MEET GWAPO

A JOURNEY TO REBUILD TRUST

13-year-old Arabian-Barb horse

Gwapo is a 13-year-old Arabian-Barb horse, incredibly fast and full of potential. But when he arrived at Wingh Horses, he was very skinny, struggled to build muscle, and showed several difficult behaviours.

For the past year, we've been investing our time, energy, and resources into helping him feel better, both physically and mentally. And slowly, we've started to see a difference.

Gwapo is becoming a good, willing horse. Some of his old behaviours have already improved, and he's trying his best. But sometimes, he still stops and says no.

We believe that, after what he's been through, he may have learned that saying yes means working until he reaches the same level of exhaustion and distress he experienced before. His trust has been damaged, and rebuilding it takes time.

Our mission with gwapo

Our mission now is to help Gwapo discover that saying yes can be a safe choice, too.

Instead of fighting his “no,” we want to give him the confidence to choose differently. We'll focus mainly on groundwork, rebuilding communication, developing his muscles gradually, and helping him feel safe again, guided by European trainers who specialise in this kind of work.

And this time, we're documenting the journey.

We want to share the real process: the small victories, the difficult days, the setbacks, and every step forward. Not to promise a perfect transformation, but to show what patience, understanding, and consistent care can achieve.

This is not about making Gwapo work again. It's about helping him feel safe enough to trust the process.

WHAT IS HE TRYING TO TELL US?

One of the behaviours we notice in Gwapo is his constant tongue movement. He often plays with his tongue, moving it in and out of his mouth repeatedly.

For us, this is an important sign that we need to understand better. Repetitive tongue movements in horses can sometimes be associated with stress, boredom, learned coping behaviours, or discomfort in the mouth. Dental problems, tongue injuries, and discomfort caused by a bit can also contribute to unusual tongue movements.

We cannot know the exact cause without a proper assessment, but considering Gwapo's history and the other difficulties he has experienced, we believe this behaviour deserves our full attention.

Gwapo also struggles to build and maintain muscle. When he arrived, he was extremely skinny, and rebuilding his physical condition has been one of our biggest challenges. Stress may be one contributing factor, but inadequate nutrition, dental difficulties, pain, and other medical conditions can also affect weight and muscle development.

We don't want to treat only the visible symptoms. We want to understand what is happening beneath the surface and give Gwapo the care he needs, both physically and mentally.

GWAPO'S RECOVERY PLAN

We are approaching this project step by step. Before asking Gwapo to work again, we want to make sure that his physical needs are being addressed and that he is comfortable enough to begin rebuilding his strength.

PHASE 1 — HEALTH, NUTRITION & PHYSICAL RECOVERY

First, we need to rebuild his body.

Our first priority is to assess Gwapo's health and understand why he struggles to gain weight and develop muscle.

This phase will include:

  • Dental examination: Checking his teeth, gums, tongue, and mouth for pain or other problems that could affect his comfort, eating, or tongue movements.

  • Veterinary health assessment: Investigating possible causes of his poor muscle development and checking whether any underlying health issues need treatment.

  • Nutrition plan: Reviewing his current diet and gradually adjusting his feed to meet his individual nutritional needs, with professional guidance.

  • Saddle and equipment check: Assessing saddle fit and other equipment to identify possible pressure points or sources of discomfort.

  • Monitoring his progress: Recording changes in his weight, body condition, muscle development, appetite, and behaviour.

During this phase, we will focus on giving Gwapo the time, nutrition, and care he needs to regain his strength. Any physical activity will be adapted to his condition and guided by his health and comfort.

PHASE 2 — GROUNDWORK, TRAINING & REBUILDING TRUST

Once Gwapo is physically ready, we can begin the next chapter.

For us, this phase is not about forcing him to work or making him return to his previous performance level. It is about rebuilding communication, confidence, and trust at his own pace.

Sometimes, when we ask Gwapo to move forward, he stops and refuses. We wonder whether his past experiences have taught him to associate saying yes with returning to a level of work that was too much for him.

We want to change that experience.

Instead of fighting his refusal, we want to understand what he is communicating, make sure he is comfortable, and gradually help him feel safe participating in training again.

This phase will focus on:

  • Groundwork: Developing communication and confidence without immediately placing the demands of riding on him.

  • Building trust: Helping him feel safe, understood, and comfortable with the people working with him.

  • Positive learning experiences: Breaking training into manageable steps and rewarding calm, willing participation.

  • Progressive physical conditioning: Introducing appropriate exercises to help him develop strength and coordination as his condition improves.

  • Professional collaboration: Reconnecting with the trainers who have already started working with Gwapo, so they can continue and complete the work together.

We also welcome experienced horse trainers who specialise in groundwork, equine behaviour, and rehabilitation. If you have the knowledge and practical experience to help Gwapo, please contact us. We'd love to discuss how we can collaborate.

FOLLOW GWAPO'S JOURNEY

We'll document Gwapo's journey, sharing his progress, challenges, and small victories with our community. We don't know how long it will take, but we believe he deserves the time and patience to recover.

This isn't about making a difficult horse easier to use. It's about helping him feel safe, rebuild his strength, and learn to trust again.

A FUTURE BUILT AROUND GWAPO

Gwapo will receive the care, nutrition, and professional support he needs. After almost a year of working with him, we've built a special connection, and he's become more open with me. That's why I'll be his primary rider, ensuring he isn't pushed into stressful situations again.

If he becomes physically and mentally ready, he may join me on occasional, gentle rides as a guide horse — never carrying clients. And if we can welcome another suitable horse into our team, we'll gladly give Gwapo an even lighter workload.

His well-being will always come before business. We want him to have the best life possible, whether that means working a little or not working at all.

Let's give Gwapo the second chance he deserves.

WINGH HORSES
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