Stefanie Schaefer
Author's posts
Feb 11 2025
The privilege of carrying a rider
“Hop on ’em already!” is what I often hear as soon as I get a horse halfway gentle. It’s what I see others do even in light of what I consider obvious warning signs. And you know what? I respect that. You do you. Anyone who can get a horse going under saddle is doing …
Feb 10 2025
(Un-)becoming
I’ve always struggled to define who I am. I grew up firmly planted in the ‘in-between’. In between blue and white collar worlds. In between a failing communist regime and a country trying to redefine itself. In between big, gentle old-style Warmbloods, naughty ponies, draft horses used for logging living in tie stands or stalls …
Jan 30 2025
Valentine Update
Remember the little bay filly in Oklahoma, born in holding to a High Rock, NV Mustang mare that needed both a soft landing and training that I posted about a few weeks ago? We have an update that couldn’t be better The story was that she had been adopted, not handled much and wasn’t going …
Jan 29 2025
Mustang winter in the Rockies
I recently got the question “How do the Mustangs do in the winter?” We’ve had about a week of pretty severe cold (a normal part of high elevation Colorado winter), with daytime highs well below freezing for several consecutive days and the lows being… pretty low. The horses do great. The training horses have 24/7 …
Jan 15 2025
Adopted!
Beautiful Tillie, coming 3yo Twin Peaks CA Mustang filly, nuzzled and side – eyed her way into her new human’s heart this past frigid Sunday morning. We’re so beyond happy for her! She’ll be staying with Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy for another month of additional training to get her to where her adopter wants …
Jan 12 2025
Thank you and please
“We don’t usually do this, but…” is not how I’ve begun any other post before, but here we are. *Before I let the out of the , I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for several very generous and unexpected year end donations, for our recurring donors and for everyone who took some of their …
Jan 10 2025
Rockstar
Credit for that hilarious play on “words” goes to Tay Martin . And to Rock because he really was a rock star at the New Year’s ride. Something like 88 riders and drivers came together to start 2025 on the right “hoof”. The weather was gorgeous, and the greenies, Taylor’s DG Juniper and Wild Horse …
Jan 07 2025
Be the change
I’m back. Happy New Year a week into 2025! Thank you to everyone who messaged me to check in and ask for proof of life. My mind has felt the way Rock’s face looks in the pic. I caught him mid-itch as he was scratching his head on Lacy’s saddle horn. I put myself in …
Dec 26 2024
Rock’s Christmas gift
Rock, 3yo Mustang gelding from Little Colorado, WY got the ultimate Christmas present yesterday: His first ever pasture turn out. To me that’s one of the biggest steps, right up there with the first touch, the first time leading out of the pens, the first trip off property and the first ride: Giving them a …
Dec 24 2024
Finding peace
One of the late Zig Ziglar’s famous quotes is “Everything in life is either a blessing or a lesson.” That’s something I try to live by. Be thankful for the good and learn from the rest. And in turn be thankful for the lessons too, hard earned as they may be. For years I’d go …