It's been a wonderful year for me, full of blessings and lessons learned from these wonderful, beautiful, amazing mustangs. I hope that your year was wonderful, too, and that the year ahead is even better. All the best--Tricia & The Gentle Mustangs
Musings of a mustang lover and trainer.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Happy New Year!
It's been a wonderful year for me, full of blessings and lessons learned from these wonderful, beautiful, amazing mustangs. I hope that your year was wonderful, too, and that the year ahead is even better. All the best--Tricia & The Gentle Mustangs
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Belle Has a Friend
I love ponies. Just over a year ago, my husband talked me into adopting a little fuzz-ball Shetland pony for our kids to learn on. He was a rescue pony that had been literally starved almost to death before he was seized from his owners by animal control. He was placed in a wonderful foster home, where he was rehabbed and made ready for a permanent home. We are that lucky home, and we adore him. His name is Firecracker, but he is as gentle as can be and he loves to be ridden and fussed over by our children.
Well, enough about my family's pony. Rick and I are neighbors, you know, and neighbors have to keep up with one another. As soon as we brought Firecracker home, Rick decided that he and his wife should find a pony for their grandchildren. So, the search began, and we found a wonderful little gelding named Woody. He is the perfect babysitter pony and he loves to go on trail rides. Actually, he loves everybody and everything. And everybody loves him, too. Including Belle.
Belle was weaned from her foal just a couple of weeks before she came here, and she was used to being with lots of other mares and foals for companionship. Here, there are plenty of horses to talk to, sniff, and even do some mutual-grooming through the fence with, but I thought it would be nice if she had her own little buddy.
Woody was only slightly alarmed in the beginning. That is a wild mustang don't ya know, and a mare to boot. Yikes! He is used to being at the bottom of the pecking order, so Belle can control him with just the slightest glance or movement of her ears. No kicking or squealing for these two, thank goodness. She lets him eat hay side-by-side with her, and they enjoy just hanging out together or strolling around the arena.
Well, enough about my family's pony. Rick and I are neighbors, you know, and neighbors have to keep up with one another. As soon as we brought Firecracker home, Rick decided that he and his wife should find a pony for their grandchildren. So, the search began, and we found a wonderful little gelding named Woody. He is the perfect babysitter pony and he loves to go on trail rides. Actually, he loves everybody and everything. And everybody loves him, too. Including Belle.
Belle was weaned from her foal just a couple of weeks before she came here, and she was used to being with lots of other mares and foals for companionship. Here, there are plenty of horses to talk to, sniff, and even do some mutual-grooming through the fence with, but I thought it would be nice if she had her own little buddy.
Woody was only slightly alarmed in the beginning. That is a wild mustang don't ya know, and a mare to boot. Yikes! He is used to being at the bottom of the pecking order, so Belle can control him with just the slightest glance or movement of her ears. No kicking or squealing for these two, thank goodness. She lets him eat hay side-by-side with her, and they enjoy just hanging out together or strolling around the arena.
Pretty dog-gone cute together, aren't they? Maybe I could teach Woody to pick up Belle's rope and bring her to me....and we could add Mustang Tamer to his resume.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Slow and Steady
If slow and steady wins the race, Belle and I must be on our way to winning a really big trophy. We are slow. And steady! I never meant for Belle's training to progress so slowly. I work with her every day, but each mustang is different, and they can only be pushed so far without backsliding, so here we are. I'm not complaining, mind you. Each day, Belle gives me little tidbits of hope that soon she will be ready to accept the friendship that I am offering her. She approaches the rails of her pen when she sees me coming with her hay, and she beats me to the gate when it's time for her turnout in the arena. She backs away when I get there, but the fact that she anticipates me doing something for her, and lets me see that she's happy about it, is a good thing.
Belle isn't a horse that is motivated by food. In fact, she rarely cleans up her hay, even the lovely alfalfa that I purchase just for her. Mustangs are supposed to be thrifty, so I'm not quite sure why Belle is prone to wasting her feed, but she is healthy and maintains her weight, so I guess it's okay. Except that it isn't okay, because it makes it darn-tootin' difficult to bribe her with food and treats! Lately, though, I've made a show out of bringing Belle a handful of fresh-picked green grass and a couple of dry maple leaves. Sounds yummy, doesn't it? Lucky for Belle, the edges of the manure pile are bordered in luscious, thick, juicy, summer-like blades of green grass. Every afternoon at the same time, Belle can watch me pick this lovely treat and she has begun to anticipate it. The green grass smells so good, and when I bring it to her I can see how much she wants it. I wait for her to take a couple of steps towards me, then I set it on a barrel for her, tell her how wonderful she is, and walk away. As soon as I'm in the barn, Belle gobbles her treat. Eventually, hopefully, she'll get closer and closer to me, and someday she'll take the treat from my hand.
Belle had me excited for a moment tonight. It was feeding time, and I went into the arena with the intention of moving her into her pen for the night. I was standing in the middle of the arena, and Belle was in a corner. She moved towards me at a brisk walk, and for just a second I thought she was going to walk right up to me. I know my pulse went up, and maybe she heard my heart thudding in my chest, because when she was about twelve feet away she suddenly came to her senses and stopped. I praised her richly for her bravery, and turned away so that she might feel compelled to come closer. She didn't, so I started walking towards her pen in hopes that she would follow me. She decided to turn and go the other way, and she got to her pen before me. She went in, then turned to face me, and we gazed into each others eyes for a few moments. She is very good about facing up to me, and loves to make and keep eye contact with me. Her body language is never challenging, which I certainly appreciate. When will this sweet mare give it up? When will she admit that life would better with a gentle, loving, generous leader? Soon, I hope, and when she does, she and I will both know it's been a race worth the running.
Belle isn't a horse that is motivated by food. In fact, she rarely cleans up her hay, even the lovely alfalfa that I purchase just for her. Mustangs are supposed to be thrifty, so I'm not quite sure why Belle is prone to wasting her feed, but she is healthy and maintains her weight, so I guess it's okay. Except that it isn't okay, because it makes it darn-tootin' difficult to bribe her with food and treats! Lately, though, I've made a show out of bringing Belle a handful of fresh-picked green grass and a couple of dry maple leaves. Sounds yummy, doesn't it? Lucky for Belle, the edges of the manure pile are bordered in luscious, thick, juicy, summer-like blades of green grass. Every afternoon at the same time, Belle can watch me pick this lovely treat and she has begun to anticipate it. The green grass smells so good, and when I bring it to her I can see how much she wants it. I wait for her to take a couple of steps towards me, then I set it on a barrel for her, tell her how wonderful she is, and walk away. As soon as I'm in the barn, Belle gobbles her treat. Eventually, hopefully, she'll get closer and closer to me, and someday she'll take the treat from my hand.
