“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 a brave thing and is working to create a safer horse by giving them a better education

There are people who love starting colts or who compete for a living. I’m not one of those people and I’m not ashamed of it. At pushing 40 my desire to prove a point has all but vanished. I don’t like riding colts. The only thing I like less is riding horses I didn’t start.

Is that because I’m somehow better than other trainers? Nope. But I’m thorough. I know what’s important to me as I establish a horse’s foundation, and I like knowing what a horse is made of.

What does that mean? I want to know what a horse does under pressure, how it learns, how quickly it calms down after getting upset and how upset it gets to begin with.

That way I’m not getting surprised by and patching up holes because somebody else put a Swiss cheese foundation on the animal.

The best way I can do that is by starting them from scratch. In my case that begins with the very first touch and handling of a wild horse.

That’s also why Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy is so successful in pairing adopters with suitable horses. We get to know our Mustangs intimately, we learn who they are. By asking our adopters who they are as horsemen and -women, we can help both find a great match.

When I keep one long enough to start under saddle, I like to get them comfortable, competent and confident at 3 things beyond the basics: Pony, pack and ground drive.

A horse that handles and ties well, picks and holds up all 4 feet, and is relaxed, attentive and responsive for all of the above, is safe and fun to start, ride and bring further along, even and especially for those of us who ride for joy and do other work for a living.

Here’s coming 4yo Little Colorado WY Mustang gelding Rock ground driving out in the open for the first time. He’s still not a mule and still not available. We do, however, have others that are.

Feel free to reach out with questions, if you’re interested in adopting a gentled Mustang or looking for remote coaching to bring your own (non-)wildie along towards becoming a safe, happy and enjoyable partner.

#BLMmustang#wildhorses#learning#training#horses#horsetraining#mountains#joy#sunset#winter#fun#adventure#makingmountainmustangmemories

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 and going out to work or pasture during the day, and emerging access to Quarter Horses and gaited breeds, natural horsemanship methods, and horses living in groups outside in larger spaces.

The in-between can be beautiful. It can also be confusing and a lot to hold space for. And it’s ever-changing.

As a kid I’d go from helping farmers cut hay, driving ancient tractors after school at 13yo, to the opera with grandpa in the same day. From riding horses all day in the wind to ballroom dancing at night. From a foul-mouthed scruffy country kid to a polite student with good grades.

I’m still all of that. And I can operate a chainsaw now.

Over the past several years I discovered Mustangs, built Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy , pursued a master’s degree, got divorced, learned horse packing and quietly worked towards licensure in counseling while gentling many a Mustang and meeting some great people.

Mental health is one of those fields where you don’t graduate and hang out your shingle. You are on the hook for several more years and lots and lots of hours of supervision and supervised practice, get to take more tests and apply to the state for them to turn you loose on your own.

Well, they finally turned me loose last Thursday. I got the most unceremonious email with a PDF attachment, telling me I’m now a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and my license number. I just gave up my A number (alien number, on my Greencard) last year. I quite like this trade.

I’ve never fully identified as a “horse trainer” or “Mustang trainer”. I’ve also kept the shrink stuff on the down low because I didn’t feel “real” without being fully licensed, even though I’ve been practicing for years.

I’m a bit intimidated and a lot excited for this new in-between. In between mountains, Mustangs and mental health is a pretty cool place to be. I hope you stick around and join me for this new chapter

#wildhorses#horses#mountains#sunset#happy#adventure#makingmountainmustangmemories

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 to get big enough for her adopters. The original plan was to raise enough funds to have her hauled to Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy , vetted, put some more weight on her and gentle her with the goal of finding her a great home.

We had just done our first fundraiser for her (thank you to those who donated, liked, shared! ) when I saw a comment on a Facebook post from someone who was training and rehabbing Mustangs in Oklahoma.

I went to her Facebook profile and discovered that we were Facebook friends and had messaged briefly about Mustangs some years back.

I reached out and explained the situation. My belief is that resources should be used wisely and to the greatest possible benefit for the horses.

We talked about our horse and Mustang experience. It was nearly identical. Laura quickly agreed to take on the filly and do exactly what we had planned for her, without the expense and stress of the long haul since she lives only about an hour from where the filly was.

Long story short, Valentine’s owner dropped her off last Saturday. The little lady is coming right along thanks to Laura’s dedication and experience, and is making the most adorable friends

We’ve sent the donations we received help Valentine to Laura to help with the initial feed costs. We are ever so grateful to everyone involved, including our followers, the filly’s owner, Laura and her family, and the Mustang family as a whole, who made this connection and outcome possible

Follow Newberry Farm for updates on how Valentine is doing and/or if you need a well trained super cute Ponystang in your life! Valentine will be available to a wonderful, suitable, approved home later on.

Photos used with permission, PC Newberry Farm.

