From fear to trust

Hope was born on a farm where he grew up with almost no human interaction or touch. His first significant experience with people was a frightening one.

He came to us as part of a herd of 16 horses, transported on a cattle truck. Loading the largely feral herd was incredibly stressful, and for Hope, this first real encounter with humans reinforced the idea that people were something to fear.

When he arrived, he was completely feral and deeply unsure of human contact.

Through the Amana Method, we have worked with Hope slowly and gently, allowing trust to develop at his pace rather than forcing him to accept us.

Today, we can touch him over most of his body, and something beautiful has begun to happen: Hope is not simply tolerating touch - he is beginning to enjoy it. He seeks affection and is showing us the incredibly sweet, gentle pony underneath the fear.

We can now put a halter on him, and we are slowly beginning to teach him to lead. His legs are still an area where he does not yet feel safe being touched.