Keep your distance

“Establishing Personal Space” (Conversations, EQUUS 453) really rang our bells. Our 8-year-old gelding, SLA Ulrich LaredoKid, doesn’t know the meaning of personal space, and it’s everyone’s fault. He was born a twin and spent 10 days with his sister and mother at Auburn University Large Animal Clinic. He is a very loud leopard Appaloosa, and with all those spots is about as cute as can be. He was very healthy and the vet techs loved on him like a puppy. It didn’t stop when he came home.

Laredo doesn’t think he is a horse. He acts like a large puppy who can’t stand it if he isn’t being loved on by anyone in sight. He will leave his grain just to run to be loved and touched. We know we are at fault and must constantly remind this big pet that he is really a horse. There isn’t a mean bone in his body, but he is just too big to be a lap dog.

Our advice to everyone with a very cute foal is to be strong and don’t make a “pet” out of him. Eventually, these sweet babies will grow up and become full-size horses. Lynda Edwards Montgomery, Texas