Belle had me excited for a moment tonight. It was feeding time, and I went into the arena with the intention of moving her into her pen for the night. I was standing in the middle of the arena, and Belle was in a corner. She moved towards me at a brisk walk, and for just a second I thought she was going to walk right up to me. I know my pulse went up, and maybe she heard my heart thudding in my chest, because when she was about twelve feet away she suddenly came to her senses and stopped. I praised her richly for her bravery, and turned away so that she might feel compelled to come closer. She didn't, so I started walking towards her pen in hopes that she would follow me. She decided to turn and go the other way, and she got to her pen before me. She went in, then turned to face me, and we gazed into each others eyes for a few moments. She is very good about facing up to me, and loves to make and keep eye contact with me. Her body language is never challenging, which I certainly appreciate. When will this sweet mare give it up? When will she admit that life would better with a gentle, loving, generous leader? Soon, I hope, and when she does, she and I will both know it's been a race worth the running.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
A Horse For Rachel
A few weeks ago, we had some visitors from the Southwestern corner of our state. They are in love with wild mustangs, and wanted to meet a few gentle ones. They were looking to add a horse to their life, and eagerly made the eight hour round trip drive from their home to Rick's barn. Rachel and her husband, Matt, are newlyweds. Rachel owned an Icelandic gelding for many years, but recently made the decision to donate him to a therapeutic riding center. Her dilemma was, should she replace her gelding with another Icelandic, or should she follow her heart and adopt a mustang? Well, since she asked me, I gave her some input....mustangs are the stuff dreams are made of.
Rachel wasn't sure if she was looking to buy a titled, well-broke mustang, or adopt a newly-gentled and just-started under saddle one. A friend of mine, a fellow mustang trainer, had a gelding for sale, so she hauled him here and Rachel rode enjoyed a ride on him. She also rode River, my big McCullough Peaks mustang mare. Rachel liked both of them, even though they are very different types of horses. Rachel and Matt also wanted to meet Capri, to get a feel for what a horse at her training level was like, so they brushed her and Rachel played with her a bit in the round pen.
Rick and I enjoyed the visit very much, and were excited to have met wonderful people who were considering joining the mustang community. We chatted for a long time about Rachel's wants and needs in a horse, and what kind of home she would provide. It was clear to us that any horse who went home with them would be lucky indeed.
Rachel and I stayed in touch, and pretty soon she decided that adopting a TIP horse gentled by me was the way to go. She was ready to choose a fresh one from the corrals in Oregon, but I had to be honest and tell her that having two wild ones at the same time in addition to the other horses that I train and care for would be too much for me right now. I like to be able to really focus on a wild horse, so that I can put my whole heart into gentling it and giving it a firm foundation.
Rachel understood that, and wondered if maybe Capri would be available for reassignment. Hmmm...well...I suppose we could consider that. After all, it was the original intention to find her a wonderful home where she would receive continued training and be treasured forever, right? Rick was critical to the decision-making process, since at this point he was her official adopter. Reassignment can take place in the first year of adoption, before the title is issued, and is subject to the same paperwork and process as other BLM adoptions.
Our initial response was yes, contingent on more visits here with Capri, to be sure that they were a good fit. At this point, I hadn't put the first ride on Capri yet, so we set an open-ended timetable for reassignment, thinking that sometime early next spring would work well for everyone. Obviously, we didn't know Rachel very well yet. She's a go-getter, and tenacious, and she wanted a certain chocolate pony. One with three white socks, a star, and a melt-your-heart expression on her perfectly chiseled face. Who am I to stand in the way of a woman on a mustang mission?
By the time I had put three rides on Capri, Rachel was wondering if we could shoot for the first of January for a reassignment date. After the fourth ride, she was wondering if the first week of December would work. Her previous trainer and good friend, a wonderful gal from Iceland, had a rare opening in her barn, and would we please consider letting Capri go now? Well, we'd consider it, but Rachel still needed to have a second visit with Capri. So, the newlyweds made the long trek again. We had another good visit, and Rachel rode Capri. She felt calm and relaxed on her, even though it was only Capri's fifth ride and Rachel hasn't had much experience on barely-green-broke horses. They even enjoyed a nice trot together.
So, Rick and I agreed it would work out fine, and Rachel put her paperwork into the Oregon BLM. She was approved, and she made arrangements for her trainer to pick up Capri on Sunday, December fourth. Rachel and Matt would be out of state on a family vacation, and Capri would have a week to bond with her new trainer before Rachel returned.
What could be harder than saying goodbye to Capri? Having to say goodbye to her twice. That sweet, beautiful mare found a special place in my heart and soul. I guess the flip side is that I got to say hello to her twice, too. What a blessing it was to first gentle her, then train her to ride. I am very proud of her accomplishments, and I'll be excited to hear news of her future progress.
Capri handled the four hour drive to her new home with no problem. She is settling in happily, and her new trainer is already impressed with her calm demeanor, her beauty, her curious nature, and her kind eye. One day soon, when Capri is ready, Rick and I will haul a couple of horses down there and we can all go for a trail ride together.
Capri is the horse of new beginnings. She's had a handful of them this year, and she's taken each one in stride. Cheers to Rachel and Capri. May all of Rachel's dreams come true, with a lifetime of mustang love and adventures.
Rachel wasn't sure if she was looking to buy a titled, well-broke mustang, or adopt a newly-gentled and just-started under saddle one. A friend of mine, a fellow mustang trainer, had a gelding for sale, so she hauled him here and Rachel rode enjoyed a ride on him. She also rode River, my big McCullough Peaks mustang mare. Rachel liked both of them, even though they are very different types of horses. Rachel and Matt also wanted to meet Capri, to get a feel for what a horse at her training level was like, so they brushed her and Rachel played with her a bit in the round pen.
Rick and I enjoyed the visit very much, and were excited to have met wonderful people who were considering joining the mustang community. We chatted for a long time about Rachel's wants and needs in a horse, and what kind of home she would provide. It was clear to us that any horse who went home with them would be lucky indeed.
Rachel and I stayed in touch, and pretty soon she decided that adopting a TIP horse gentled by me was the way to go. She was ready to choose a fresh one from the corrals in Oregon, but I had to be honest and tell her that having two wild ones at the same time in addition to the other horses that I train and care for would be too much for me right now. I like to be able to really focus on a wild horse, so that I can put my whole heart into gentling it and giving it a firm foundation.
Rachel understood that, and wondered if maybe Capri would be available for reassignment. Hmmm...well...I suppose we could consider that. After all, it was the original intention to find her a wonderful home where she would receive continued training and be treasured forever, right? Rick was critical to the decision-making process, since at this point he was her official adopter. Reassignment can take place in the first year of adoption, before the title is issued, and is subject to the same paperwork and process as other BLM adoptions.
By the time I had put three rides on Capri, Rachel was wondering if we could shoot for the first of January for a reassignment date. After the fourth ride, she was wondering if the first week of December would work. Her previous trainer and good friend, a wonderful gal from Iceland, had a rare opening in her barn, and would we please consider letting Capri go now? Well, we'd consider it, but Rachel still needed to have a second visit with Capri. So, the newlyweds made the long trek again. We had another good visit, and Rachel rode Capri. She felt calm and relaxed on her, even though it was only Capri's fifth ride and Rachel hasn't had much experience on barely-green-broke horses. They even enjoyed a nice trot together.
