With Spur having gone home, the Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustang herd is once again down to 4:
Lacy (“the princess”) – 11yo dun Divide Basin WY Mustang mare
Rock (“Rockypoo”) – 5yo pangare bay Little Colorado WY Mustang gelding
Firefly – (“the fly”) – 3yo buckskin Bible Springs UT Mustang mare
Goose (“Goosifer” when she’s being a toad) – 2yo buckskin (roan?) Bordo Atravesado NM Mustang filly
That also means they all fit (a bit tight tight but they like road trips so we make it work, see pic of Goose trying to climb in before I ever got a halter on her) into the trusty ol’ stock trailer and we all go on adventures together.
It’s been so much fun spending time with the whole herd, working on what they each need, loving on them and laughing at Goose running loose and taking charge, which usually means picking on Rock and anyone else willing to be impressed by her sass.
A few weeks ago she scared the daylight out of a small cinnamon bear just trying to get a drink from the creek as we, Goose in the lead, dogs near the riders, were rounding a bend in a canyon.
She stood her ground, making herself as tall as her little jelly bean body allowed, and the inconvenienced bear high-speed waddled off into the trees. Neither bear nor Goose were harmed in the encounter, and we left the area so the little forest dweller could get back to its beary business.
During our adventures the Mustangs get exposure in a way that hardly feels like work, learning good habits from intentional riding, training and handling in a comfortable and mostly relaxed setting.
That works so well that Rock now ponies other horses like a pro and is much better about maintaining gait direction and balance, rather than feeling like a spider monkey or a wet noodle.
Firefly has done enough “pony, pack and ground drive” riding prep that I put a very relaxed first ride on her last weekend. Bareback in between the highline and my truck and trailer as it was getting dark.
I’m not claiming I was being especially smart, only that she’s a good horse and well prepared. 8 years ago Lacy got her first handful of rides in the dark in a 20ac pasture. That’s when I had time so that’s what we did.
I plan to continue Firefly’s training until we place her. I had originally planned to keep her through the end of the season as a pack horse but Huckleberry, also from Little Colorado WY, has since been volunteered for that position so if and when the right home for Firefly the Fearless comes along, we’re open to that possibility. She string tests to 15hh mature height and is an incredible mare all around. I have Lacy and Rock to ride and Goose coming up, that’s plenty for me.
Rowdy’s Ropes halters, leads and reins and Southern Nutmeg Leather headstalls for the win!
