This was last summer, and Spur’s first outing with the pack saddle and (empty) canvas panniers. He’d worn it all before at home.
It was also the first time he’d seen this much water, surrounded by scary willows at that. He handled it the way he handles everything:
“This is horrible, I’m for sure going to die!!!”
“Oh.”
“Just kidding, this is amazing, where has this been my whole life!?!?!?”
If you own or have ever worked with a Stewart Creek WY Mustang, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
A lot of them are smart, emotional, a bit dramatic and great horses once you get them past all that.
Spur has 3 favorite things besides food: Lacy, me and kids. He also thinks the world would be a better place without cows. One scared him once and while he may have forgiven, he does not forget.
This goofy roan has taught me more about handling big emotional Mustangs than all the horses before him combined. Spur is pretty darn close now to his string tested height of 15.3hh.
I don’t think there’s a single horse that took so much mental and physical energy out of me to get to the point of being a sweet boy who can handle himself nicely in most situations.
I’m so grateful for all I’ve learned working with him and that even at his most frustrated and overstimulated, he’s always been willing to come back to earth and try again.
I got him as far as I could, both on the ground and under saddle, and found him someone who can get him further.
I’ve learned to honor the sense of “too much horse for me”, and that’s him. Not because I can’t ride him but because I enjoyed riding the Thoroughbred types in my teens and early 20s. Not today.
We’re even, Spur and I. I love him and he still comes to me for cuddles when he sees me. We’ve learned a lot from each other.
This big horse melts with kids around. I’ve used him for a lesson with a very green youth rider on their 2nd ever ride and he acted like a 30yo horse in slow motion so he wouldn’t lose or scare the kiddo.
He’s doing well being ridden. Dogs running, horses running, deer running, darkness and questionable footing? No problem. He’s still learning to be confident by himself. From a rider who gets quiet when Spur is not. That’s what he needs and I’m happy for him and glad for the help.
Is there a chance he’ll be up for adoption later? Yes. We’ll cross that bridge (or creek?) when we come to it.
Shout out to Tay Martin and Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustangs Lacy and Tiny for being game for these kinds of shenanigans.