So, Rick and I agreed it would work out fine, and Rachel put her paperwork into the Oregon BLM. She was approved, and she made arrangements for her trainer to pick up Capri on Sunday, December fourth. Rachel and Matt would be out of state on a family vacation, and Capri would have a week to bond with her new trainer before Rachel returned.
What could be harder than saying goodbye to Capri? Having to say goodbye to her twice. That sweet, beautiful mare found a special place in my heart and soul. I guess the flip side is that I got to say hello to her twice, too. What a blessing it was to first gentle her, then train her to ride. I am very proud of her accomplishments, and I'll be excited to hear news of her future progress.
Capri handled the four hour drive to her new home with no problem. She is settling in happily, and her new trainer is already impressed with her calm demeanor, her beauty, her curious nature, and her kind eye. One day soon, when Capri is ready, Rick and I will haul a couple of horses down there and we can all go for a trail ride together.
Capri is the horse of new beginnings. She's had a handful of them this year, and she's taken each one in stride. Cheers to Rachel and Capri. May all of Rachel's dreams come true, with a lifetime of mustang love and adventures.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Damascus Road
Belle had an epiphany today. She's been holding back her trust; building a wall between herself and me, and even though she seemed to recognize that I had some leadership potential, she's been unwilling to acknowledge that she needs my leadership. I've been scratching my head, wondering if I should crank things up a notch in the round pen, or if I should give her more time to come around. Well, I was in the mood for some honky-tonk today, so crank it up I did. I needed to send Belle some of my energy, and I needed to see her really dig down and move.
Until now, when working Belle in a circle, the only changes of direction I've gotten from her have been outside turns, where her head goes away from me and her butt points towards me. Those kinds of turns aren't all bad, because they cause the horse to see me from first one eye, then the other. But in order to get the connection that I'm working towards with Belle, she needs to give me inside turns, where the head turns towards me and the butt turns away. How exactly does one teach a wild mustang working at liberty to turn towards the handler? With energy and movement. Lots of it, in Belle's case. I used what Parelli calls a "carrot stick," which is a four-foot hollow fiberglass rod that has a four-foot cord attached to the end. It is used to motivate a horse, and also to desensitize them to touch. Today, motivation was the key, and just holding it away from my body and occasionally swinging it or snapping the end of the cord was enough to send Belle through the roof.
Galloping at full-tilt, bouncing off the round pen rails, Belle is a sight to behold. I admit I felt a little bit sorry for her. I guess you could call it tough love. Nothing will ever change for the better without some exercise, right? After several fast laps, and outside turns to change direction, I was ready to ask for some inside turns. It all has to do with my body language, my position in relation to the horse, the "feel" between us, and finally the "draw," which is where she actually responds to me and turns inward.
The look on Belle's face when she came face to face with me was priceless. It was one of those WOW moments for both of us. Her eyes were bright and her ears were impossibly far forward, and if horses were capable of dropping their jaw, hers would've been on the ground. That was her moment of epiphany. I repeated the exercise over and over, and each time she responded correctly she was rewarded with a moment to stand still and look at me. Each time she didn't respond correctly, she was made to keep working. Belle took lots more steps towards me. She didn't come up to me, so the connection isn't complete yet, but with another session like that one she will. She believes me now. I will be her leader, her trainer, and her master. Before, I was the maid. Oh, the changes that will take place soon. I can hardly wait!
Until now, when working Belle in a circle, the only changes of direction I've gotten from her have been outside turns, where her head goes away from me and her butt points towards me. Those kinds of turns aren't all bad, because they cause the horse to see me from first one eye, then the other. But in order to get the connection that I'm working towards with Belle, she needs to give me inside turns, where the head turns towards me and the butt turns away. How exactly does one teach a wild mustang working at liberty to turn towards the handler? With energy and movement. Lots of it, in Belle's case. I used what Parelli calls a "carrot stick," which is a four-foot hollow fiberglass rod that has a four-foot cord attached to the end. It is used to motivate a horse, and also to desensitize them to touch. Today, motivation was the key, and just holding it away from my body and occasionally swinging it or snapping the end of the cord was enough to send Belle through the roof.
Galloping at full-tilt, bouncing off the round pen rails, Belle is a sight to behold. I admit I felt a little bit sorry for her. I guess you could call it tough love. Nothing will ever change for the better without some exercise, right? After several fast laps, and outside turns to change direction, I was ready to ask for some inside turns. It all has to do with my body language, my position in relation to the horse, the "feel" between us, and finally the "draw," which is where she actually responds to me and turns inward.
The look on Belle's face when she came face to face with me was priceless. It was one of those WOW moments for both of us. Her eyes were bright and her ears were impossibly far forward, and if horses were capable of dropping their jaw, hers would've been on the ground. That was her moment of epiphany. I repeated the exercise over and over, and each time she responded correctly she was rewarded with a moment to stand still and look at me. Each time she didn't respond correctly, she was made to keep working. Belle took lots more steps towards me. She didn't come up to me, so the connection isn't complete yet, but with another session like that one she will. She believes me now. I will be her leader, her trainer, and her master. Before, I was the maid. Oh, the changes that will take place soon. I can hardly wait!
Friday, December 2, 2011
Clockwise
Moving Belle into the round pen today was a step in the right direction. Literally, the right direction. Her phobia of moving to the right, or clockwise, disappeared in the large, round space. Rick and I set the round pen up just outside of the gentling pen, with two panels left wide open to form a chute, and with the help of a new friend who was visiting the mustangs today, it was easy to move Belle into it and close the panels behind her.
I gave Belle a few minutes to enjoy the view from her new position, then went in with her and put her to work. Belle is still wearing her drag rope, but I haven't felt compelled to pick it up lately, since working at liberty is more rewarding at this stage of training. Belle is very responsive to body language, so directing her movement was easy and a lot of fun. Just slapping my arm against my thigh gets her going; no rope swinging or whip snapping is necessary for this girl. For a full thirty minutes, Belle went round and round at a snappy, robust trot. She's built like a hot rod, and watching that amazing body move was a real treat. When changing directions, she hunkers down on her hindquarters and rolls the other way. She's got some moves, that's for sure. To the left, to the right, to the left again, back to the right, then whoa. Look at me, Belle. Good girl. Look she did, but she could only muster the courage to take a couple of steps towards me. I'm working hard to get a connection, to have her "hook up" or "join up" or whatever you want to call it. She needs to want to be with me, to acknowledge me as her leader, so that I have her trust and respect. Each time she looked away and withdrew into herself, I put her back to work doing circles. The exercise gets tedious after a while, so I found a good note to quit on and stepped out of the round pen.
