Tay Martin and I took all 4 of the Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustangs (pictured, look closely!) as well as both German Shepherds and headed for the high country.
It’s Taylor’s and Griffin’s (he’s supervising) first pack trip. I’m typing this on a ridge at just under 12,000ft elevation.
We’ll be back before the end of the week.
I apologize for the delay in responding to some of you. No cell service.
This past week the double duns, aka Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustangs Divide Basin WY mare Lacy and Twin Peaks CA filly Echo, went on yet another mountain adventure.
Michelle Moreland and I had decided to take our trusty steeds and dogs back to a familiar trail to finish what we had set out to do earlier this year. The weather was lovely with hardly a cloud in the sky that morning. In typical monsoon fashion that was supposed to change later in the day.
We were equipped with rain coats, GPS and determination to watch the weather so as not to do anything overly stupid. Getting hit by lightning wasn’t high on our list of things to accomplish that day.
It was an area I had ridden many times before so I played tour guide until we decided to do a little exploring instead of continuing to follow the known path, which turned into hours of aaaaahs and ooooohs as we rode to the top of another ridge and then another, keeping an eye on the now much darker sky.
Looking for a way to connect the known area with our new discoveries, we navigated some steep stretches and led our horses up the worst of the loose rocks to this plateau.
As it turned out it would have taken mountain goats to get to where we had hoped to go but the view from the edge was breathtaking and so worth it.
We had just enough time to take it all in when we noticed distant thunder and turned our horses around to get to a safer spot before we would inevitably get pelted.
Mission accomplished: We had first lunch under a tree in a hail storm with lightning just a bit close for comfort, our wet disgruntled horses also seeking shelter under trees and soggy dogs hopeful for a snack or a stick to get thrown.
Second lunch was much nicer, in between storms on warm rocks surrounded by content horses enjoying lush grass and sleeping dogs drying their coats in the afternoon sun.
I’m grateful for Mustangs that are always game for adventures and reliable even when the unexpected or uncomfortable happens, loyal happy dogs and friends who love horses, dogs, wildflowers, mountains and exploring just as much as I do.
We’d love to hear about your favorite summer adventures with your horses, Mustang or domestic, in the comments!
These photos are from the second session with Doc, Chief, Tillie and Hondo (in order). They’re also a good example of a typical Colorado monsoon season day. It’s like April, only warmer.
We’re so happy with and proud of these four. We picked them up last Friday from the Cañon City BLM Wild Horse & Burro Program .
They’re honest (How can a horse be honest – or dishonest for that matter – you ask? An “honest” horse feels comfortable letting you know how they feel, what’s too much, whether they’re scared, uncomfortable, curious, relaxed or any number of other things. The alternative is a horse that’s shut down, looks calm and then seemingly without warning has a big reaction.), calm, curious and gorgeous in equal measure.
The Wyoming pinto boys – Doc (palomino pinto) is 5yo and from Stewart Creek, Chief 4yo from Arapaho Creek – are the more outgoing horses in this group. They quickly accepted touch, halter, yielding to pressure, fly spray and grooming.
Tilly and Hondo, the Twin Peaks CA 2yos are a little more leery of humans, in the calmest and most manageable way. They are trying hard to figure out what’s asked of them and to be brave.
Both have worn the temporary halter, practiced lungeing, disengaging shoulders and hind quarters, accepted touch and started leading.
We’ll continue to keep you guys updated on their progress. I’d encourage you to watch our stories for updates also.
They are Sale Authority and available for adoption to suitable homes. They will be gentled before they go home to set them and their adopters (adoption contract through Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy applies) up for success.
In the meantime, we have several incredible wildies currently looking for their adventure buddies. Feel free to email, PM, call or text us with questions.
Thank you Rowdy’s Ropes for incredible training halters and lead ropes and Tay Martin for 4 out of these 5 photos.
July is a glorious time in Colorado. The grass is green, wildflowers are blooming, the horses have shed their winter coats and the humans their long underwear. It only snows until June around here…
Having two young Mustangs, 2yo Twin Peaks CA filly Echo ponied) and Devil’s Garden yearling gelding Griffin (loose), as part of our Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador herd has been a source of joy and laughter with all the baby antics.
9yo Divide Basin WY mare Lacy is used to the shenanigans, as are German Shepherds Denali and Ranger. Griffin’s new favorite game is jumping in the trailer uninvited and joining the older horses on rides.
He’s a happy and independent little guy who loves to go exploring a bit without straying too far from us. Echo is content out on the trail and unbothered by the commotion that a loose youngster and 2 dogs cause.
All the time on the trail, following the example of a seasoned mentor – Lacy or teenage Salt Wells WY gelding Tiny – is setting them up to become confident, eager and safe riding partners when the time comes.
If you’re looking to adopt, are adopting an unhandled Mustang through the Internet Auction (IA) or want help with a Mustang you already have, we can help you.
