Deb's Kiger Diamond Sunrise, "Diamond", was born in the rugged Steens Mountain in a valley called Kiger Gorge. She was born to a wild adopted mare named "Kiger Katie", and of a stallion that is undoubtedly roaming the Kiger Gorge today.
In 1993, at a BLM Wild Horse Round-up, Diamond and her mother were brought from the Kiger Gorge to a holding pen in Burns, Oregon to await adoption. Diamond was adopted by a woman in Eugene, and was seperated from her mother and her herd, never to return to the pristine Kiger Gorge again.
In the Winter of 2002, my mother alerted me to the need to go to a condemned ranch near Coburg, Oregon to rescue two mares that were to become property of Lane County if not removed before midnight of that day. The mares belonged to friends of hers, and as a favor to her friends, and not wanting ill-fate to come of the mares, I went to the farm and brought them home.
Not knowing what we were going to do with two additional horses (we had space for two, the addition made four), we improvised a corral system, and hoped that our friends would soon find a new living situation for these horses. As the mares adjusted to being at our farm, we started to see the personalities of the two horses, and I was not impressed with either of them. One mare was sweet but neurotic, the other was mean, pushy and unsafe to be around (Diamond).
Diamond kicked at other horses, animals and people. We were unable to get close to her for any purpose. At feeding time, we would throw her food to her and quickly shut the gate because at feed time she went into attack mode. I became greatly concerned about these horses staying on our farm for any longer than necessary, yet there was no sign that the horses would be moving anytime soon. As time passed, the horses still at our farm, it became clear to me that the horses would not be leaving ever.
Recognizing the extreme safety issue of having untrained unrulely horses on our farm, I decided that I needed to set forth effort to train Diamond. As a 10 year old, previously wild and not worked with, I realized that the task may be greater than I was capable to handle. I started by teaching her to lead and be tied. I talked to her, brushed her and taught her to pick up her feet without kicking. Additionally, she needed to learn how to have flyspray applied, be washed if needed, and have her mouth worked with for administering oral medications. She is a creative animal and utilizes as many strategies as she can think of to deture anyone from working with her. Her strategies include:
I am riding Diamond now. I have to watch her very closely to make sure that she does not strategize ways to evade what I ask her to do.
She is doing quite well under saddle, however, she has not overcome her desire to buck. I will continue to work with her on this, be thankful every day that I have not been thrown from her more than once, and know that in the end, I will have an excellent riding partner the remainder of her life.
Diamond is an amazing high-country trail horse. When I take Diamond into the Three Sisters Wilderness on 10 or more mile rides I often choose not to ride the entire distance, for my well-being as well as the horse's. If I choose not to ride, I tie her reins out of the way and let her roam freely. She either follows me or leads the way, and has not once attempted to abandon me in the wilderness.
Diamond has now been on two horse camping trips. Her first venture was to White Fish Horse Camp located near Cresent Lake. This was the first trip I had taken with her and she impressed me with her endurance, strength and trustworthiness.
The second camping trip I took Diamond on was to Quinn Meadows Horse Camp located off of Century Drive, somewhat close to Elk Lake. Again, she impressed me with her devotion to me. On this trip, I experimented with allowing her to roam free when I was not riding her on the trail. Not once did sheattempted to kick up her heals and leave.
Diamond and I have been attending group riding lessons to improve our relationship, communication and safety. Diamond previously did not canter, because everytime I asked her to canter she would buck. Not feeling confident about riding a bucking horse, I did not push the issue. In lessons I have been encouraged to work through the bucking, and push Diamond beyond this desire that she has to buck. Everytime I work with her she is better - meaning more canter and less buck. The unfortunate side of this is that she has become quite strong and her bucks have more impact on me as a rider.
With all of the work I've been doing with Diamond, I am looking forward to many day trail riding trips to the Cascade Mountains and to our once-yearly camping trip in September - This year to Quinn Meadows.