Belle watched me as I exited, and I noticed that she was tracking me with her whole body as I walked outside the pen, so I walked a couple of laps around it. She stood in the middle, turned on her forehand, and kept her full face towards me as I moved. It was a role-reversal, with her in the middle and me doing circles. Not a good thing, but it was interesting. After two laps, she figured out that she could just bend her neck around to keep one eye at a time on me. I turned my back on her then and left her.
Belle blew her nose a few times, cocked a hip, and seemed quite content with herself. She watched my friend and I as we brushed Capri and chatted for a while, and she continued to watch while I did my chores. Later, Rick came out to the arena and asked how it went with Belle. I went back in with her and played with her again, so that Rick could see, then asked him if he wanted a turn with her. Well, of course he did! He did well too, and was impressed with the progress that was made. Tomorrow can only be better!
I gave Belle a few minutes to enjoy the view from her new position, then went in with her and put her to work. Belle is still wearing her drag rope, but I haven't felt compelled to pick it up lately, since working at liberty is more rewarding at this stage of training. Belle is very responsive to body language, so directing her movement was easy and a lot of fun. Just slapping my arm against my thigh gets her going; no rope swinging or whip snapping is necessary for this girl. For a full thirty minutes, Belle went round and round at a snappy, robust trot. She's built like a hot rod, and watching that amazing body move was a real treat. When changing directions, she hunkers down on her hindquarters and rolls the other way. She's got some moves, that's for sure. To the left, to the right, to the left again, back to the right, then whoa. Look at me, Belle. Good girl. Look she did, but she could only muster the courage to take a couple of steps towards me. I'm working hard to get a connection, to have her "hook up" or "join up" or whatever you want to call it. She needs to want to be with me, to acknowledge me as her leader, so that I have her trust and respect. Each time she looked away and withdrew into herself, I put her back to work doing circles. The exercise gets tedious after a while, so I found a good note to quit on and stepped out of the round pen.
Belle watched me as I exited, and I noticed that she was tracking me with her whole body as I walked outside the pen, so I walked a couple of laps around it. She stood in the middle, turned on her forehand, and kept her full face towards me as I moved. It was a role-reversal, with her in the middle and me doing circles. Not a good thing, but it was interesting. After two laps, she figured out that she could just bend her neck around to keep one eye at a time on me. I turned my back on her then and left her.
Belle blew her nose a few times, cocked a hip, and seemed quite content with herself. She watched my friend and I as we brushed Capri and chatted for a while, and she continued to watch while I did my chores. Later, Rick came out to the arena and asked how it went with Belle. I went back in with her and played with her again, so that Rick could see, then asked him if he wanted a turn with her. Well, of course he did! He did well too, and was impressed with the progress that was made. Tomorrow can only be better!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
The Wheelbarrow Method
Okay, most of us have heard of the bamboo pole method of gentling mustangs, right? Lay the pole on the horse's withers, wait until it stops having a hissy fit, then gently see-saw the pole back and forth to offer feel-good scratches, then touch the horse all over with the pole, then scoot yourself closer and touch the horse with your fingers. Pretty soon you have a gentle mustang. Or at least it's supposed to work like that.
Personally, I haven't had much luck with the pole. I don't feel like it facilitates trust-building between me and the horse, but rather escalates fear responses. Or maybe I just don't do it right. In any case, Belle and I came up with our own method this evening. I'd like to call it The Wheelbarrow Method. Do I give the wild mustang a ride in my wheelbarrow? No, I do not. Do I hitch the wild mustang to my wheelbarrow and ask it to give me a ride? No, of course not. Do I push the wheelbarrow at a reasonable distance behind the wild mustang and ask it to walk in a lovely circle ahead of me? Yes, I do! And guess which direction I asked Belle to walk in? Yes, to the right! And she did! Without blowing up! We must've looked rather silly walking laps around the pen, but nobody was looking, so that's alright.
After a couple of easy laps, she wanted to stop and check me out, so I stepped out from between the handlebars, stood in the middle of the pen, and invited her to come to me. She didn't come to me, but she looked at me with both eyes and held my gaze for several seconds. This was a big improvement over the usual quick, one-eyed glance that she has been giving me. When she lost interest in me and looked away, I put her back to work walking and trotting laps to the right, then when she was ready to check me out again I repeated my invitation for her to come to me. Twice, she took tiny steps towards me. That's the most I've gotten from her without holding the rope, so I was quite pleased.
Belle's eye was softer tonight, compared to the glassy-eyed stare that she usually has. She made happy, relaxed, nose-blowing snorts, which was the first I've heard from her. And, she let me stand very close to her outside of her pen while she ate her dinner, which was also a first.
Tomorrow, I'm going to get her in the round pen and put her to work. I think if I can work her to the left and right, with lots of changes of direction, then I can get her mind engaged and really make some progress. She's had two and a half weeks to get acclimated, and I think I've convinced her that I don't like the taste of horse meat, so let's get that girl busy, by golly.
Personally, I haven't had much luck with the pole. I don't feel like it facilitates trust-building between me and the horse, but rather escalates fear responses. Or maybe I just don't do it right. In any case, Belle and I came up with our own method this evening. I'd like to call it The Wheelbarrow Method. Do I give the wild mustang a ride in my wheelbarrow? No, I do not. Do I hitch the wild mustang to my wheelbarrow and ask it to give me a ride? No, of course not. Do I push the wheelbarrow at a reasonable distance behind the wild mustang and ask it to walk in a lovely circle ahead of me? Yes, I do! And guess which direction I asked Belle to walk in? Yes, to the right! And she did! Without blowing up! We must've looked rather silly walking laps around the pen, but nobody was looking, so that's alright.
After a couple of easy laps, she wanted to stop and check me out, so I stepped out from between the handlebars, stood in the middle of the pen, and invited her to come to me. She didn't come to me, but she looked at me with both eyes and held my gaze for several seconds. This was a big improvement over the usual quick, one-eyed glance that she has been giving me. When she lost interest in me and looked away, I put her back to work walking and trotting laps to the right, then when she was ready to check me out again I repeated my invitation for her to come to me. Twice, she took tiny steps towards me. That's the most I've gotten from her without holding the rope, so I was quite pleased.
Belle's eye was softer tonight, compared to the glassy-eyed stare that she usually has. She made happy, relaxed, nose-blowing snorts, which was the first I've heard from her. And, she let me stand very close to her outside of her pen while she ate her dinner, which was also a first.
Tomorrow, I'm going to get her in the round pen and put her to work. I think if I can work her to the left and right, with lots of changes of direction, then I can get her mind engaged and really make some progress. She's had two and a half weeks to get acclimated, and I think I've convinced her that I don't like the taste of horse meat, so let's get that girl busy, by golly.
