Area man tames feral horse at Aiken's Equine Rescue Center

Jim Conard and Brandy. Staff photo by Amy Banton.

The strength of a bond between man and horse is evident through Brandy and Jim Conard.

Brandy, a once feral Appaloosa, stands beside her owner, Conard, at her new home at Black Forest Equestrian Center, gently nudging him and periodically giving him a playful nibble. Before coming into contact with Conard, she was untouchable and untamed due to an abusive past.

"She's not the same horse," Conard said while gingerly scratching her back. "I'm not sure she knows how good she's being treated now."

Conard, 68, and his wife Brenda moved to Aiken from Newburn, N.C., about three years ago. After 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Conard planned to spend his time on the golf course or tennis court, but those activities quickly lost their novelty.

He then saw an advertisement in the newspaper calling for volunteers at the Equine Rescue Center of Aiken. Conard hadn't been around a horse in 30 years, but he volunteered time to water and feed them. He had no idea that his decision to volunteer would lead to the beginning of a challenging but fulfilling relationship.

"I had no intentions of working with a horse," Conard said laughing.

At that time, a group of nine horses, including Brandy, who were part of a confiscation case right outside of Jackson were brought to Equine Rescue of Aiken.

"She was completely feral when we got her, scared to death of people," said Equine Rescue Farm Manager Jim Rhodes.

Conard spotted the reddish, white-spotted Appaloosa, thin with a matted mane and tail, and felt compelled to help her. She wouldn't let any human come near her, so Conard was patient, spending two hours with her every day in the paddock for three weeks, just sitting with a radio and a book.

Finally, Brandy's curiosity pushed her to approach him. Conard start to slowly ease Brandy out of her fear, touching just her ears and nose.

As time passed, he was able to round pen her, and, after four months, she was wearing a saddle. It took about a month to get her to load a trailer. After six months, he was able to mount and ride Brandy. When asked how he did it, Conard simply said, "Patience."

Rhodes said Conard asked several questions, did some research and got advice from equestrians, but he physically trained Brandy on his own. Conard has had a few falls while working with Brandy, but he always got back in the saddle.

"He has more patience than any human being that I've met in my life; he has a big heart," Rhodes said. "He's an exceptional man just like she's an exceptional horse because of him."

After a little more than two and a half years, Brandy is now up to a healthy weight, her mane and tail are brushed out and she spends a lot of time learning tricks like kneeling. Conard has even been able to sit his wife and grandchildren on the now docile and sweet-natured horse.

Brandy is one of many success stories that come from the Equine Rescue of Aiken, which was established in 2006 by Larkin Steele. According to Rhodes, around 260 horses have been adopted by the facility.

Those horses receive a better quality of life by receiving the diet, veterinary care and attention they need. Some, like Brandy, even find a new purpose.

Rhodes said horses are a "beast of burden" and that spending time just eating or lazing in a pasture is not healthy to them; they are animals of ambition.

Brandy's purpose is her relationship with Conard. Now, the two travel the trails of Hitchcock Woods and have joined the American Competitive Trail Horse Association. Conard hopes to have Brandy competing in several trail riding competitions in the coming months.

Conard frequently visits Brandy at Black Forest, where he said she is quite content.

"Every day I say I'm going to play golf, but I always end up here," Conard said.

For more information or to volunteer at the Equine Rescue of Aiken, visit www.aikenequinerescue.com or call 643-1850.

Contact Amy Banton at abanton@aikenstandard.com.