Chaos is a 5 1/2yo (born in holding 8/1/20) sorrel rabicano Mustang mare. Her dam was gathered pregnant out of Antelope NV. She stands 14.2hh tall.

She has a long flowing mane and once her tail recovers from being chewed off in holding will have a thick, colorful tail too. She’s rather unique with subtle rabicano coloring and one partially blue eye )not the blind kind of blue, the pretty kind).

Chaos is calm, curious and friendly. With appropriate continued training she will make a confident, personable adventure buddy. She learns quickly and has proven to be extraordinarily brave when being introduced to new things.

Saddle? Sure. Bridle? No problem. Boots with Velcro? Non-event. She’s good with our dogs and enjoys leaving the Mustang pens to go for a walk. We foresee her being straightforward to start and laid back under saddle.

Chaos is easy to catch and remains so even when she sits for a bit. She leads and ties, lunges, leads and sends over obstacles, stands to pick up her feet and has been trimmed by CK Hoof Care CBT, APF-I .

She moves hips and shoulders, backs and understands speed and directional control in hand.

Chaos was one of the horses we picked up from Cañon City right before they closed. She found Tay Martin in one of the mare pens, latched onto her and wrapped her right around her hoof with her soft eyes and outgoing yet cuddly and quiet demeanor. “Can we take this one too, pleeeeease????” asked Taylor and so we did.

It took Chaos a bit to figure out that domestic life meant more than scratches. She was initially a bit disappointed to learn that when you’re asked to move your feet in a certain direction at a certain speed you should do so, softly and promptly at that.

She has since made friends with that idea and we’re excited to find this lovely mare an amazing home. Chaos is located at Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy in Guffey, CO. She is SA and can travel. Hauling can be arranged.

Please PM or email if interested in adopting as comments can get lost. If you’re not looking to adopt but want to help Chaos find her person, please COMMENT, LIKE and SHARE!

Goose is the youngest of the Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustangs, a coming 2yo buckskin Bordo Atravesado NM Mustang filly.

I’ve been quite impressed with the youngsters we’ve gotten from that HMA. Athletic, smart and sane. We have 2 more available now and 2 coming available for adoption later this spring. Goose will be staying with us.

I love her built and personality. I’m also very excited that she should mature to a manageable 14.1hh. For me I prefer 14.2hh and shorter horses for both riding and packing. The goal is for her to one day, when it’s time for Lacy to step back and take it easier, be my primary riding horse.

At only 2yo she has plenty of time to learn and grow up. She ponies, trailers great, does all age appropriate groundwork and wears lightweight tack.

This year she’ll start tagging along on some off-site adventures, get introduced to ground driving, the harness, pack saddle and hobbles. She’ll take some trips into town and we’ll go on lots of walks and “ground drives” together.

With all that prep work she should be a breeze to start lightly under saddle next year. Goose is sure footed and a quiet, old soul with just the right amount of sass and opinions.

She’s also Firefly’s bestie. They enjoy being together yet separate quite well, something that’s important to me. I work with them both separately and together.

In the summer and fall we go horse packing.

The rest of the year we talk about packing, dream about packing and get ready for packing.

Even for horses that may never pack tents and sleeping bags into the backcountry, packing is a great way to get them ready to ride and prepare for some weirdness life may throw at them.

These are old canvas panniers I bought used for a good price, and in them are blankets (and Tay Martin ‘s extra layers because I had guessed wrong on the weight of said blankets).

This is the good pack saddle because I figured Spur could be trusted with it. I have an old one that came with those panniers. That’s what I use on the real greenies.

$200 in practice tack is cheaper than an ambulance ride and a week or 6 of missed work, plus shattered confidence for both rider and horse. You could get a similar result with an old beater saddle and over the saddle panniers or a couple of old tires on ropes.

This is one of several steps – two if you count ponying – I take to prepare a horse for its future as a riding partner. It has served me well.

Out here you also never know when you’ll need your saddle horse to pack out shed antlers, game, a weak or injured dog or calf, or even other people’s trash, so carrying dead weight that sounds, rides and smells different than what a horse is used to is one more useful skill to have.

Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustangs Lacy (dun), Spur (roan, ponied) and Tiny (sorrel) as well as Taylor’s Mustang mare Oak (ponied off of Tiny) did well on this sunny winter day outing.

What do you do to prepare your young/green horses for riding?

Another somewhat accidental member of the Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy is Firefly, coming 3yo buckskin Bible Springs UT Mustang filly.

Firefly started out calm and cuddly – until you asked her to do anything beyond standing to be brushed and petted on.

At that point she’d go full dragon mode and I had many a moment of “how are we ever going to adopt this one out?” while fending off and trying to direct a confrontational yellow hornet.

Today Firefly is friendly, responsive and willing while still very much having confident boss mare energy. She has the most beautiful eyes and is always the first to greet people.

We were going to place her last year and then decided to hold onto her for at least another year in the event that we need Rock as a riding horse for pack trips this season, so she can fulfill the role of a pack horse.