Friday, November 25, 2011
A Very Nice Ride
With Belle's arrival, the finger-numbing cold, the soaking rains, and the Thanksgiving holiday, I've put Capri on the back burner in the last week. Tonight, however, I carved out enough time to do more that just brush her and play with her; I saddled her up and hopped on for her fourth ride. I started in the round pen, and she was great. We went round and round at the walk, changed directions many times, enjoyed her huge, springy trot to the left and the right, backed up, and turned on the forehand both ways. That could have been enough, but I knew she could do more, so we exited the round pen and I rode in the arena. I didn't ask for anything too challenging, but she stepped out nicely and walked a straight line for two laps in each direction. I kept her motivated to go past Belle's pen, and past the gate to her own paddock, and past the tie-up area, all with no problem. I turned her around the barrels for a minute or two, then quit while I was ahead.
Riding green horses is a lot of fun. I use the lightest aids possible, and give Capri a chance to interpret my cues. She gets it right most of the time, but on the occasion that I have to give a heavier aid and make my intent clear, I feel perfectly safe doing so. Using lots of leg, bending her head around, tickling her butt with the end of my reins; none of that bothers her a bit. Mounting and dismounting are effortless, and tonight I mounted without the block for the first time. What a treat!
Belle continues to make small bits of progress. Yesterday, I spent some quiet time with her in her pen, just slowly moving her around and talking to her. When I left her, and was about 50 feet away from her, she whinnied to me. I was surprised! That was the first time she'd done that, so I approached her pen again and spent more time talking to her from outside, being careful to keep my posture non-threatening. Today, she seriously considered taking alfalfa from my hand. She's not quite brave enough yet, but perhaps soon she will be. Perhaps tomorrow?
Riding green horses is a lot of fun. I use the lightest aids possible, and give Capri a chance to interpret my cues. She gets it right most of the time, but on the occasion that I have to give a heavier aid and make my intent clear, I feel perfectly safe doing so. Using lots of leg, bending her head around, tickling her butt with the end of my reins; none of that bothers her a bit. Mounting and dismounting are effortless, and tonight I mounted without the block for the first time. What a treat!
Belle continues to make small bits of progress. Yesterday, I spent some quiet time with her in her pen, just slowly moving her around and talking to her. When I left her, and was about 50 feet away from her, she whinnied to me. I was surprised! That was the first time she'd done that, so I approached her pen again and spent more time talking to her from outside, being careful to keep my posture non-threatening. Today, she seriously considered taking alfalfa from my hand. She's not quite brave enough yet, but perhaps soon she will be. Perhaps tomorrow?
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
It's The Little Things
Belle is starting to relax a bit, finally. Last night, for the first time, she got brave enough to eat her hay while I was watching, and let me get within twelve feet of her before she stopped eating and took a couple of steps away from me. I know it seems trivial, but it was really a huge indication that she is beginning to feel comfortable around me. Until then, she wouldn't go near her feed if I was watching at all, even from a great distance. In fact, most of the time she would stand with her right side against the wall and only give me the merest glance if I was talking to her. Tonight, though, she willingly faced up to me with her ears forward and her eyes were soft and bright. She let me see her right side...I was beginning to wonder if she had one! Mustangs typically protect their right side, and when they loosen up and
show it (and later let me touch it) it is a sure sign of letting down
their guard.
When I was holding the end of the rope, Belle took side steps towards me when I asked her to, as
long as I was moving too, so that she wasn't actually getting closer to
me, but was moving with me. Kind of like leading sideways. I'll take
what ever she'll give me right now, so that was just fine. She also let
me move towards her with my arm outstretched. I played Pressure and
Release with her, which helps her learn that she gets rewarded (the
release is the reward) when she looks at me or moves towards me. She
has a strong flight instinct, but no fight, so as long as I stay out of
her way when she bolts forward, I'm fine. She's bolting less often now,
and she's learned to settle down and listen when I ask her to stop. She
is a smart girl, and she is so Stinking pretty!
Working through the challenges is what makes training mustangs so rewarding. We like to think of them as blank slates, but really they are less than blank, if there is such a thing. They know nothing of us, but they do know how to survive and protect themselves. They don't speak our language, so it is up to us to communicate with body language that makes sense to them. It really is remarkable that we're able to not only convince them that we're not going to have them for dinner, but to forge a deep and lasting bond with them. A bond that once earned, will never be revoked. I feel like I'm firmly on the path now that will lead me to having a bond with Belle. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!
Working through the challenges is what makes training mustangs so rewarding. We like to think of them as blank slates, but really they are less than blank, if there is such a thing. They know nothing of us, but they do know how to survive and protect themselves. They don't speak our language, so it is up to us to communicate with body language that makes sense to them. It really is remarkable that we're able to not only convince them that we're not going to have them for dinner, but to forge a deep and lasting bond with them. A bond that once earned, will never be revoked. I feel like I'm firmly on the path now that will lead me to having a bond with Belle. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Eye of the Storm
Most, if not all, horses prefer going to the left. There are explanations for this, mostly having to do with horses being right "handed". Without going to go into the nitty-gritty details of it, the simple fact is that we can usually ask a horse to go in a circle to the left, and they will. When we ask them to change directions and go to the right, they usually put up a bit of resistance, so we push a little harder, and they go. With consistent encouragement, they eventually learn to go willingly. I enjoy pushing a horse and encouraging it to do it's best. I also enjoy being alive. Have you ever been in a twenty-four by twenty-four foot square pen with a fresh, wild mustang who has decided that going to the right is impossible? Well, I have, just a couple of hours ago. Who knew that a full-sized horse could gallop in such a tight space? It looks something like this:
The mere thought of going to the right sends Belle into a tizzy. She spins to the left and does several laps at top speed. What do I do? Well, I'm in the center, so I can make a mad dash for the rails and climb out, or I can just stay put and enjoy the show. Belle has a strong flight instinct, but no fight that I've seen yet, so I actually feel pretty safe (although a bit dizzy) standing in the center and waiting for the storm to pass.
Every training issue needs to be addressed, but there is a time for everything, and this issue can wait until I've earned more trust with Belle. She is making other progress that I am happy with, and she is usually perfectly calm and willing to try her best. In the meantime, it's good to know that she is an athlete who can really dig down and boogie!
Every training issue needs to be addressed, but there is a time for everything, and this issue can wait until I've earned more trust with Belle. She is making other progress that I am happy with, and she is usually perfectly calm and willing to try her best. In the meantime, it's good to know that she is an athlete who can really dig down and boogie!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Uh Oh...
...Not again. Oh, dear. Not so soon. That funny feeling is back. The one where my stomach knots up and feels all tingly. Could I possibly be...falling in love...again? I've already fallen in love three times this year. First with River, then Siesta, followed by Capri, and now Belle. Won't I ever learn? Falling in love is suposed to be a rare event. What's wrong with me? I guess I'm just the lovin' type. Or maybe these mustangs are just so darn lovable, and impossible to resist. Yes, I think that's it. It's not me, it's them!