#BLMmustang#wildhorse#bettertogether#grateful#WorkingTogetherWorks#adoptresponsibly#hope

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 forage and a windbreak. The Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassadors and their friends are out in pasture with trees for shelter. Everyone is in good weight and has thick, fuzzy winter coats.

The pastured wildies will dig for grass in true Mustang fashion. That works so well that sometimes they’re not all that excited when the hay arrives.

Unless it’s alfalfa, which is what I’ve been feeding Rock and Lacy. She tends to get ulcers and he needed to gain weight. They’re all about the alfalfa.

Feeding alfalfa to horses in Germany was a big no no. That was cattle feed and could have killed a horse. Here, and even in Hungary, it’s common as part of their diet as needed. Different soils I guess?

Humans in that kind of weather don’t fare as well. Wearing 5 layers, heated socks, rechargeable hand warmers, thick winter boots, all but the eyes covered under fleece and wool and some tear and waterproof outer layers.

It takes much longer to do simple chores, like keeping unfrozen water in front of the animals, the house warm and pipes from freezing. Water hoses freeze fast and the spigot needs extra TLC.

The dogs? They take it all in stride, they just don’t want to stand still or their paws get cold.

The cats expect bedside feeding because they only go outside if absolutely necessary when it’s that cold and snowy.

Winter at its coldest is beautiful, and oh so cozy when the chores are done and a fire in the stove is doing its best to heat the house. You feel wildly alive while working outside and just as wildly tired at night. It’s a test and a workout, a time to focus on doing what’s necessary, then listen to our bodies and let them rest and recharge.

A benefit of those cold snaps is that 38 degrees for a daytime high (F, that’s 3 °C) now sounds like beach weather.

Because I not-so-secretly love classical music, here’s some Johannes Brahms to go with the wildies dancing in a real life snow globe

#winter#RockyMountains#horses#snow#cold

#adventure#makingmountainmustangmemories

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 her to be before bringing her home. More ponying, ground driving, going on adventures, wearing all manner of tack comfortably.

Being able to keep our wild kids a little longer and getting them ready to their adopter’s specific needs and preferences is such a joy, knowing someone is excited for them to come home and is taking the responsibility and transition seriously.

We’ve had a somewhat brutal cold snap here, it’s supposed to get to 32°F (0°C) for the first time in days today, that’s a heat wave considering what it’s been.

I’m so grateful to Tay Martin , our farrier CK Hoof Care CBT, APF-I and our adopters for braving the low temps, wind, ice and snow that come with the territory this time of the year.

Thank you to those who donated towards bringing Valentine, the filly needing help in Oklahoma, home to us for gentling and finding her a safe, long-term home, your support means so much! We still have a ways to go to raise enough to make that possible

I will be creating a fundraiser on her behalf soon. If someone wants to be her angel and help us help her get to Colorado, gain weight and receive the training she will need to succeed and thrive in a home, feel free to PM me or send an to i n f o @ w i l d h o r s e o u t r e a c h . o r g

I hope you enjoy this little video of Tillie being a good girl for Cassie on a very chilly winter afternoon.

Coming 2yo Devil’s Garden Mustang filly Aerin is still waiting for her very own human. She’s been gentled, trimmed and knows all age appropriate things. Please keep her in mind!

#BLMmustang#wildhorseswillingpartners#wildhorses#adoptamustang#makingmountainmustangmemories

“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 stocking stuffer funds and sent it our way.

It means so much to us, it makes all the difference for the Mustangs that come to us in hopes of finding their happily ever after and for Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy being able to continue doing what we do. Thank you, you know who you are!*

Ok, here’s the , that’s of course not a cat, but a filly that deserves a chance at life.

We were contacted by the owner of a coming 3yo titled Mustang filly, telling us they need help finding a safe place for her to go. She’s not had any formal training, has been living with their cattle and is not a good fit for her owners due to size.

Apparently she’s on the shorter side with a small frame.

When I saw that first picture, I thought we ought to try and get that little girl here. She’s a facility born baby out of a High Rock, NV Mustang mare. She deserves a shot at a good life, a job and a family that loves her.

The filly is all the way in Oklahoma. I’ve reached out to some of our haulers who regularly go that far. They’ve given us a very reasonable quote for transport.

The owner has been very cooperative. They want the horse safe and taken care of. They were able to run the filly into a trailer and have their vet draw blood. We’re currently awaiting the results of the Coggins test and with a negative Coggins the vet will write a health certificate. Those are requirements for horses to legally travel across state lines.

I showed her picture to Tay Martin . She’s on board. I’d not consider bringing in another horse in the middle of winter without her support. Caring for horses at 8700ft in Colorado when the daytime high is well below freezing and there’s ice and snow everywhere is no joke.