After that we’ll reassess whether to keep her or find her a wonderful home. She should mature to 15hh and is easy-going and curious with a generally quiet demeanor.

Firefly ponies and ground drives, ties and trailers well, wears all tack, is solid in her ground work, pleasant and easy to handle. She’ll start packing prep soon. I usually wait until after their first packing season to start riding. At that point, with all other prep work done, it’s typically a non-event.

Halter & lead by Rowdy’s Ropes

This big 5yo Stewart Creek WY Mustang gelding was one of our longest temporary residents.

While he has tons of try, he’d get in his own way at every opportunity. Everything was a big deal to him and met with evasion, especially rope pressure and picking up feet, both essential for a horse to be safely handled and properly cared for.

Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy values learning – for humans and horses alike. We work with outside trainers each year for several consecutive days to continue improving our skills and gentle wild horses more effectively and safely.

Last year Mark Lyon spent several educational, fun, long summer days with us. Not only did he give our favorite feral farrier Cassie Krzeczowski dance lessons right here in the training pens. He also helped us achieve a breakthrough with Topaz and gave me the tools to safely continue on a good path with him.

After over a year of eating an entire bale of hay most days, Topaz has gone to his new home. This horse is still a labor of love because of the amount of hand holding, pep talking and morale boosting he requires, but he couldn’t have ended up in a better place. He scored a sensible, capable and patient adopter with an eager support system and a facility that meets all of his needs.

We couldn’t have done this for him without our village. That includes all of our supporters and donors, volunteers and the boots on the ground people including Tay Martin , CK Hoof Care CBT, APF-I , Rocky Top Veterinary Service and Brice Bebout who delivered Topaz safely to his adopter several states away.

We were fortunate and so grateful to receive several generous donations at the end of last year. You have allowed us to breathe, despite illness and grief (it’s been some kind of a winter, hence the radio silence there for a bit) and care for a – for us – large number of Mustangs through the winter: 20+, due to the sudden closure of the Cañon City BLM holding facility). All on free choice hay, to the tune of $5000 per month for feed alone.

We depend on your support to help wild horses gain important skills, become great, enjoyable partners and find amazing homes.

If you’re willing and able to support our work, you’ll find donation avenues in comments. Your likes and shares help too! WHOA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Every little bit helps

The by far largest member of the Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustang herd was sort of an oops.

When we brought the big doe-eyed boy home from the holding facility, I’d had my mind set on finding him an amazing home as soon as he was ready. We had a substantial Mustang (Tiny) for friends to ride, for packing and for people to meet. I personally prefer small, sassy mares. Easy.

No. As we got to know him and with the help of Mane Strides chiropractic moving and feeling 100% (he had a sore hip that was bothering him), it was nearly impossible not to fall in love with the now 5yo pangare bay 16hh Little Colorado WY Mustang gelding who is always happy, loves everyone and is game for anything.

As decision making time approached, someone else approached too: Tay Martin and Cassie Krzeczowski , among others, laying out in no uncertain terms what would happen to me if I allowed their most favorite boy to leave. Starvation was the least painful of the options discussed.

There was no negotiating myself out of that corner. Yes, Tiny could go live with Taylor. Yes, Rock was much younger and more eager than Tiny who was ready to step back from the harder days. And yes, Rock is a giant love bug who’s a wonderful ambassador for our cause.

Rock’s biggest quirk is that he likes to sneak wet kisses. Not too long ago I got a text from Taylor “Rock just spit in my mouth, I feel violated”. I’ve had a very similar experience with him. It’s all friendly nuzzling and sniffing and then… Yeah.

He rides, he packs, he pulls, he’s solid in the backcountry, where he requires draft size custom hobbles. He’s friendly to kids and adults alike, holds it together when it’s windy, cold or otherwise exciting, is gentle with dogs and other horses and thankfully respectful of fences.

We’re grateful to have Rock as part of our herd and I think he’s a pretty happy boy here. He’s been to school and took part in the 100+ horses strong New Year’s ride – he took the commotion in stride.

This adorable, proud 5yo Stewart Creek WY Mustang gelding stands 14hh “tall” and combines redhead energy with pony-tude: He has personality for days and never met a stranger. He also has big feelings and wants everyone to know what they are.

We’ve known him since he was 2yo. He was the greeter in his age group’s pen at the now closed Cañon City BLM holding facility. There would be dozens of horse eyeing us from afar. And this guy, right next to us, desperately trying to get picked, adoption event after adoption event, year after year.

After TIP and before the Forever Branded partnership program, our chances of placing a small-ish red gelding who loves people and oozes charisma would have been slim. Sad, isn’t it? True though.

With the return of an incentive program for the adoption of gentled Mustangs and the looming closure of the holding facility, we took our chances and decided he had more than earned a spot on the trailer to Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy .

He’s met and exceeded the gentling requirements: Catch and halter, lead and load, stand for grooming and pick up feet. He ties, leads and sends over obstacles and through gates, moves hips and shoulders and backs. He’s good around our dogs and respects 5ft panels.

Now, before you think he’s perfect or needs to be “saved”: While he’s friendly and curious, he’s also willful, can be impatient and absolutely needs firm boundaries. If you just want a friend who gets to do whatever whenever, you’ll soon find yourself needing to be saved – from him. He has manners because we insist he be respectful and soft, let’s keep it that way.

Commander likes to cover ground and knows where his feet are. He’s a cute mover with a nice little jump – a fun pony for many disciplines including driving. He’ll be a brave partner for most any adventure with a human who can provide appropriate guidance. His size is perfect for a smaller adult or a HANDY youth with competent adult support.

Many thanks to CK Hoof Care CBT, APF-I who trimmed his feet during her sacred week off while the little busy body sucked on Tay Martin ‘s empty glove – when he’s tied I usually put a bit in his mouth so he can play with that rather than our lead ropes. The wheels are always turning with this guy and it helps to channel that.

He’s sporting a Rowdy’s Ropes halter and lead rope. Thank you to Karyn Miller for the spectacular, healthy detangler that lets these wild manes and tails shine.

If you’re up for the challenge and the fun of continuing to bring this boy along, PM or email us. Please no comments as they can get lost.

Located in Guffey, CO, can travel. We have a hauler list available if you prefer to have him brought to you.

Please share to help this cute goober find his person!

(Re-) Introduction of the Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustangs part 2: The big, sorrel teenage Salt Wells WY Mustang gelding.

We adopted Tiny many years ago from Colorado Horse Rescue Network for a friend. He’d been gathered as an approximately 3yo, adopted by a dude ranch and reportedly did well as a wrangler horse until the ranch sold and he was made part of the dude string.

Being a dude horse didn’t work for Tiny, neither did sharing hay and, lucky for us, the quirky giant cuddler wound up with CHRN and ultimately here.

Here he became the patriarch, protector of young and old horses alike, and straightener-outer of rambunctious new herd members. He’s carried friends, packs and me when Lacy was injured. He’d go to school events and parades and always be a favorite.

People are always amazed by “how tiny Tiny isn’t”. He’s massive – 15.2 or .3hh and as wide as he is tall. Tiny loves attention and food, knows his way around a cow and is sure-footed even in the grossest of boggy spots.

Fast forward a few years and Tay Martin started not only working but also riding with me and fell in love with the big orange couch who only works as hard as he has to and asks “are we there yet?” about every 10min.

Another year or two later, Tiny became officially ours. Since last year he’s on free lease with Taylor and her Mustang herd where he gets the attention he deserves and craves and I’m not constantly rolling my eyes at his work ethic. Taylor thinks he hung the moon. Every horse – and person – deserves someone who’s crazy (in a healthy way) about them.

I can borrow him back for rides and events and I get to see him regularly. Tiny is happy with a job suitable for an older boy who values comfort and ease. He provides Taylor and her family with opportunities to learn and grow and helps her bring her youngsters along. Win win situations are always the goal.

We’re careful to make sure that the Mustangs in our care are as happy as possible while they’re at Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy

It’s school, no doubt, and it’s not the same as being someone’s main or only project and getting all the fun, relatively low expectation exposure and hang out time they will get once they go home to their adopters.

Still, quality of life matters. A hungry, lonely horse that’s been cooped up also can’t learn as well as one with a happy belly that feels good about the social interactions and space it has.

Finding the right pen mate can take time and some horses here do better with a friendly neighbor than a buddy in their pen. Several factors play into who lives with whom.

These two fillies are two peas in a pod. I think that’s the 4th pairing we tried for Remington (Remi), the buckskin. Remi and Valkyrie play and groom each other, nap together or stand guard while one sleeps. They also happily share food.

Both are 2yo Bordo Atravesado NM Mustangs.

Valkyrie (bay with ND1 so looks dun but isn’t) is gentled and ready to find an ambitious, adventurous human or family of her own.

Remington will be available soon, please keep an eye on our page for her.

Located in Guffey, CO. Hauling can be arranged.

Time to (re-)introduce the Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustangs. We’ll start with the one that started it all. Lacy, otherwise known as “The Princess”.

She’s a dun, coming 11yo, Divide Basin WY Mustang mare and the first branded Mustang I ever gentled. I brought her home 9 years ago this week.

My favorite fire breathing dragon is all of 14.1 or .2hh tall and the matriarch of our little herd. Lacy is gaited and a tad high strung. She’ll do anything I ask of her, with an opinion of course.

She helps me work young horses, is my main riding horse, does parades and school visits where she patiently stands to let everyone pet her and has been going on pack trips – first as a pack horse, now a saddle horse – since she was 3.

Lacy is one heck of a mountain horse, loves moving cattle and tolerates wearing costumes for events. She’s quick on her feet and very good at keeping me humble and thinking about how I can do better.

She’ll ride in anything from a neck rope to a spade. It’s been one heck of an adventure with this spirited, selectively friendly, smart little mare.