Appaloosa Mustang Deets has a birthday coming up. He’s turning 5yo on June 1. The reason we know that is because Deets was facility born to a Pine Nut Mountains NV mare.

That means that this little walk was the first time he’s walked on pine needles and grass in his life, his first time in an actual forest, and the first time being in a world that feels vast and open.

I took my sweet time before taking this boy out for a walk because I wanted it to be a success, i.e. not overwhelming and I wanted to teach him to trust me and to respect rope pressure enough to stay with me.

Deets is a sweet boy. He’s also initially aloof, athletic and powerful, and rather self reliant. He has what I call “happy feet”, and when he gets nervous sometimes the feet engage before the thinking does.

Therefore we’ve been working a lot on “checking and untracking”.

What’s that?

Checking in with me and staying connected, or at least coming back to seek that connection frequently rather than just being out there doing his thing, trying to navigate this scary new world on his own.

Untracking those feet and bending. A horse that’s rigid in his body is also rigid in his mind. We’ve forever been building that bend on a circle, seeking softness, disengaging hindquarters, moving shoulders.

I wanted all that in place before we left the safe area inside of tall fences. It was a short, successful walk and he seemed to enjoy getting out and taking it all in.

You can see his focus shift away, yet he comes back to what I’m asking each time. Especially during the last part his attention stays with me just a little longer than early on.

Deets has been with Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy for gentling and finding his person. He is pending adoption.

We have several of his friends looking for humans and great homes of their own. You can find them at w i l d h o r s e o u t r e a c h . o r g

We do gentle outside Mustangs also, so if you want to adopt a wild one and bring him/her home gentled so you won’t need the tall fencing or to try and convince your loved one or boarding facility owner to let you bring a completely unhandled horse home, we’re happy to help! We’re located in Guffey CO, hauling can be arranged.

Let us know in comments or via PM if you have any questions about adoptable horses, the work and training we do, upcoming plans and adventures!

#wildhorseswillingpartners

#makingmountainmustangmemories

I added one of my new favorite quotes to this video from last week’s ride, hoping that some of you will find it as true as I have:

“If you want to be happy, do something to make yourself proud of yourself, every day.”

That’s something I’ve been living by since I came across these words. On a day where I feel blah, frustrated, apprehensive, nervous, disappointed or unproductive, that can really turn the tide.

Good days become better that way. And, little by little, my horses and I as well as the projects I have in the works are progressing too.

I was nervous about the weather that day, it was cold and snow cloudy with high winds in the forecast. I was nervous about bringing the new filly along on this ride. I was nervous about going on that particular trail because it’s getting to be snake season and I didn’t want any of my animals to get bit. Months ago (not that many months, actually) I was nervous about asking either of the lovely ladies who made this ride possible to ride with me because even though our paths had crossed, we didn’t really know each other. This would be the first ride with the three of us.

The weather turned out to be great, we didn’t see a single snake nor did anyone get rattled at, Echo – that’s the name for Lacy’s “big little sister” that we’re currently trying on for size – did amazing on her first ever outing all of 6 weeks out of BLM holding, and the three of us (riders) had so much fun, enjoying our horses, each other’s company and the beautiful scenery.

“If you want to be happy, do something to make yourself proud of yourself, every day.”

It’s wild to think that none of the above would have happened without this quote that has become a mantra of sorts.

Yay for marvelous country, great friends, good horses and loyal dogs. And being happy and brave more often.

I drag myself out of my comfort zone every day, often kicking and screaming. Without that you don’t train Mustangs, or do any kind of hard or scary thing. But it’s worth it.

I’ve been sending out adoption agreements over the past few days. Several of Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy ‘s gentled wildies are about to start new lives with wonderful adopters, making space for us to help more Mustangs find their humans and vice versa.

Thank you for being along for the ride, we couldn’t do this without you!

#bettertogether#wildhorseswillingpartners

#nonprofit#makingmountainmustangmemories

Gus aka Gus the bus is everyone’s friend and we’re going to miss him terribly. He’s pretty far along in his training. Riding and continued exposure and confidence building are what’s next for him, with his own human.