I’ve told the owners and our haulers we’ll take the filly, give her all the TLC she needs, gentle her and find her a wonderful home, if we can raise the funds to do it.

We need to raise $4000 to make this happen. My goal is to get her here by the middle of February and call her Valentine, maybe Val for short.

Do you want to be part of a Valentine’s Day miracle for this little brown filly? If so, you’ll find ways to donate in the comments. You can also use the donate button on our Facebook and IG pages or mail a check to

Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy

PO Box 113

Guffey, CO 80820

As always, please comment, like and share, and thank you for your love and support!

*We will NOT be negative here, particularly not towards her owners. They could have easily taken her to the sale barn, made a couple hundred bucks and washed her hands of her. Let’s come together and be part of the solution rather than the problem. Please and thank you *

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 Outreach & Advocacy ‘s Rock handled the chaos that is riding with a huge crowd through a quirky small town with all manner of farm animals and lots of horses galloping in their pastures so well.

I ended up ponying them both because June’s nervous baby energy was a lot for Tiny who, with Taylor’s help, was able to navigate all the commotion gracefully.

We then played on the obstacle course until well after everyone else had left. Long, amazing day thanks to Colorado Horse Rescue Network and Heath Marshall Horsemanship . Thank you to Kathryn Ory for the great photos!

Let’s backtrack a couple of steps to fill you all in on what happened during the 2 week social media break, which, after having tried it, I highly recommend, especially during the holidays.

I learned to grade the driveway. Yes, I’m aware that the end of December is a less than ideal time to do that. Yay for a borrowed tractor with a heated cab and a tiny bit of snow making it easier. It took me wayyyy longer than someone who knows what they’re doing BUT I got it done. Box blades are awesome and I’m grateful for my neighbor loaning me his tractor.

Tiny got a tooth pulled. He’d had a broken molar our regular vet couldn’t get out. So we took a 2h (one way) road trip to a specialist and detoothified Tiny is much happier. Whether that makes him more or less of a toad when it comes to working remains to be seen (he has the work ethic of a cat).

I hauled Rock and Lacy into “town” to practice for the New Year’s ride. I’d never hauled him off property and he hadn’t been anywhere “peopley” so I figured at least one test run was necessary.

I spent much appreciated time with friends. Living across the ocean from family, good friends make the holidays feel special.

I started reading again. Actually reading, not just listening to books. I also started journaling and have really been enjoying it.

I picked up more healthy habits to keep my body running smoothly and get out of the old hustle and crash pattern.

I started going to bed ridiculously early. It’s been so nice. If I’m going to pass out at 8pm anyway, might as well own it and then feel good at 4am the next morning.

I connected with old and new friends and acquaintances, horsey and otherwise, to vent, brainstorm, catch up and laugh.

Here’s to making great new memories and friends in 2025, to learning and building community, and to helping lots of Mustangs and their humans

Rock is really, really not a mule. Not that being a mule is a bad thing. He’s a big pangare bay Mustang gelding from Little Colorado WY and very much still a growing youngster. He’s turning 4 this year

Good gear makes all the difference:

The Colorful CowgirlRowdy’s RopesMontana Rio Buckaroo HatsOutback Trading Company LTD. Also, Best Ever Pads really are the best, contact Karyn Miller to get yours! The scarf slide was a gift from the one and only Bruce Haener himself. He’s an incredible silver bit maker. It’s got a jug headed, broom tailed Mustang (no joke) spooking at a snake and, along with Lacy, it’s my pride and joy.

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 time-out and told myself I was staying there until I could be reasonable again. So let’s try this.

My last post was the one about Rock’s first turnout, the day after Christmas. That was meant to be a cheerful post that I’d spent quite a bit of time putting together, thinking people would enjoy seeing and learning about a Mustang’s first time truly stretching his legs and being a horse again.

Except that’s not what happened. The internet – and I don’t mean everyone, not even the majority, but enough people to make it painfully noticeable – descended on me.

First of, he’s a mule people were telling me with the conviction a 5yo has that Santa is real. I can assure you, he is not, in fact, a mule. My ears stick out further than they should and my dad used to call me Dumbo when I was a kid (ha ha ), that doesn’t make me an elephant.

Secondly and more prominently, evidently I’m some sort of monster for turning him out with a halter on. A rope halter at that.

It said right in the caption that it was short-term, for the first little while of the first turnout only. And that he was being checked on during that time.

But no. That’s dangerous and how dare I and all of that.

I always carry a knife. So much so that the kids at school who know what I do with most of my week recently looked at me expectantly when something needed to be cut, and asked “Miss Stefanie, do you have a knife??!?” “Not here” I replied sheepishly, “I’m not trying to give Miss Kelli a heart attack” (Kelli is my friend/neighbor/admin/boss at the school…small town living for the win). That sucker is sharp. I can cut a rope halter in no time flat. Lead ropes too. I’ve done it.

