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Susan Pohlman's Page
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- Personal: Share your story, who are you and why have you joined, where you live, what talents you have, your family, other animals, life purpose - anything about yourself.
- Born in San Diego, California and raised in the Rocky Mountains just east of Albuquerque, New Mexico, I have been involved with horses for almost 45 years. As a youth I belonged to the local 4H, and was on the State Fair Queen Court. My family raised and showed foundation Quarter Horses for many years. We had over 24 head I shared with my 2 sisters and younger brother; one for every class. In my early teens I was introduced to a "wild" domestic by the name of Lady Fargo that was purchased for my sister, Loretta. Lady was a registered Quarter Horse mare that had been born and raised in the open spaces of Idaho, untouched until she was gathered to be brought home. This would be my first encounter with the magnificence of the independence and "spirit."
I spent many hours learning all I could about horses from the old cowboys, including my father who is my inspiration and supporter. Getting bucked off was never an option. As soon as I hit the ground, I had to "cowboy up" and get back in the saddle. But, there had to be a better way. It wasn't until I got my first mustang, Mia, in 2002, that I realized everything I had learned as a youth was not going to work. After a stint in the trauma unit and on the verge of giving up, I met Richard Shrake and attended one of his clinics. Since then I have attended hundreds of hours in clinics, seminars, workshops, watched DVD's, read books, and do whatever I can to continue my education. I use my training to gentle the wild ones and help rehabilitate the abused horses that come to the rescue.
Along with my medical background I have a background in media, having worked at several top market radio stations and owning an independent community newspaper. With this experience and my new passion and love for the mustangs I started a magazine to connect with others that shared her passion - Living Legends Magazine. But, the rescue end of my love began to grow and I felt that my calling was working on caring for the horses, which took up most of my time, and I soon sold the magazine, which continues online today.
So, what do I do? I live and breath caring for unwanted, abused, neglected, and abandoned horses 24/7. Regardless of whether I'm sick, injured, tired, the weather is bad, or I'm having a bad day they depend on me to take care of them There is no other reward to me than watching a herd of horses on a crisp early morning begin their "liberty" run - 20+ horses running through the fields in a band, ground shaking, horses bucking and playing as they maintain their group, circling around me and passed me as if welcoming me back as an old friend. Or, standing in the middle of young foals that have gathered around me to be scratched and loved on. Or, that first touch with a wild one that has never learned to trust a human but now approaches out of that trust. Or, seeing a horse that was on death's door run across the open field nickering and hurrying to catch up with their pasture mates. What do I do? I thank God each day for a life that He has given me.
Accreditations:
Certified Resistance Free® Instructor
AQHA Professional Horseman's Association
LRTC Mentor (Least Resistant Training Concepts)
Associations:
AQHA - APHA - Appaloosa Horse Club - Palomino Horse Association - Oregon Horse Association -
Former Editor & Publisher: "Living Legends" - A Wild Horse & Burro Magazine
- Career: Tell us what you do, if you have a horse-related business or other business, if you are a student, or want to have a career with horses.
- About 20 years ago my husband and I started rescuing horses from neglectful situations on a limited basis. Over time our rescue efforts have grown and until this past year, have been solely funded by us. In 2006, we filed for our 501c3 Non Profit status and was awarded it. Around 2000, I attended my first BLM adoption, and I was hooked. Since then we began adopting and gentling our own mustangs. As a professional horse trainer I was not prepared for the knowledge these guys would teach me, and a world of unconditional love that I was headed for.
Over that past seven years we operated a successful rescue in Sandy, Oregon, working closely with law enforcement, BLM, and other organizations to provide a safe environment for those that have endured starvation, neglect and physical abuse.
Our rescue slowly grew to 17 horses on 3 acres and by the middle of 2007 we realized that we had to either quit or expand. In October, 2007, we purchased our current property on Clarks Branch Rd in Roseburg, a 156 acre section that has allowed us to expand and continue our rescue efforts. We immediately went from 17 to 36 horses in less than 6 weeks. We have successfully adopted out a couple of horses since that time, placed a blind appaloosa at a forever home in Montana, and have filled the numbers to bring us back to 36 as we rolled into 2008. In 2007, I assisted with either the placement of or taking in over 250 horses nationally.
- Horsewomen Community: How would you like to use this network? What do you have to share or want to learn? What kind of groups or people do you want to connect with?
- I would love to share the in's & out's of horse rescuing. Rehabilitation, training and health tips to bringing abused and neglected horses back to a positive and safe state of mind and being able to introduce them back into the horse community.
Susan Pohlman's Blog
Foster Homes Needed
Hi All
I'm working on 2 large horse rescues:
One is in Heppner, Oregon. We have 29 Paint horses from a breeding farm that need homes. There are 4 stallions, several pregnant mares, some other mares, and some yearlings. We have been working on this with the Sheriff's Dept for over a year. The final court date is set for Thursday, April 17th. If there is anyone interested in helping, the horses become yours at the time of the seizure. We plan on meeting at the Heppner exit (… Continue
Posted on April 14th, 2008 at 11:01am —
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Lets see some of your horses. Maybe you want to put them in the forum on Rescue Makeovers or perhaps just upload to your site. It would be a good way for others to know about what you are doing.
I am planning on making a DVD on Evaluating Rescue Horses -Using Behavior to Determine history, temperament, and potential for placement, which I hope will be used by volunteers and rescue groups. Let me know your ideas.
Would you like to chair the Rescue forum? We need experts to oversee all the forums. It you don't like what I have outlined, then tell what would be the most useful and you can set it up. Also you could have a group started for Rescue organizations.