He’s the tallest Mustang we have had here yet, measuring over 15.1hh at 4yo. He sting tests to 15.3hh so there might be more coming. He’s a big drafty boy from Antelope Hills WY.

I’ve not struggled to let one go probably ever. I love this guy and he makes me unreasonably happy, but it’s not fair for him to stay and not have a job. Bottom line is he’s too big for me and I like them just a little bit braver.

Gus has a 2-15sec spook when he gets startled. He jumps, hits the end of the rope and doesn’t keep going. You only have to show him once, he doesn’t spook at the same thing over and over.

Gus loves people. All people. When he can see you he’s hanging his head over the panel to get your attention. There’s nothing sadder than tying Gus because he ALWAYS tries to go with you and makes the most devastated face I’ve ever seen in a horse when he realizes that the rope is holding him back. That said, he ties well and doesn’t fuss or fight the rope.

He has been trimmed and hobbled, wears saddle and bridle, loads like a champ, ponies, loves going for walks, has been started on ground driving and will cross any obstacle we’ve pointed him at.

Gus loves to cuddle, enjoys getting out and doing things. He’s good with my dogs and kind to my itty bitty mares. He has been a punk teenage boy to some horses here, pushing their buttons to see if he could get a reaction out of them.

In holding he peacefully lived and ate with geldings his age that were half his size. I’d like to see him live in a herd where not everyone is a pushover and he’ll be fine.

He is not a dog or a stuffed animal even though I think he would like to be. He needs someone capable to continue his training and keep him on a good path. He’s got an incredible mind and a bright future ahead of him.

If you have applied to adopt and not heard back from us yet, please check your spam folder. We have reached out to everyone, either with a yes or no or a request for you to have your references call us back.

You can find our adoption application – fillable and submittable online – at w i l d h o r s e o u t r e a c h . o r g

Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy is a nonprofit organization located in Guffey CO. Hauling can be arranged, we have a list of reputable, reliable, experienced haulers.

Please comment, like and share to help Gus find his very own person!

#wildhorseswillingpartners

#makingmountainmustangmemories

I was determined to post this last night and despite my best efforts I ended up like Denali and Ranger the Shepherds look in some of these photos.

I tend to turn a bit (extra) feral this time of the year. Spring, the precious few weeks after mud and snow and before heat and bugs is when I practically live outside.

The weather has been glorious, making for long days working Mustangs. Then I sit down to write – or do anything – and instead I crash, much to my chagrin and the entertainment of those who’ve ever watched it happen.

So here we are, it’s a gloomy, cold morning here on the mountain and perfect for a bit of storytelling.

This past Thursday I went riding with friends and had this wild idea that maybe I ought to take the new 2yo dun, currently Fiadh, who still doesn’t have a permanent name, and pony her off of Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustang mare Lacy.

The filly was exactly 6 weeks out of holding, had only met a few new people, never been off the property, been ponied all of a handful of times, and reliably loaded into my old stock trailer.

What could possibly go wrong if I asked her to hop into a tall slant load trailer behind two other horses, tied her and then took her on a group ride with dogs on thousands of acres of public land that’s also frequented by cows, hikers and bicycles? A whole lot actually.

This isn’t entirely my first rodeo, so I followed my intuition and experience. She had nothing but impressed me thus far and I decided that if she’d load into that trailer – and if my friend would even let me bring her – she could handle the rest.

She did. We rode 10 miles through a beautifully diverse landscape, climbed over lots of rocks, encountered cattle, and other public land users on foot and two wheels. I even pulled a piece of cholla out of her leg.

3 riders with 3 dogs and a total of fun colored 4 horses – a roan Azteca and 3 dun Mustangs(!!!) – and she never once made an attempt to leave. She stood tied like a big girl during our lunch break atop a cliff – no grass and I wasn’t hobbling the mares 20ft from a several 100ft drop off – and kept up with Lacy’s often ridiculous pace.