Reach out via PM, email, call or text. We also offer private workshops and lessons at your facility or ours.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based out of Guffey, Colorado. We operate nationwide and beyond.
The local BLM holding facility is on Department of Corrections grounds. We get our vehicle searched and phone taken away along with everything else that’s on the lengthy contraband list because we very literally go to prison to pick up wild horses.
It’s always an adventure and it’s fun once it stops being intimidating.
We wandered and discussed, petted soft noses, made notes, laughed and negotiated. The end result of a 90+ degree morning behind bars is what you see here:
4 new incredible, adoptable wildies and the slowest, quietest unloading we’ve ever seen.
All 4 were born on the range. They were calm and curious while keeping their distance in holding (I really prefer gentling the ones that don’t come up for scratches in the pens). They appear to have great minds.
We weren’t planning on naming them ourselves. When we finally sat down in the shade and watched them explore their new pens and check us out, names came to our heat-exhausted minds, so we went with them.
In order of unloading, please meet:
Doc, 5yo palomino pinto gelding from Stewart Creek, WY.
Hondo, 2yo pangare bay gelding from Twin Peaks, CA.
Chief, 4yo sorrel pinto gelding from Arapaho Creek, WY.
Tillie, 2yo bay filly from Twin Peaks, CA.
All 4 are Sale Authority and can travel. Located in Guffey, CO.
We don’t yet have current heights, they were all measured as babies and I’m not about to put them in the chute just to measure them. We will post their photos and heights on
w i l d h o r s e o u t r e a c h . o r g as soon as possible.
Since they are already named, no naming fundraiser this time. We just wrote a check for 6-8 weeks worth of hay for the Mustangs we are gentling and adopting out (not counting the Ambassadors): $3078.
If you are interested in helping Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy , a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, help wild horses successfully transition from holding pens to loving homes, please consider donating towards feed, our largest expense. Every little bit helps. Donation info in comments.
If you’re not able to give at this time, please share, like and comment on our adoptable Mustangs posts to help them get seen and find the wonderful homes they deserve.
We’re both incredibly happy for Gus, the tall, dark and handsome 4yo Antelope Hills WY Mustang gelding, who is very loved in his new home and already under saddle, and so sad that the big, friendly goober is no longer here for us to hug.
He loved getting out on adventures ponied off of Lacy, asked everyone he could reach to hold his head and was forever curious and part of everything.
He took new things in stride and thoroughly enjoyed exploring our world. So much so that he tried to climb into a hammock and I jumped out in the nick of time before he crawled under it instead. He was so happy to have it all to himself that he played with, rubbed on and drooled all over it.
We get so excited every time we receive an update on how our “kids” are doing in their new homes. It’s a joy and an honor to be part of their journey.
Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy (WHOA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Guffey, Colorado. We are dedicated to helping wild horses successfully transition from holding pens to loving homes, sustainably, with compassion and competence.
We have several gentled wild horses, yearlings to 5yo, looking for wonderful homes of their own. We’re happy to help you find a good match. Feel free to reach out via PM, email, or phone.
We also offer private gentling workshops at our facility or yours, gentling for outside Mustangs, remote coaching, volunteer and internship opportunities. Let us know if you’re interested in any of the above.
We encourage you to watch our stories for more news and updates. If you’re checking today, there might be an exciting sneak peek
Thank you to all who support us in various ways! We couldn’t do this without you and together we’re making a difference for so many Mustangs and their adopters.
Calling Nash anything short of spectacular would be doing him an injustice.
I picked him for his kind eyes and curious expression and only later noticed how tall, handsome and athletic he really is.
Nash is a 4yo Stewart Creek WY Mustang gelding. He is grey, and will continue to grey out as he ages. Currently measuring 15hh tall, Nash string tests to 15.2hh mature height.
Nash is not your sleepy trail pony, not a good first horse for a novice and generally not for the faint of heart.
He is however smart and kind, athletic and willing and will make an excellent partner for someone who appreciates the spirited, intelligent and sensitive nature of a Spanish horse or Warmblood.
Nash effortlessly crosses obstacles – leading and sending – , leads, loads and ties, stands for grooming and spraying and picks up his feet. He lunges, backs, moves hips and shoulders.
He learns new things quickly, is curious and age appropriately playful, and has been good with dogs as well as horses from yearling to mature, both mares and geldings.
He can get nervous when he’s unsure and will do best with calm, confident, kind but firm handling.
Nash is available for adoption through Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy in Guffey, Colorado. Thanks to reputable, experienced haulers he can be transported anywhere within the lower 48 should his adopter prefer to have him picked up here and delivered.
If you aren’t already, a good first step is becoming approved to adopt through us by electronically submitting an adoption application on w i l d h o r s e o u t r e a c h . o r g
If you have questions, feel free to email or PM, text or call us and we’ll get back to you as soon as we are able to.