I went in the pen with Belle this evening and picked up the drag rope. Her rope is a nice long one, so it's very simple to get close enough to bend over and pick up the end. The only trick there is to make sure that I'm staring at the end of the rope, not the horse, so that she doesn't feel threatened by my intent. While holding the rope lightly in my left hand, I encouraged her to move in a circle to the left, and she calmly did. She went 'round and 'round, with only a slight hesitation in her favorite corners, which I could easily push her through. When I asked her to stop, she did, and she gave me her full attention. I gave a gentle, steady pull on the rope, while angling my body away from her, and she freely took two steps towards me by moving her front end sideways, with her outside foot crossing in front of her inside foot. This made me very happy. She followed up by moving her hind feet too, and completed a side pass toward me. I really wasn't expecting this, but to my surprise I could ask her for it again and again, and she would deliver. When she quit giving it to me, I sent her back in a circle, then stopped her and asked again. She seemed to like this game. I changed the rules by asking her to come straight to me, and again she surprised me by taking a couple of forward steps. What a smart, brave girl! I was only in there with her for twenty minutes, but I feel like she made huge progress in that short time. I have a feeling she's going to be a really nice horse. No wonder I'm falling in love...
I went in the pen with Belle this evening and picked up the drag rope. Her rope is a nice long one, so it's very simple to get close enough to bend over and pick up the end. The only trick there is to make sure that I'm staring at the end of the rope, not the horse, so that she doesn't feel threatened by my intent. While holding the rope lightly in my left hand, I encouraged her to move in a circle to the left, and she calmly did. She went 'round and 'round, with only a slight hesitation in her favorite corners, which I could easily push her through. When I asked her to stop, she did, and she gave me her full attention. I gave a gentle, steady pull on the rope, while angling my body away from her, and she freely took two steps towards me by moving her front end sideways, with her outside foot crossing in front of her inside foot. This made me very happy. She followed up by moving her hind feet too, and completed a side pass toward me. I really wasn't expecting this, but to my surprise I could ask her for it again and again, and she would deliver. When she quit giving it to me, I sent her back in a circle, then stopped her and asked again. She seemed to like this game. I changed the rules by asking her to come straight to me, and again she surprised me by taking a couple of forward steps. What a smart, brave girl! I was only in there with her for twenty minutes, but I feel like she made huge progress in that short time. I have a feeling she's going to be a really nice horse. No wonder I'm falling in love...
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Dreams Do Come True
Belle met her soon-to-be adopter today. Pastor Dave lives more than two hours from me, but such a short amount of time was nothing compared to the wait that he has endured for his dream of owning a mustang to come true. Dave is a life-long horseman who rode in a drill team for many years. He also enjoys getting out in the back-country on horseback, and after giving his last horse to a 4-H family, he decided this year to pursue his mustang dream.
Dave was searching Dreamhorse.com this September when he spotted the ad I had posted for Capri. He immediately fell for her, and contacted me for more information. As luck would have it, Capri had just become unavailable that day. I felt bad for Dave, so I pointed out that there were lots more mustangs where Capri came from, and I would be happy to gentle and train one just for him. I sent him the link to the BLM's Oregon mustang page, and his eye went straight to the beautiful mare that he has named Belle. I was very pleased with his choice, because I'd had my eye on her all year.
I am very, very happy that Belle is in my pen, but not nearly as happy as Dave is. Have you ever seen the look on a little boy's face when he gets just the gift he wanted? One that he's been hoping and praying for, for a long, long time? Well, picture that look on the face of a six-foot-four cowboy in boots and a hat, and you've got Pastor Dave looking at Belle for the first time. He is tickled! Dave loves her conformation and her color. He asked for my first impressions of her, and I assured him that Belle is calm, curious, smart, playful, and quite possibly mischievous. She seems like the kind of horse, that, once broke, a person could just climb on and go without a worry in the world. It's quite a journey that Dave is embarking on, and I am blessed to be his guide. Thank you, Dave!
I am very, very happy that Belle is in my pen, but not nearly as happy as Dave is. Have you ever seen the look on a little boy's face when he gets just the gift he wanted? One that he's been hoping and praying for, for a long, long time? Well, picture that look on the face of a six-foot-four cowboy in boots and a hat, and you've got Pastor Dave looking at Belle for the first time. He is tickled! Dave loves her conformation and her color. He asked for my first impressions of her, and I assured him that Belle is calm, curious, smart, playful, and quite possibly mischievous. She seems like the kind of horse, that, once broke, a person could just climb on and go without a worry in the world. It's quite a journey that Dave is embarking on, and I am blessed to be his guide. Thank you, Dave!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Patience...
...is a virtue. It's one of my favorite sayings, one that I grew up hearing over and over, and one that I may have repeated to my children a time or two. Patience is the number one lesson that we learn with mustangs. The gentling process requires lots of patience, as well as faith, respect, and trust. We patiently wait for the first touch, but even before then we have to be patient and wait for the mustang to arrive.
Do you remember when I was excited because I was getting a fresh mustang in my gentling pen, and I said it would be here in a few days? Well, days turned into weeks, while I patiently endured one delay after another in the delivery arrangements. Finally, more than a month after I expected her, the new mare arrived tonight. Her name is Belle, and she is a four-year-old from the Stinkingwater Herd Management Area of Oregon. Her color is listed as sorrel, but she looks more like a chocolate palomino. Her coat is a warm toasty brown, and her mane and tail are a lovely shade of golden. She's built nice and sturdy, true to the draft heritage that her herd is known for. She reminds me a bit of Malibu Barbie, with her dark tan, bleach blond hair and her big, curvy physique.
Belle has a sweet face, with a star shaped like the State of Texas, and a well-placed snip on her long Roman nose. She stepped out of the trailer with aplomb, and looked around with a Winnie-the-Pooh expression that read, "Oh, I'm here. Well, of course I am. Where else would I be?" She gave herself a quick tour of the pen, then relaxed and posed while I took one hundred and twenty-seven photos of her. Seriously! Belle was curious about everything, and had fun splashing her muzzle in the water bucket before she settled in to her dinner.
Capri greeted her new friend very politely. They got acquainted (re-acquainted?) through the rails, and spent some time just hanging out together. I haltered Capri, tied her up, and brushed her, while Belle ogled the process. Horses can learn a good bit just by watching other horses, so this was the beginning of her education. Tomorrow I'll get started on the rest!
Do you remember when I was excited because I was getting a fresh mustang in my gentling pen, and I said it would be here in a few days? Well, days turned into weeks, while I patiently endured one delay after another in the delivery arrangements. Finally, more than a month after I expected her, the new mare arrived tonight. Her name is Belle, and she is a four-year-old from the Stinkingwater Herd Management Area of Oregon. Her color is listed as sorrel, but she looks more like a chocolate palomino. Her coat is a warm toasty brown, and her mane and tail are a lovely shade of golden. She's built nice and sturdy, true to the draft heritage that her herd is known for. She reminds me a bit of Malibu Barbie, with her dark tan, bleach blond hair and her big, curvy physique.