She never spooked at the dogs and quickly got over being weirded out by riders behind her and by a big tire tank full of water.

I was the one who spooked at a rock pile on a narrow section of the trail, so in one of the photos you’ll see how we got across that. When you’re a bit wimpy sometimes but still want to ride in cool places, sometimes you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do.

I hope you enjoy these pictures of springtime where the mountains meet the desert.

Many thanks to my friends who put up with me, the clueless baby horses I like to bring along and my two big, hairy and completely oblivious dogs.

#wildhorseswillingpartners

#makingmountainmustangmemories

Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy adopted 7 Devil’s Garden Mustangs from the Double Devil Wild Horse Corrals for gentling and placement into suitable homes. They recently arrived and we’re thoroughly enjoying our time with them.

Training and matching Mustangs with the right human partners goes a long way towards their long-term success and safety.

Most of these pictures are from session 3 (yearlings) and 4 (Rohan). 3 of the babies have started practicing tying, everyone is tagless, has been haltered and touched all over.

The yearlings have all been brushed… May the defloofing begin. Photo of DG baby future bird nest material included.

The day the before the photos were taken (sessions 2 and 3 respectively) yielded one of my favorite flowers: The tag flower.

The first 2 kids lost their tag during session one, the remaining 4 yearlings during session two and Rohan during his 3rd session.

All 7 have started leading, most of them are doing really well, a couple are still figuring it out. Meanwhile everyone is learning directional control and backing.

We’re very excited about this diverse group: There’s everything from petite to stout and mild to spicy.

Tay has been successfully working with Rosie, her first wild one to gentle from untouched (actually untouched, Cassie tried).

These weren’t little pocket crawlers (other than Pippin who needed some human intervention growing up and would come up for sniffs and a bit of touch), so it speaks to their good minds how well they are taking to learning all the new things they are encountering and asked to do.

We have not yet introduced food rewards. They are very curious and rather fond of scratches.

If you are interested in adopting, please fill out 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, including about personality, height and temperament, we’re happy to answer them via PM, email or phone.

More updates to come in future posts. As always, keep an eye on our stories for updates also.

We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization located in Guffey, CO. A list of reputable haulers is available for adopters needing transport for their Mustang(s).

Training halters and lead ropes: Rowdy’s Ropes

#wildhorseswillingpartners#makingmountainmustangmemories

Yes I’m easily entertained. By long shadows on a warm spring afternoon, mountains under a moody sky, sharing space and time with a young, developing horse.

I took DG Griffin out for a walk the other day and we had some big teachable moments that I’m glad I had the opportunity to address rather than waiting to deal with them until he’s 3 or 4 or chalking them off to “Awwww, he’s just a baby, he’ll grow out of it!”

Yearling Devil’s Garden Mustang Griffin, youngest of the Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustangs, is usually a quiet old soul. He doesn’t spook or fidget when he’s on the clock. He’s as patient in public appearances as his older friends. He does, however, have a strong desire to be with his herd.

That’s wonderful when I let him follow along loose on our rides. I also know it’s something I need to help him with because he’s going to be expected to go out alone, confidently and without fuss.

So we go for walks together, just me and him. On those walks we work on things. A bit of lunging, moving, hips, shoulders, backing, standing quietly.

On this walk he experienced some pasture magnetism. He’d trot around on a circle and at the spot closest to the pasture he’d stall. I asked him to maintain his pace. He told me in no uncertain terms that I should shut up and leave him alone.

As you might imagine, that’s not my strong suit so we had a meeting of the minds and the little guy discovered that he could, in fact, maintain a trot all the way around me.

We continued walking until I stopped to take in the views. Good boy Griffin stopped too, except he made it a point to leeeeaaaaannnn into me. So we talked about space bubbles. At the school we do that with hula rings to give the kids a visual. I don’t hike with hula rings but I got my point across regardless and the issue was quickly resolved.

When we got back to the pasture, the little guy was more interested in scanning the horizon for Tiny than paying attention to me and calmly lowering his head for me to take his halter off.

