses will not develop symptoms until 10-20 years old, and a lucky few don’t develop symptoms until 20+ years old.
Other than his eye condition and the injuries sustained before his arrival, Frosty has only had one major medical issue that we’re aware of–he once suffered from heat stroke after his water trough was moved from its usual place. We realized the issue a bit too late, but he was quickly cooled down without further issue.
FROSTY'S SPECIAL NEEDS
In order to safely navigate his environment, Frosty needs a few accommodations:
- Safe Fencing: All fences should be secure and solid, so he does not run the risk of entanglement. Electric fencing must be above 48” from the ground, as he likes to follow the fencelines with his nose in order to navigate and will shock himself if electric fencing is in his way.
- Accessible Resources: All resources (hay, water, shelter, etc.) must be along the fenceline of his enclosure. When Frosty gets disoriented, he uses the fenceline to navigate. If any of his resources aren’t along the fenceline, he may not be able to find them.
- Safe Companions: Like any horse, Frosty needs secure herd membership to feel safe. He does well with just about anyone, but like most blind horses, his behavior can be confusing for some sighted horses (ie, he can’t see them pinning their ears, so he doesn’t know they’re upset with him and doesn’t respond like a sighted horse would).
Though most sighted horses will eventually learn he’s different and find other ways to communicate, it’s important he doesn’t get hurt in this process (ie, from a kick or being chased into a fence when a horse gets upset with him for not responding appropriately to their pinned ears or other visual warnings). This means he needs gentle, tolerant companions that won’t hurt him if conflict arises.
Frosty currently lives with the very feral mini-hinny, Olaf. He and Olaf are established companions and do well together, though they certainly aren’t bonded and are fine to be integrated into other herds if adopted separately. That said, Frosty’s adopter is welcome to a waived adoption fee for Olaf, if you’d like to adopt the pair together!
- Potential Eye Complications: It’s possible that Frosty’s eye condition will stay the same for the rest of his life, but it’s also possible it will get worse. SKE is committed to supporting Frosty and his future adopters in the event that his condition worsens. We will always remain available for consultations or assistance, and Frosty will always be welcome to return to SKE for advanced veterinary care or retirement (a “safety net” option for any equines adopted from us). Additionally, a portion of his adoption fee goes into a savings account that can provide assistance if he needs expensive veterinary interventions in the future.
HOW TO ADOPT FROSTY
SKE seeks adopters who have good intentions & good core values to direct them on their horsemanship journey - plus the knowledge, resources, & facilities to provide a great life to their adopted equine. If you feel that describes you, we would love for you to provide Frosty with an amazing home!
Frosty is available for adoption through SKE for $1500. He’s located in Willard, Missouri, USA and transportation is available in the US & most of Canada.
Start the application process by filling the adoption application:
skequine.com/adopt
Contact SKE with any questions or concerns:
adopt@skequine.com
Thank you so much for considering Frosty! He is certain to warm the heart of anyone lucky enough to bring him home!
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Frosty
- Pony
- Adult
- Male