The Transformation of Niko, part 3

A Series by Michelle Grimmer

Upon Niko's arrival at Freedom Farm in December of 2013, we got to work. We had a general plan, but time would tell how Niko's transformation would go. The shoes came off (yikes!), we had a look at his teeth, posture, etc., but these particulars were embedded in a deeper process of healing Niko's mind and body through the environment of Freedom Farm.
The shoes. I stood there nervously watching Audrey remove Niko's shoes. Nail by nail...no turning back now! I knew that the shoes would come off, and that it needed to be done, but harbored some fear that he would be too sensitive to be a "barefoot horse." I understood that there would be soreness, and of course as it was December, that there would frozen ground, which is hard on newly barefoot feet. Thus we decided to keep Niko in a pen with rubber mats and wood chips, rather than putting him out in a herd where the footing would be less forgiving.

Play time. Each day he was turned out in the freshly harrowed arena so that he could run around and begin to really feel his feet. For Niko's first 'play dates', Mary put him out with the ponies--Nick, Robin Hood and their leader, Comet. This was great fun! At 16.1 hands, Niko is a pretty big horse, and he was running around with a little gang of ponies which top out at about 11.1 hands. Spinning, wheeling, galloping, bucking and kicking. Generally, having a ball while Niko tried to keep track of the fast little buggers. Fun and games? Yes, but more importantly, an integral part of the rehab of his feet as well as his body and mind. While running around he could feel his feet contact the ground. They could expand and contract as he moved. He was also learning extremely valuable herd dynamics as he interacted with the ponies.

  Comet leads the gang, and (possibly) gives Niko a little advice.

Free time. Then there was a bit of free time each day in the Farm's open "playground" area, which encompasses a large multi-purpose area between the pens and arena, and a broad grassy open space. There he met and was escorted for a time by the Farm's dimunitive, immensely clever burro, Salty. This little guy is something of a maitre d', specializing in newly arrived, big, anxious horses eager to be shown the ropes. Niko followed Salty faithfully for days, learning what was where, who was who (Salty being the head Who at the moment).

Hangin' with Salty; Salty says, "C'mon! I'll show you where they keep the good hay!"

 Hangin' with Salty; Salty says, "C'mon! I'll show you where they keep the good hay!"

As he grew more physically and mentally confident hanging out with the small fry, he graduated to playing with his new buddy Magnum, a long time Farm resident, and soon after a number of other geldings.

You can see that Niko is wearing boots in this photo. Without the boots, he knocked his legs together so badly when he ran around that he would bloody his fetlocks.

 Niko was soon nosing about on his own, nibbling hay bales and grazing with whoever was out and about that day. He became more relaxed and curious, and put on a few much-needed pounds.

 And so passed the winter. Niko's transformation was well underway!


 To be continued.....

(Originally published September 2014)