Bryce and Kiya (Gratium Fides)

[StarGirl]

Show Name: Gratium Fides
Barn Name: Kiya

Measurements:
Height-15.3
Weight-970lbs-underweight
Distance*-full paddock
(*how far away before she becomes uncomfortable)

Initial Behavior: Very cautious; ears back but not truly pinned (mistrust and warning not hate), ears still move to listen; won’t turn her back completely on me, keeps me in her field of vision, not trusting me enough to look away.

Initial Condition:
Coat- dull and in need of a thorough bathe and brush
Eyes- dull and strained, look fearful and unwilling
Hooves-wavy from lack of certain nutrients, long, in need of a farrier
Weight- underweight but not life threatening
Energy- low, moves slowly but jittery and not very often, should improve with supplements

Goals/Expectations:
Short Term- responsive to my voice and/or presence (ears pricking, head turning with ears forward, etc.), learns to expect me at meals and work times
Long Term- riding (hopefully barrels and reining)[/font][/size]

[StarGirl]

Day 1
I walked outside to meet Kiya for the first time today; I was eager, she was not. As I approached she migrated to the opposite side of the pen and watched me suspiciously yet without much energy. She looked like she had given up on life and was only trying to avoid trouble. As I looked her over, I mentally noted that she was not always listening to me, with only occasional flicks of the ears. The majority of the time her ears were flopped and droopy. I continued to examine her from across the pen, speaking to her constantly all the while, hoping to get her used to my voice. I left the pen to get her food for the morning. Placing the food at my end of the pen and waited for a response. Kiya merely flicked and ear and remained where she was. She seemed completely uninterested in the food as if it were unimportant to life. I turned around to lean with my back against the fence for a minute or so, and then walked slowly away. After a good distance, I turned around to watch her again. She had moved closer to the food but had stopped when I had. I turned almost with my back to her, but with my head angled so that I could watch her. After a few seconds she moved all the way up to the food and started eating slowly with little interest. This worries me a little but should dissipate with the supps. She seems so sad and uninterested in life.