Instead of 2sec, the process took 5min. Goal was achieved, no foal feelings were hurt and he soon trotted off to go find his friend.

If you get a horse young and make good use of those early years, many conversations don’t need to be had at all when they are older, or are much briefer and easier than if you wait.

If you don’t get your horse young, the best day to introduce the rules of your household is day 1 of working with him. How often have you seen a horse herd give a new member a 2 week grace period before they explain to them what’s what? Doing otherwise is misleading and confusing for them.

#wildhorseswillingpartners

#makingmountainmustangmemories

Enjoy this pivotal and exciting (in a good way) part of DG Rohan’s second session. He’s a Devil’s Garden Mustang and came to us from our friends at the Double Devil Wild Horse Corrals

We’d had a few brief sniffs and nose touches before this moment. These were his first actual pets.

He’s brave, curious and confident. He’s also 3yo (baby brain) and a Mustang who grew up on the range, not getting cookies and butt scratches in holding.

So we worked for this a bit, nothing too exciting, just preparing him for each next step.

While endearing, there’s more going on here than petting the wild pony. This interaction is full of teachable moments for both of us.

How we handle those determines how well we’ll get along moving forward.

I selectively use food reward in training. This boy is at the very beginning of his journey and knows nothing yet about that. Every horse and situation are different, and we treat them as such.

I put some text into the little clip to help you see what I’m looking for (and where I’m goofing up) in hopes it’ll help you with your wildie.

Rohan is with Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy in Guffey CO for gentling and finding his human. You can submit an adoption application through w i l d h o r s e o u t r e a c h . o r g

We have several beautiful Mustangs currently looking for their humans, go check them out on there too. Our goal is to help you find a good match to set both you and your new equine partner up for long-term success.

If you want a specific Mustang gentled before bringing him/her home, we’re happy to do that.

We can also help you learn to gentle Mustangs or get along better with wild horses you already have. Both in person and remote coaching are available.

PM or email if that interests you.

If you’ve gentled wild ones or adopted a gentled/trained one, we’d love to read about some pivotal or heart warming moments you had in you journal together in comments. Share away!

#wildhorseswillingpartners

#makingmountainmustangmemories

Enjoy some warp (Lacy) speed moments from a gorgeous snowy solo bareback ride to one of our favorite lookout spots with the princess Sunday morning before work. Solo ride in the sense that we weren’t ponying another horse, which is rare these days.

Original audio because hooves in snow and pony snorts are music to my ears.

She was on sick leave much of last year due to an injury sustained in pasture. Cedar has one of those currently also. Tiny is turned out with Griffin. He’s the best babysitter. Lacy is helping me work the training horses. She’s handy and a wonderful training partner.

Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustang Lacy is 9 this year, facility born to a Divide Basin WY mare, and on the…spicy side. The reason I can take her out by herself bareback in a halter on a crisp morning and gallop through the snow (keep watching) isn’t because I’m such a brave and talented rider.

Quite to the contrary. I’m on the careful side (read: a chicken) and 30 years ago when I was first starting out, my friends were literally posting the trot in circles around me by the time I finally figured it out.

I did put a strong foundation on this horse and I maintain it and build upon that. This same perfect mare was on crack or something along those lines that same night at 9pm when I decided to go ponying Gus off of her in the dark. Also bareback in a halter.

Gus is still pretty new to that, much less in the dark and with a helpful cat and two dogs underfoot, ducking under tree branches and activating motion sensors along the way.

Lacy might have liked to bite Gus or zip right out from under me. She didn’t. Only because I put money in our training bank every ride. That’s why the brakes work even when the engine is having a moment and why she’ll bend around my leg when she’d much rather launch herself instead.

All that to say that if I can gallop bareback in a halter through fresh snow on a spicy Mustang mare without feeling like I’m going to die, so can you. If that’s your thing anyway and you didn’t completely mis- or over-horse yourself.