Thank you all so much for your continued support! Please share, like and comment on Nash’s post to help him find the best possible home.
For the best training halters and lead ropes we thank Rowdy’s Ropes and for top quality mane & tail care and detanglers Karyn Tessman Miller . Contact them directly to order yours.
Thank you Tay Martin for holding this handsome boy for his find-a-human photoshoot.
Some moments and memories from May (time flies!) when the double duns – Mustang mares Lacy and Echo – and I joined in on Colorado Pack Company LLC (CPC)’s Edventure.
A week-long immersion into all things packing was an incredible experience. Especially since we did it with Twin Peaks filly Echo less than 2 months out of holding.
It was also Divide Basin mare Lacy’s first big outing since returning to work after having much of last year off due to injuries.
The first part of this video is our first ever river crossing together and Echo’s first time packing a super light load.
I was terrified of the fast moving water, worried about whether Lacy’s legs would hold up and not sure what Echo was going to do. Thanks to Gabe’s friendly encouragement and Tanner ‘s cheerful optimism, we made it to the other side and felt mighty accomplished for feeling the fear and doing it anyway.
Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy (WHOA) Ambassador Mustang mares Lacy and Echo made me proud. We learned a lot (I love learning, it’s one of my favorite aspects of horsemanship, there’s always so much more to discover and improve) and I’m grateful for the friendships forged during that week.
Packing season is here. The Mustangs, Shepherds and I are itching to get out and put new techniques and gear to use. I’m planning several backcountry trips and I’m so beyond excited!
If you’re interested in a deep dive into backcountry travel and camping with equines – there’s always more to learn that’ll keep you and your stock safer and more comfortable – I highly recommend CPC. They’re doing at least one more Edventure (Education x Adventure) this summer.
We did one day packing workshops/demos last summer. We’re considering doing that again this year, it’s just such a darn busy season for us. Let us know if there’s interest and we’ll talk about it.
WHOA is located in Guffey, Colorado. CPC just outside of Pagosa Springs on the western slope of our beautiful state. Maybe we can convince Gabe to come this way and teach sometime, that could be a lot of fun too!
Nemo is a 3yo tri-colored pinto Mustang gelding with one fish ( = blue) eye. He was facility-born to a Stewart Creek WY mare and is freezebranded.
This flashy boy currently stands 14hh tall and string tests to 14.2hh. He is located in Guffey, CO. We work with reputable haulers who can transport anywhere within the continental United States.
Nemo is a kind, easy-going gelding with enough spunk and brains to be part of a drill team or a great partner for trail riding or any other equine activity, with age-appropriate continued training. He would like to find a job that involves working at all gaits. Nemo is level-headed yet not lazy.
He can display developmentally appropriate goofiness (3 year olds are very much the teenagers of the horse world). He needs continued guidance in order to remain on a good path.
Nemo is easy to catch, he leads, loads and ties, moves shoulders and hindquarters, lunges, sends over obstacles, stands for grooming, picking up feet and spraying. He’s friendly with other horses and has shown no aggression towards dogs.
He is a fun horse who’s looking for a fun human to adventure and grow with. He would be suitable as a first Mustang for someone with previous horse experience.
Nemo is available for adoption through Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy . If you are not yet approved to adopt through us, a great first step would be to fill out and electronically submit our adoption application at
w i l d h o r s e o u t r e a c h . o r g
Feel free to email, PM, call or text with any questions.
If he’s not your type or you’re not ready/able to adopt, you can still help us help him by sharing, liking and commenting on this post to increase reach and connect Nemo with the wonderful home he deserves.
This lovely 3yo Little Colorado, WY Mustang mare left for her home in the Lone Star State last weekend.
It was a pleasure meeting her adopters and a wonderful reminder that the right situation is out there for each of the Mustangs in our care.
We’re excited to see what Eclipse’s future, both on the trail and in the show ring, holds and happy to be part of so many happy new beginnings for Mustangs and their humans all over the country.
If you’re interested in adopting a gentled Mustang, Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy (WHOA) currently has 10 lovely wildies, yearlings to 4yo, from both BLM and Forest Service, looking for their person.
Visit w i l d h o r s e o u t r e a c h . o r g to see them and learn more about them. Feel free to email, call, text or PM with any questions.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping wild horses successfully transition from holding pens to loving homes. WHOA is located in Guffey, CO. We have a list of reputable haulers who can transport Mustangs anywhere within the continental United States.
Thank you to all of you who have and continue to support what we do and show up for us and the Mustangs in our care in so many ways!
Thank you! Once your application has been reviewed and your references contacted, you’ll be notified by email. We suggest you add wildhorseoutreach.org to your contacts, or keep an eye on your spam folder, just in case our response gets filtered.
