This guy though… He’s a Golden Retriever puppy that accidentally ended up in a rather large horse’s body. He’s a coming 4yo Antelope Hills WY Mustang gelding. He does all the things and then some and is technically ready to find his person.
But only technically. He was gathered as a baby and doesn’t have a scratch on him. He loves people, literally everyone. But he moves funny. Not Stringhalt, maybe Shivers.
I don’t want to send him out in the world not knowing how his body is going to hold up to what’s asked of him. Per vet recommendation (thank you Patty & Jim) we’re starting him on a Vitamin E supplement and he’s learning to pony and explore the world outside of the pens so he can have turnout and more exercise. We’ll see how he does with that and go from there.
BLM has offered to take him back, which I appreciate. I think this guy enjoys doing the people thing very much though. He’d sleep on someone’s couch if he was allowed to and could fit through a human sized door (he’s huge).
Am I set on making him a permanent member of our herd? No. But if it ends up being what’s best for him, and he can pull his weight somehow, then we’ll consider it. Part of setting him up for success is getting him as healthy as possible before he leaves, if he does.
We’ve had several requests to adopt him, we’re thankful for people willing to adopt. A caveat: Gus is cool. But Gus is not for the faint of heart or people who just want to “save” him or love on him.
He’s a giant, insecure, overly friendly, sometimes easily distracted goofball of a young gelding. In the wrong hands it’ll take about 2 weeks (I’m being optimistic here) for him to become unmanageable and dangerous.
He needs love, yes. But love that looks like exercise, boundaries, someone who exudes calm confidence, provides exposure, stimulation, consistency and lots of reinforcing good and redirecting not so desirable behavior. Constantly, because he has baby brain.
When this 15.2hh hunk of a Mustang says: “Ew, scary!”, “I don’t like that!” or “Oh look!”, that hits differently than when a smaller one does that. He has to duck to get in my trailer and he has (small) dinner plates for feet.
He’s been saddled, bridled, ponied and taken for walks. So if we can get him physically right, the right adopter is going to have a lot of fun with this guy. Pictures of him climbing a 4ft snow pile just because he thought it was fun. That’s Gus, aka Gus the bus.
If you’re supporting Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy , thank you. Making sure these horses end up in the right home, not the first one willing to cough up the $, is a big part of what we do. We do have other Mustangs available for adoption and are bringing more in later this spring.
PM or email us if you want to help, need help gentling a wild one or want to learn how, or are looking to adopt.
Training halter and lead rope: Rowdy’s Ropes
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