new member of the magicalthyme family!
Maizie is another victim of the crash of 2008. The high-flying decades for 80s and 90s led a lot of people to breed horses they couldn't train themselves. Instead, they would send them out to or bring in trainers or, for some breeds, were selling foals and even in utero, to "adult amateurs," who would send them out to trainers. '08 brought this all crashing down, and a lot of foals born after ~2005 have stood in pastures with little to no training. People couldn't afford to hire trainers any more and a lot of small, local p/t trainers who took in a horse or too on the side for fun and extra $$ couldn't afford training insurance any more so gave it up. And now they've missed any economic "recovery" because of lack of training. So they are at high risk of a bad end.
Maizie has been a pasture ornament since she was born in 2007. Her elderly breeders couldn't do any training themselves, their horses live out so have had minimal handling. Annual vetting, some hoof trimming and hand fed treats about it. They had dispersed most of their herd, she's on of the last 4 they had left when another breeder picked up her and her best friend to make sure they didn't go to auction.
A couple months ago she followed her best friend onto a trailer for the first time in her life, to leave the only home she'd ever known. Thursday am she got on the trailer all by herself and left her best friend behind. She is so brave.
She let me touch her yesterday for the first time and walked into my barn by herself to explore. Today she accepted a small bit of grain from my hand. I'm hoping to get her in the barn tomorrow to be able to start handling her a little. I don't know if she's ever been brushed.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Happy!!!! 
I feel much better about her today; she is very brave and calm about everything. She let me lead her into the barn today twice, to show her where I'd left her some mash for dinner, along with a pile of hay. Just by her halter; not even a lead shank. That is the trick...when she sees the lead shank, she heads the other way! 
I'm amazed at how little she eats. Morgans are very easy keepers, like arabs (my other horse). My mare Dahli isn't eating as much either. I feed all they can eat of hay. I think Dahli was eating more hay than she needs out of the stress of being alone. She's been to busy following Maizie around for the last 2 days to have time to eat, lol.
And even posing with a smile on her face.
I hope it works out well for you, magical thyme. She sure is lucky to have someone willing to take her on.
That is one wish I've had my entire life -- to own a horse.
Of course that will never happen but I'm glad to know that horses like Maizie are still being cared for after the crash of 2008.
Thanks for posting this beautiful picture. 
& recommend.