Belle has a sweet face, with a star shaped like the State of Texas, and a well-placed snip on her long Roman nose. She stepped out of the trailer with aplomb, and looked around with a Winnie-the-Pooh expression that read, "Oh, I'm here. Well, of course I am. Where else would I be?" She gave herself a quick tour of the pen, then relaxed and posed while I took one hundred and twenty-seven photos of her. Seriously! Belle was curious about everything, and had fun splashing her muzzle in the water bucket before she settled in to her dinner.
Capri greeted her new friend very politely. They got acquainted (re-acquainted?) through the rails, and spent some time just hanging out together. I haltered Capri, tied her up, and brushed her, while Belle ogled the process. Horses can learn a good bit just by watching other horses, so this was the beginning of her education. Tomorrow I'll get started on the rest!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Nice and Easy
Monday, November 7, 2011
Me on Capri
Well, I have news. There will be pictures of me on the Capri that we all know and love very soon. I had my first ride on her tonight, but Rick was busy helping me and wasn't able to play photographer at the same time. The ride was perfect. Capri was perfect. I am flying high right now, just like I was on my honeymoon. The best part was that Capri enjoyed it as much as I did. Her expression and her posture were soft the whole time. I know she's been wanting to be ridden as much as I've been wanting to ride her. I felt like she was ready for it two months ago, before she left for six weeks. She watches me ride the other horses, and seems to be taking notes; it really is the cutest thing. I remember Siesta used to do that, too. They get that "pick me, ride me!" expression on their face, and I know I won't have any trouble doing just that.
The ride lasted about 15 minutes, which is plenty long for a first ride. We walked both directions, with lots of turns, stops, and starts, and pretty soon she was stepping out in a free, rhythmic walk that felt very comfortable. I gave her cues with my legs and my hands, and looked in the direction that I wanted to go, and she did everything just right. I got off, gave her a big hug with lots of praise, and got back on. At first, Rick had the rope on the halter that she was wearing under her bridle, but the second time up he took it off and just walked beside her head. Capri was calm and happy the whole time, and was giving what we call the "green light." When we were done, she seemed very proud and all grown up, just like the other horses.
Capri will have tomorrow off, to process what she learned tonight. I'll let her out to munch on what's left of the grass, then in the evening she can come in and watch me ride River or one of the other mares. The next night it will be her turn again, and I'll be asking for a lot more from her. Rick can stand in the center of the round pen and tell me how I'm doing, and hopefully his hands will be free enough to take some pictures.
So, let's hear it for everything beautiful named Capri, and may this honeymoon, like the one my husband and I shared, never end.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Capri's Tale
Some of my loyal readers (you know who you are...and I appreciate you very much) might be wondering what is going on with Capri. She was gentled and found a home, right? Well, right. And then not. The family that adopted her experienced a couple of major life changes, and then the discovery was made that the final adoption paperwork was never processed. So, it turned out that Capri was never officially adopted by that family, and she was returned to me.
In the six weeks that she was gone, Capri was turned out with other mares and found herself at the bottom of the pecking order. In the horse world, each horse in a group falls into a certain order of hierarchy. The horse at the top controls the hay pile, and the ones who fall lower in the order may not get enough to eat, and will probably get picked on. Unfortunately, that was the case with Capri. She lost a significant amount of weight, which, after two weeks of being back here, she is still trying to put back on. She also had obvious hoof marks on her hindquarters from being kicked by the other mares. She was dirty and dull-looking, with a build-up of loose hair in her coat. The sparkle was gone from her eyes, her head hung low, and her hip bones were showing. When she stepped out of the trailer, I really wasn't sure it was Capri. I honestly had to look at her markings several times to be certain. Where was the proud mustang? The outgoing, the-world-is-my-oyster-and-I-am-the-queen mare? Had she vanished? No. Thankfully, after an hour of grooming, cooing, petting, playing, and feeding her treats, the old Capri was reappearing. There was a glimmer of sparkle in her eyes. She knew she was home with the people who love her, in a comfortable place where she never experienced fear or pain.
Within a couple of days, the shine was starting to return to Capri's coat. She has been home for two weeks now, and she is her same old sweet self. She even has a new stall with a paddock, which she thinks is just peachy. I've saddled her a couple of times, and put weight in the stirrups, and trotted her around the barrels on a line. She seems to be nearly ready for her first ride, and I'm hoping to accomplish that soon. You all will be the first to know how that goes!
I've saved the best news for last. You remember Rick, right? He's my neighbor, my friend, my employer, and the owner of the barn where I am blessed enough to be able to train mustangs. Well, he and his wife love Capri as much as I do, and they were deeply disturbed by the condition she was in when she returned here. They decided that perhaps it would be best if they adopted Capri. So, the check has been written and the paperwork has been mailed, and very soon Rick will have the final adoption papers in hand. How's that for a good deal? I get to keep training Capri, and Rick and his wife get to enjoy her. That's what I call a happy ending. Or is it a happy new beginning?
In the six weeks that she was gone, Capri was turned out with other mares and found herself at the bottom of the pecking order. In the horse world, each horse in a group falls into a certain order of hierarchy. The horse at the top controls the hay pile, and the ones who fall lower in the order may not get enough to eat, and will probably get picked on. Unfortunately, that was the case with Capri. She lost a significant amount of weight, which, after two weeks of being back here, she is still trying to put back on. She also had obvious hoof marks on her hindquarters from being kicked by the other mares. She was dirty and dull-looking, with a build-up of loose hair in her coat. The sparkle was gone from her eyes, her head hung low, and her hip bones were showing. When she stepped out of the trailer, I really wasn't sure it was Capri. I honestly had to look at her markings several times to be certain. Where was the proud mustang? The outgoing, the-world-is-my-oyster-and-I-am-the-queen mare? Had she vanished? No. Thankfully, after an hour of grooming, cooing, petting, playing, and feeding her treats, the old Capri was reappearing. There was a glimmer of sparkle in her eyes. She knew she was home with the people who love her, in a comfortable place where she never experienced fear or pain.
I've saved the best news for last. You remember Rick, right? He's my neighbor, my friend, my employer, and the owner of the barn where I am blessed enough to be able to train mustangs. Well, he and his wife love Capri as much as I do, and they were deeply disturbed by the condition she was in when she returned here. They decided that perhaps it would be best if they adopted Capri. So, the check has been written and the paperwork has been mailed, and very soon Rick will have the final adoption papers in hand. How's that for a good deal? I get to keep training Capri, and Rick and his wife get to enjoy her. That's what I call a happy ending. Or is it a happy new beginning?
Monday, October 31, 2011
Trick or Treat!
Happy Halloween!
 |
| Capri, the not-so-scary mustang, wishes you a safe and happy Halloween. Beware of witches disguised as horses! |
Sunday, October 30, 2011
The Boomerang Mustang
Who is that hiding behind the Nokota filly?
Something about that horse seems familiar. I see a chocolate brown coat and three white socks...
...A cute little face with a star...
Could it possibly be...?