There’s a whole lot of preparation, consistency (not consistent riding, she often sits for days, sometimes weeks at a time, but consistent rules when we do ride) and fine tuning involved, but absolutely zero magic. It’s a put in the work, reap the rewards kinda thing.

What are some of your favorite things to do with your horse?

#wildhorseswillingpartners

#makingmountainmustangmemories

Only minutes before these photos were taken, Gus, 4yo 15.2hh Antelope Hills WY Mustang gelding who is with Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy for gentling and finding his person, panicked when he saw me on Lacy.

Kelsey was leading him to the round pen for his first ponying session when he got bug eyed, snorty, started running backwards and rearing.

She got him far enough away so he could calm down and not be a giant safety hazard while I dismounted and went to get him.

To help Gus turn his vehement NO into a relaxed and willing YES, we broke the task – being ponied – down into small attainable steps.

Coming into the round pen to another horse and the mounting block. Seeing me on the mounting block. Seeing me on the mounting block standing above Lacy with him next to her. Once he could calmly handle that, I got on her.

Everything went perfectly. The end.

Kidding.

Instead, as soon as I sat up on Lacy, Gus took off speed trotting.

I had come prepared: A small, tall round pen to work in, a nimble little horse that could stay with him and a rope long enough so he couldn’t pull away.

Through pressure and release and carefully positioning Lacy I was able to help him settle and return to a learning frame of mind.

From there Gus quickly figured out how to walk behind, then next to, Lacy.

We ended the session with me leaning over a calm and attentive Gus from Lacy’s back.

By giving him an opportunity to work through his initial apprehension, we were able to strengthen our partnership and teach him the basics of a useful skill. We didn’t give up and leave him with a bad memory that we’d have to deal with down the road.

Setting (wild) horses up for success by making finding the answer we’re looking for easy, using a combination of tools and techniques, and putting ourselves in a position where we can follow through on our ask goes a long way towards establishing a successful partnership.

If you’re looking for help or have questions or input, feel free to comment, PM or email.

If you found this helpful or know someone who might, feel free to share!

PC: Kelsey Janosik

Training halters & ropes: Rowdy’s Ropes

#BLMmustang#wildhorseswillingpartners#gentling

#mustangtraining#makingmountainmustangmemories

Amidst 3rd winter (4th winter incoming this weekend) we received our long anticipated load of Devil’s Garden Mustangs from the Double Devil Wild Horse Corrals :

Rohan (3yo dark bay gelding), Pippin (red roan yearling gelding, Eowyn (sooty buckskin yearling filly), Elanor, Arwen, Aerin and Rosie (bay yearling fillies). Names in photos.

They’ve settled in nicely, and are spending lots of time happily napping in the sun. They’re a laid back bunch and we’re looking forward to getting to know them all better and to finding them their own humans. Tay has decided to gentle Rosie. She claims Rosie will still be available for adoption after that… Are we taking bets??

Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Guffey, CO. Our mission is to help wild horses transition from wild to willing, holding pens to loving homes. Sustainably, with compassion and competence.

If you’re interested in adopting, you can find our adoption application and our adoptable Mustangs on w i l d h o r s e o u t r e a c h . o r g

Our adoption process allows us to help you find a Mustang that’s a good fit for you, your goals, preferences and experience level. All things that matter when making a commitment to an animal that (hopefully) lives another 25+ years.

We (strongly) suggest letting your references know that someone from our team will be calling. We check all references before approving an application. If we’re able to speak to your references in a timely manner, your application can be processed quickly, increasing your chances of finding and adopting a suitable Mustang soon.

Given that it’s well past my bedtime I won’t ramble on much longer and leave you to enjoy the photos of these guys.

If you don’t already, I encourage you to watch our stories to keep up to date with what’s happening here at WHOA. I share photos, videos and updates there regularly.

For questions and if you’d like to support our work, please PM, email or call us.

If you have or know a DG (Devil’s Garden) Mustang you love, we’d love to hear about them in the comments!

#wildhorseswillingpartners

#makingmountainmustangmemories