Why the halter? The last time I turned one loose for the first time, he ran straight into the fence and I had to cut him out of it. By myself. If that happens it sure is nice to have control of the head to keep the horse from hurting both of us. Also, the ones that unexpectedly decide they’re wild again. It’s much easier to quickly clip a lead rope to a halter than to play catch me if you can with one that’s decided we’re not doing haltering in a big space.

What happened to asking questions, to voicing concerns in private, to “keep scrolling”, to “live and let live”, “agree to disagree”?

What’s the easiest way to deal with something you don’t agree with? Don’t do it! Don’t like a book? Put it down! Don’t want to support a business? Shop elsewhere! Don’t agree with someone’s political agenda? Don’t vote for them! Don’t like a certain bit? Don’t use it! It’s pretty simple, really. I don’t eat processed sugar and yet I don’t go around telling people they can’t either.

What do we need to do to make the world kinder again? We’ve normalized getting attacked on social media. Why? How about we normalize kindness instead? Normalize the need to learn and fail in order to succeed? Normalize asking questions instead of jumping to conclusions? Normalize that only those truly without sin should throw the first stone? Sure seems like there are a whole lot of perfect people out there. Maybe we need a walking on water competition for keyboard warriors.

I’ve done a lot of things I’m not proud of. And a lot that I am proud of. What I won’t do is knock someone else down so I can then stand on their shoulders to feel taller. Going forward, on my and Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy ‘s page and posts, we will treat each other with the same or greater care and concern that’s afforded animals these days. Those who can’t play nice can go play elsewhere.

I hate the idea of deleting and blocking because I believe in freedom of speech and I value differing opinions. I also believe in treating others with respect. We can disagree and be kind. We can choose to disengage. (Cyber) bullying costs lives and I won’t stand for it.

We can all do our part to be the change we want to see in this world. Perfection not required

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 bit of freedom back for the first time. The first time ever for facility born ones, and the first time in years for those that were gathered.

While they live in larger pens in holding than many boarding facilities and property owners can offer, there’s still something special about seeing them eat, run and play on grass grass the way a horse should.

This step is nerve wracking too. What if they run through a fence? What if they try to rewild themselves?

I must have checked on him 20 times yesterday. He’s turned out with Lacy who’s (relatively) quiet, won’t chase him, and is very respectful of fences. He checked in with me several times and remained very catchable and friendly throughout the day.

There’s also nothing wrong with letting them out for only minutes or hours at the time at first, and/or only during daylight hours.

The goal is to keep them safe and ourselves sane (-ish, we’re horse people after all, who are we kidding ).

It’s also not wrong to reduce or temporarily eliminate pasture time again if we realize they weren’t ready or if weight is a concern.

*I leave the halter on for the first hour or so of the very first turn out ONLY. In case something unexpected does happen, I can catch them more easily. I do not recommend leaving halters – or anything else – on unsupervised horses because they don’t need any more ways to hurt themselves*

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this little video of Rock’s release after a lovely Christmas morning ride… NO GLOVES and manageable amounts of snow, it was glorious.

I’m not complaining, there’s still plenty of time for those of us who practically live outside to freeze our tails off and wade through feet of snow this winter.

This good boy is staying with Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy for the time being. We have other wonderful, gentled wildies looking for their humans. Please reach out if you’re looking to adopt

I hope all of you who celebrate had a wonderful and very Merry Christmas

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 on rides and pack trips in part for the adventure, the company of like-minded friends, to learn and spend time in nature, but also to get away from the rat race.

Another quote I think of often is “Create a life you don’t need a vacation from.” Easier said than done, or so I thought.

Until life decided to deliver a lesson and show me how.

I have long Covid. What that means for me is when I catch a cold it hits hard, and forces me to slow down, or else. When that happens I have enough energy for what really matters and nothing more.

The hidden beauty in all of that is that those times have taught me to sit with my thoughts, to enjoy my own company, to be grateful for sunsets and sunrises, for time with my animals, meaningful interactions with others and the ability to really be present.

It’s given me more appreciation for the simple things and a whole lot more joy in moments that I used to overlook or take for granted.

It’s given me the ability to tune out noise, make peace with things I can’t control, forgive and walk away, and to force myself to slow down and do hard things more readily than before.

In a way it’s like being on a pack trip, year round. Hard sometimes, yes, but mostly peace- and beautiful.

Am I minimizing illness or anyone else’s experience with it? Not my place or intention.

Instead, I’m hoping this may inspire some of you to look for lessons in the hard things and create something beautiful from it.

Or that you’ll enjoy the photos of the Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustangs, the happy Shepherds and some gorgeous country, taken by Tay Martin and me on our first pack trip this summer.