CAPRI!!!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Woo-Hoo! Yee-Haw!
Yippee! I'm excited...ya wanna know why? Because I'm getting a new wild mustang to train, that's why! I don't know yet if it will be a mare or a gelding, but it will be a horse with a sturdy, stocky build and will probably be from the Stinkingwater Herd of Oregon. The best part is that I already have an adopter lined up, a wonderful gentleman named Dave, who is a pastor of a church in Tacoma. Dave is a long-time horseman who has been without a horse for the last year or so. He has always wanted a mustang, and he contacted me when he saw Capri advertised on Dreamhorse.com. The day he emailed me was the same day that Capri went to her knew home, and Dave was disappointed. I assured him that there were plenty more beautiful wild horses where Capri came from, and I would be happy to gentle and train one for him. The ball started rolling, and here we are, anticipating delivery of a fresh wild mustang in just a couple of days. Feel free to be excited along with me and Dave. The journey is going to be a fun one, and we'd love to have you along for the ride.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
News From Siesta
Well, okay, it was actually Siesta's mom, Barb, that send me nearly a dozen emails today, telling me in wonderful detail and showing me in beautiful pictures and videos how fabulous Siesta is doing. They've just returned from four days of camping and riding all over the South Steens, in South-Central Oregon, where the wild horses run free.
That is Barb's husband, Brian, on the right, riding Siesta. Barb is riding her beloved Missouri Foxtrotter mare. Don't they look wonderful? Barb and Brian took turns riding Siesta during the four days, and she was as solid a trail mount as a seasoned horse would be. Barb says she was very surefooted, quiet, and nothing bothered her at all. Siesta even ponied Barb's mare through water. She hauled like a champ, was quiet at night, and accepted everything that they threw at her. According to Barb, the Steens Mountain area is a real test of a horse's mind and heart, and Siesta passed
with flying colors. The trail is hard and steep with lots of rock
shelves and boulders, but she placed her feet perfectly and never flinched. They met hikers with tall packs on the trail, and motorbikes on
the road, but Siesta couldn't have cared less. Isn't that fantastic? I think so, and so do Barb and Brian. I bet if we asked Siesta, she'd say that she's the lucky one, and things are indeed fantastic.
Siesta is such a pretty horse! She is much more muscled now than she was when she was here with me; I like the way she has filled out. She has a strong, yet feminine look to her. She looks fabulous, and if I didn't know her age, I would never guess that she is only three years old.
Barb has kindly invited me to come visit and ride the Steens with them next year. I think I just might take her up on that, and I think I know which horse I want to ride...
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Adopted....Happy Trails, Capri!
It was love at first sight for both of them. They checked either out from a distance, then approached one another for a first touch, then shared some time just breathing together. Kimberly brushed Capri, played with her in the roundpen, and asked all of the right questions. She spent two hours here, and there was no doubt in my mind that the two of them were a match.
With final approval from the office in Burns, Kimberly loaded Capri in her trailer and headed back down the interstate through rush-hour traffic. Capri settled into her new home easily, and has a cute appy gelding for a friend. Kimberly tells me that she is fascinated by Capri's temperament--that she has a kind personality and yet she is open to learning, too. That is very true, and it sums Capri up really well. She is mellow and gentle, but not a plug; she is smart and funny and sweet and will show her snazzy side when asked.
Capri, my friend, I wish you the best in your new forever home. Work hard, play hard, learn well, eat lots of cookies, and do what you do best...dish out your love and kindness and show the world how wonderful mustangs are.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Mustang Metrics
The tack room is cozy and filled with good stuff
There are saddles and bridles and more than enough
I'm looking for something special tonight
Maybe I'll step in here where the light is so bright
My trainer says, "Hey, what're ya doin'?"
When it should be plain I'm doin' some shoppin'
English or Western, I just can't decide
Which do you think looks best on my hide?
My trainer says, "Hey, you look great in either"
And just last week I wasn't wearin' neither
That's how slick I am, and how fast I learn
Now, hop on, let's go, there's trails to burn
"Whoa, there, Capri," my trainer does say
"Haven't we got some more groundwork to learn today?"
Oh, brother, not more circles to canter and trot
Oh, please, oh, please, say it's not
I'd rather you hop on and go for a ride
Western or English, whichever you decide
"Soon," says my trainer, I'll be ready to go
I can't hardly wait, so please don't say no
I'm a good girl, and a fun-lovin' partner
If I've done something amiss I'll try even harder
The next time to please you and earn my reward
'Cause all I really want is to be treasured
I'm up for "adoption," whatever that means
Something to do with a new home it seems
Someone to love me and tell me I'm theirs
Someplace that will be my place for all of my days
Come meet me and pet me and play with me too
I'm easy to be with and I'm sure to like you
My manners are good, I'm easy on the eyes
Take me home now, I'll be your best prize
This poem is kind of silly, but really what can I say
I'm a gentle mustang and I'd rather be eating hay
Than get all poetic about this simple stuff
I think I'll just quit rhyming now, it surely is enough
There are saddles and bridles and more than enough
I'm looking for something special tonight
Maybe I'll step in here where the light is so bright
My trainer says, "Hey, what're ya doin'?"
When it should be plain I'm doin' some shoppin'
English or Western, I just can't decide
Which do you think looks best on my hide?
My trainer says, "Hey, you look great in either"
And just last week I wasn't wearin' neither
That's how slick I am, and how fast I learn
Now, hop on, let's go, there's trails to burn
"Whoa, there, Capri," my trainer does say
"Haven't we got some more groundwork to learn today?"
Oh, brother, not more circles to canter and trot
Oh, please, oh, please, say it's not
I'd rather you hop on and go for a ride
Western or English, whichever you decide
"Soon," says my trainer, I'll be ready to go
I can't hardly wait, so please don't say noI'm a good girl, and a fun-lovin' partner
If I've done something amiss I'll try even harder
The next time to please you and earn my reward
'Cause all I really want is to be treasured
I'm up for "adoption," whatever that means
Something to do with a new home it seems
Someone to love me and tell me I'm theirs
Someplace that will be my place for all of my days
Come meet me and pet me and play with me too
I'm easy to be with and I'm sure to like you
My manners are good, I'm easy on the eyes
Take me home now, I'll be your best prize
This poem is kind of silly, but really what can I say
I'm a gentle mustang and I'd rather be eating hay
Than get all poetic about this simple stuff
I think I'll just quit rhyming now, it surely is enough
Thursday, September 1, 2011
A Busy Mustang
Capri, the lovely lady mustang, has been busy lately. Her world has been expanding, so that when she is adopted and goes to her new home, she will already know that the world is her oyster and she is the queen wearing the pearls.
Capri, busy meeting a new friend
Capri, busy learning to play ball
Capri, busy learning to work with a saddle and bridle
Capri, busy learning to stuff her face with green grass while bouncing around the pasture and staying away from the horse-zapping fence.
Such a busy mustang deserves a treat. Don't you agree?
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