I went solo on the first one, Tay Martin joined me on the second.

Rock packed camp in and out and got in some more saddle time. Or saddle-less riding time as it may be.

It’s been work, ride, pack, hike, learn, spend time with people I care about, eat, sleep, repeat these past few weeks (months?). While there needs to be more time for dancing, I’m rather happy with that.

I lost 3 people in my greater circle these past 2 months. 2 acquaintances and one family member. All people who made the world brighter, all gone unexpectedly and much too soon.

For a while I didn’t quite know what to do with that.

What I decided on is to do more of what matters, and less of what doesn’t. More doing meaningful things, making time for people who mean a lot to me, and less paying attention to noise.

More being fully present and enjoying being where my feet are.

Less screentime because I can either live my life and put a dent in what I want to accomplish, or I can stare at a screen, talking about life or living vicariously through others.

Today is a gift and we’re not getting that time back.

I don’t sit still well when I’m sad because if I do, then I’m just sad, not doing anything else. So I keep busy, mostly outside.

We’re fortunate to have some amazing client Mustangs in for gentling/training at Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy , all owned by equally amazing people.

We have new wild ones that will be looking for great homes and a few not so new ones that are starting to turn the corner. And Dragonfly who’s lovely and might have found her person too, fingers crossed.

The Ambassador Mustangs are fat – some more than others – and happy, enjoying pasture life when we’re not out adventuring.

Thank you for being here. If you’re reading this/watching this little video, that must mean you’re alive and I hope you make the most of today and all the days.

#horses#dog#friends#mountains#adventure#joy

I went solo on the first one, Tay Martin joined me on the second.

Rock packed camp in and out and got in some more saddle time. Or saddle-less riding time as it may be.

It’s been work, ride, pack, hike, learn, spend time with people I care about, eat, sleep, repeat these past few weeks (months?). While there needs to be more time for dancing, I’m rather happy with that.

I lost 3 people in my greater circle these past 2 months. 2 acquaintances and one family member. All people who made the world brighter, all gone unexpectedly and much too soon.

For a while I didn’t quite know what to do with that.

What I decided on is to do more of what matters, and less of what doesn’t. More doing meaningful things, making time for people who mean a lot to me, and less paying attention to noise.

More being fully present and enjoying being where my feet are.

Less screentime because I can either live my life and put a dent in what I want to accomplish, or I can stare at a screen, talking about life or living vicariously through others.

Today is a gift and we’re not getting that time back.

I don’t sit still well when I’m sad because if I do, then I’m just sad, not doing anything else. So I keep busy, mostly outside.

We’re fortunate to have some amazing client Mustangs in for gentling/training at Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy , all owned by equally amazing people.

We have new wild ones that will be looking for great homes and a few not so new ones that are starting to turn the corner. And Dragonfly who’s lovely and might have found her person too, fingers crossed.

The Ambassador Mustangs are fat – some more than others – and happy, enjoying pasture life when we’re not out adventuring.

Thank you for being here. If you’re reading this/watching this little video, that must mean you’re alive and I hope you make the most of today and all the days.

#horses#dog#friends#mountains#adventure#joy

Who remembers Buddy, the tiny, fuzzy yearling Mustang gelding we gentled early in 2024 for his adopter who had won him in the internet auction?

He’s back, now a tall, striking 2yo.

His adopter has done a great job maintaining what he learned in kindergarten last year.

Life gets busy and sometimes all the adult responsibilities pile up, that’s exactly what happened for his adopter. There’s been little time to continue Buddy’s education towards being lightly started under saddle next year.

We’re grateful to have him back at Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy for a few weeks to help fill that gap.

We’re showing him the world, polishing some manners to the expectations for a now 2yo horse, teaching him new skills and preparing him for life as a reliable trail horse and adventure “Buddy”.

Maintaining skills is easier than teaching new ones when one’s plate is already full.

We appreciate when adopters are realistic about their time commitments and act in their Mustangs’ best interest in the ways they are able to, making sure they set their once wild horses up for success in this strange world we want them to thrive in.

Halter & lead rope: Rowdy’s Ropes

The other night I went out searching

Searching for Columbines, my favorite wildflowers.

Searching for peace of mind.

Searching for joy.

Searching for learning opportunities for the horses.

For a chance to let them stretch their legs.

For color in the sky and cooler air.

I found all of the above.

Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustangs Lacy (dun, Divide Basin WY, 10yo) and Spur (bay roan, Stewart Creek WY, 4yo), and our best rescue German Shepherd boys, Denali and Ranger.

#BLMmustang#horses#mountains#sunset#flowers#adventure#joy#makingmountainmustangmemories

Zin, short for Zinnia, a 7 or 8yo NV Mustang mare, came to us several months ago for an assessment.

She hadn’t taken to gentling and when her title eligibility form came in her adopter wanted to be sure that if she kept and titled the mare she’d at least be able to provide basic care.

She asked Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy if we’d work with Zin, who wasn’t touchable at the time, to see if we could help her get over the hump

Well, we’re over the hump. Zin has turned into a lovely, smart, quiet, soft, trainable, curious and friendly mare.

Her first trim brought impressive enough results that our favorite farrier and friend CK Hoof Care CBT, APF-I made the before and after her Facebook cover photo.

We’re now talking about sending her off for saddle starting, something that seemed further out of reach than the moon not long ago.

While she’s not available for adoption, Tay Martin and I decided that this beautiful mare deserved a photoshoot to celebrate her progress.

Here’s to Zin, her adopter and family, and the Bureau of Land Management – ColoradoBLM Wild Horse & Burro Program who worked with the adopter while we determined together whether Zin needed to be returned for her own well-being.

A lot of people coming together for her made this work and I’m so grateful for everyone who showed up to do what’s best for this lovely little bay Mustang mare.

#BLMmustang#wildhorses#mustanggentling#training#bettertogether#makingmountainmustangmemories

For the longest time Spur (4yo bay roan Mustang gelding, facility born to a Stewart Creek WY Mustang mare) was accepted, albeit not fully included.

He’s been the oddball of the herd, the one who stands nearby or wanders off when the others are engaged in mutual grooming.

He’d follow Lacy who never really cared whether he was there or not.

That changed when we turned Firefly (2yo buckskin Bible Springs UT Mustang filly) out, initially just with Spur. Firefly is another loner, initially less than enthused with his clumsy attempts to befriend her.

Integrating her into the herd has helped Spur too. He’s still weird, but he’s family now.

Grateful for this colorful, quirky little band of Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustangs.

Once in a while we get to work what feels like magic for our clients and adopters.

Here Annie Oakley’s adopter was able to touch her Mustang for the very first time.

AO as we call her is a 6yo tri colored pinto mare from Cedar Mountain, UT. Her adopter sent her to Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy for gentling.

She’s a sensitive, watchy mare that’s making us earn her trust and work for progress.

While she’s slower to come around, AO is attentive and retains what she learns.

When her adopter came to see AO for the first time since dropping her off, we worked up to the first touch together, wanting to make it a good experience for both.

AO remained engaged and willing during the entire session.

Her adopter had a big smile on her face when AO not only stood quietly, happy to have her forehead rubbed, but took a deep breath and leaned in, seeking more interaction.

If you or someone you know is looking for help with the gentling process or wants to adopt an already gentled Mustang, tell them about us.

Our 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is based out of Guffey, CO. We operate nationwide and beyond.

#BLMmustang#horses#wildhorses#learning#trust#joy#progress#makingmountainmustangmemories

Rock isn’t really a mule and Lacy isn’t actually as microscopic as she looks next to him. It’s meant to be a cute play on the Beauty and the Beast, and they certainly are that.

Summer is a fast-paced, dusty, sweaty, exhausting, fleeting and wonderful time.

Wildflowers and hummingbirds, green grass and afternoon rain, friends, horses and long days spent outside.

I’m going to try to share more raw content because I’m outside too much and too tired when I’m not moving to edit and write for hours.

Anyway, we loaded up the trailer with WY Mustangs (Salt Wells – Tiny, Divide Basin – Lacy and Antelope Hills – Rock) yesterday afternoon and went riding. Almost all of the Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustangs. Spur stayed home with Firefly who is only so excited about her new “shadow”

My idea of a happy (maybe not so) little afternoon ride: Water and views, loping and looking, rock scrambling and a little bit of “that was close”, making memories with friends, bird song and golden light.

We had two young horses with us who got to do some real work and did great with some normal green horse moments. Horses are so good about keeping us learning and improving. The older ones too

#BLMmustang#horses#summer#mountains#joy

#adventure#makingmountainmustangmemories

Before anyone asks, the answer is no. I tried too . His adopters love him and he’s not going anywhere.

Gus is a 2yo NV Mustang gelding adopted from the IA who had apparently decided that gentling was for losers. He made that known in some less than diplomatic ways.

His free-spirited self expression and refusal to be haltered or consistently allow touch is what brought him to Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy to see if we could help him.

I was surprised to hear from previous adopters with not only a happy update on the handsome, goofy gelding they adopted from us, but also the request to work with their new boy Gus.

A few days ago they dropped him off for summer school. So far he’s doing great and a fan favorite.

Gus is handsome, brave and a smart boy who can occasionally get a little big for his britches.

Here are photos from the first 3 sessions in reverse order.

We’re leading and lungeing now, he got fly sprayed, is learning to back up and respect my space. Halterung wasn’t a big deal after breaking it down and I can touch him most anywhere.

It all still needs solidifying and refining, but I’m happy with his progress.

I’m also really grateful to his adopters for reaching out for help when he wasn’t progressing like they had hoped, and for being up front about what behaviors he’s exhibited that caused them to decide to send him off for gentling.

Most of the time we don’t get client Mustangs sent to us because they’re doing so well at home. I get that. Still, knowing what to expect, what has been tried and what the outcome was, makes all the difference for keeping us and the horse safe, and for making a plan to set them up for success.

There’s nothing wrong with needing help. Not having the tools to help a specific horse doesn’t take away from the skills adopters do have. It’s in everyone’s best interest to seek help sooner rather than later.

Once Mustangs develop evasive or even aggressive behaviors, become pushy or destructive, it takes much longer for them to unlearn that and learn more desirable behaviors than if bad habits hadn’t been allowed to form in the first place.

As for Gus, I’m very optimistic that he’ll turn out to be a wonderful mountain adventure buddy for his adopters when the time comes. He’s certainly bold and stout enough to do just about anything they might want to try.

#BLMmustang#horse#training#learning#progress#bettertogether#makingmountainmustangmemories

You know what ruffles mine? When a horse is tied to a trailer or a tree, staring at the sky, while riders are stuffing their faces.

Hobbling lets horses eat where there’s no fence. Therefore hobbling helps prevent ulcers. