BEHS 1183 – April Sky – BluebonnetEquine

BEHS 1183 – April Sky

Name: April Sky	Status: Rainbow Bridge
Adoption Fee:	Arrived At Rescue: April 2, 2021
Location: Bastrop, TX	Adoption Date:
Registered: No	Breed: Grade
Date of Birth: January 1, 2013	Color: Chestnut / Sorrel
Gender: Female Mare	Height: 15.2
Rainbow Bridge: February 2023

About April Sky

April Sky was surrendered to Bluebonnet when her owner could not keep her. She had a small wound on her forehead when she arrived, and her veterinarian discovered she had a small skull fracture. She was treated by her foster home with oversight from her veterinary team (April 2021) and she recovered well.

November 2022: April Sky is experiencing pain and sensitivity, likely related to disruptions to her estrus cycle. She’s currently on Regumate, and if that helps her, we will likely have her spayed to offer her permanent relief. She will go back up for adoption once the procedure is over and she has recovered from surgery, likely in early 2023.

Evaluation and Training

April Sky’s former home said they sat on her a few times but didn’t really know what she knew. She spent June-October 2021 with trainer Jim Wynkoop. They were preparing for the Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge, but Jim decided not to compete because he felt April Sky wasn’t far enough along. He has been riding her and teaching her basic ground manners. He said she’s very green and still easily distracted under saddle.

In February 2022, she moved to a new trainer for more training. She’s not for a novice or timid rider at this time, but she has potential with more training. She could make a nice open show, trail, or working horse with additional training. She then was assigned to a trainer for the 2022 Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge. She was only ridden a few times and then withdrawn from the competition. So in October 2022, she went back to Dawn Fraser (trainer she was with in the winter/spring of 2022).

April Sky has a good handle on ground work. Her 2022 Training Challenge trainer said, “April has mastered just about everything I’ve thrown at her when it comes to groundwork. She is very willing and aims to please. Once she develops a good bond and sense of trust with her person, she will go to the end of the world to make you happy.

In addition to loving ground work, she stands tied, stands in cross ties, lunges in a round pen or on a line and ground ties. She’s worn both English and Western tack, knows how to line drive, and stands for mounting. "

April Sky is still green under saddle, but her trainer has ridden her at a walk, trot, and canter in the roundpen. She’s very nervous about leg contact and pressure, so she needs a rider with steady legs who won’t accidentally bump her side. Right now, she's only available for adoption to an experienced rider or trainer who can continue working with her and desensitizing her to pressure on her sides. If you have questions about where she is in her training, you can email our Adoption Counselor at adoptioncounselor@bluebonnetequine.org.