Episode 1: Teaching Thor horse language

Mia is invited to work as a horse behavioral therapist and trainer at the 1st Week of Welfare for Sports Horses in Sao Paulo, Brazil. There, she had 5 days to train 8 horses of different ages and backgrounds.
This is Thor: a young horse who was rescued as a stray foal and raised by an animal activist veterinarian who had no prior experiences with owning horses, but has a huge heart and took on the challenge. Thor lived in her house among many rescue dogs, but no other horses.
Very loved and well taken care of, he grew up healthy and strong -so strong that he required training. It wasn't safe to be around him anymore. He overpowered people and had no respect for them.
However, all of his tutor's attempts to get somebody to train him were frustrated: she considered the methots too rough and forceful. Furthermore, Thor would have to live confined in a stall, because that is how most of Brazil's equestrian centers are. She would rather have Thor living free and happy than in confinement, even if it means that he would stay disrespectful and dangerous.
Until she heard of Mia coming to the 1st Week for Welfare of the Sports Horses and decided to give it one last chance. Luckily, it was all for the best. She moved Thor into Kober Equus Stables, which is one of the few places around that prioritize welfare and has pastures for them to be together and move.

[@elineeugenie5224]

I can watch Mia all day❤

[@Lorgayle1]

Hand raising foals makes for very dangerous horses when done by ignorant people. People who think horses are giant dogs are going to get hurt. So glad he as Mia to save his life.

[@debmiskiw1839]

The best thing she could have done was to find a mare to adopt him. Then he learns how to be a horse.

[@kathleenredick275]

It's interesting watching him. He's not mean. He's not trying to hurt her intentionally, he's just showing horse behavior, but without knowing consequences or the appropriate responses. He needs what all horses need; herd dynamics.

[@merryworld4776]

❤❤❤ I love the impact you have on the horses AND people. Such beautiful work. THANK YOU!! Greetings from Pacific Northwest Washington U.S.A. 🌿🌷🌿

[@Michele-W.]

I am in admiration of the great competence and leadership of you ! Thank you Mia !

[@dogwood9023]

As always, well done and so good to see another horse have a chance at having a good life. That is one beautiful, strong boy.

[@eleidal]

Love your work. I hope in the future, if you head back the US at some point, that you can visit the Clever Cowgirl in Montana. She rescues horses and is on a tight budget, but it would be amazing to see how you two work together. Maybe it could be arranged through a gofundme or something. I'd be happy to help if necessary. Again, great and fascinating work!!

[@mickey2560]

Yes she is amazing!

[@shannondominguez9725]

Oh Thors story is absolutely heartbreaking that poor baby but thanks to Cintia for taking him in and giving him the chance at a life he otherwise wouldn’t have had. Thor certainly lives up to his name as he is a big powerful Warrior and I know with Mia’s expert guidance as well as Cintia’s dedicated loving hands I can see Thor showing great potential after he learns some boundaries and the language of eques which he missed out on and is so vital for him when being around people & other horses.Thank you Mia for being there for the 🐎 & humans who need help the most you are truly wonderful I can’t wait to see more of Thors story as he learns what being a horse is really about.🩶🤍🔥🐎🧨🤗🤗

[@high-bi-password]

I was NOT EXPECTING THAT right off the bat LMAO, I think he was a little too excited to meet Mia!

[@sonja437]

Wow Mia, your understanding of horses is profound. Thank you so much for helping this horse and teaching us in the process. Namaste, and Humble Bow.

[@daciefusjones8128]

A foal that can walk should start training as soon as possible. Imprinting is the best start. a three week old orphan should be started right away, it can be taught a lot at that age. this horse is mentally only six months old. he sure is a good looking horse. I would have started him in a round pen though.

[@pattallant2398]

I love and respect how this woman works with one of the most beautiful animals God ever created! Thank you. 💕

[@itpatriot]

The world needs more Mia’s!!❤️❤️❤️

[@Celeste0415]

❤

[@charlyk7874]

I’m a little surprised that a vet of all people kept and raised a horse alone all this time. However, I do think it takes great courage to accept that a situation needs to change and to get help. respect for that.

[@charlyk7874]

Also his gait seems off? Haven’t watched all of the video yet, but the canter looks REALLY stiff in the hindlegs. Same with the trot

[@whenhorseschoose]

This is Brazil, the vet did the thing against all the other fraditionel vets. In Brazil most horses lives in stalls in confinement. They never in there live get to run free at all, they never get to interact with other horses at all. They are born inside stalls and they die inside stall. The vets are payed by the huge bording places -that have NO land or fields -just ongoing stalls. And all the vets say -this in the right way to keep a horse safe and sound🥲 This is why I travel to Brazil, to try to inform horse owners that the knowledge they get from vets are corrupt and horses need space and herds. So this specific vet, vent against the culture and gave her horse a life where he could run free

[@charlyk7874]

@@whenhorseschoose interesting, I never heard of that from my Brazilian friend :) Then again, maybe it also depends strongly on the region.

[@awahl5099]

You can see how he wants to be with other horses. How sad. As a veterinarian, she should have known better when he was younger.

[@eleidal]

she did the best she could, I'm sure.

[@AmoraAmore-sl6lt]

@@eleidal I understand your disappointment that this beautiful horse was isolated from other horses for the first years of his life. I also believe this veterinarian did what she could within the best of her ability at the time she took him in. She saved him from the place his mom died, and that same environment and level of care that lead to that... She took great care as best as she could in the best way she could at the time bringing him into her family, even if she may not have had the best environment or other horses at that time to give him natural socialization, leadership and training integral to a domesticated horses behavior. Nonetheless, It seems she tried to do the best she could to keep him safe and healthy with the resources she had available at the time, housing, resources, time, money, and help available for his circumstances. And even if she lacked in some of those ways, at some point, she has reached out to Mia, and or the clinic Mia is working with to get help for her horse. It's ironic and beautiful even that now her horse is learning for the first time in his life, horse behavior and leadership, but from a person, a woman, who specializes in training horses through their own natural language and behaviors. So perhaps for any disappointment for this horse's circumstances before, we can at least be happy he was lead this way through his owner's and Mia's guidance in the end/beginning of his new life! :)

[@eleidal]

I think your comment is for the person I replied to?

[@whenhorseschoose]

This is Brazil. It is cultural very different than other places. Most people in Brazil have horses living in confinement their hole life, they never get to run free or see other horses. Most stables only offer confinement stalls… This vet didn’t want to confine him, that’s why she kept him this way. I believe she did the best she knew. Many wets in Brazil say that it is better for the horse to live In confinement 🥲

[@awahl5099]

@@whenhorseschoose😢

[@nancyoffenhiser4916]

How did that little brown horse become Gray ?This is really a serious question. Can someone please explain it to me? How would you ever know what the coat would be on a horse if there's that much change?.

[@meycoe]

many grays are born brown...

[@sharonh.6702]

I was going to ask the same thing! I bought my first horse about a year ago and don't really know anything. Thank goodness I have a knowledgeable team of people to help me and a 16 year old mare who teaches me how it's done!

[@michelemacdonald552]

It's real,y common...most Grey's are born brown

[@marikawaldraff8223]

The brown foal in the beginning should be this white horse? Can someone explain it to me?

[@whenhorseschoose]

Most grey and white horses are born brown, then they change colors. moldy horses can be many colors black, brown, red etc. and then they change color and become more and more white with age. most white horses are born brown🙂

[@user-ik9zv2ih4s]

❤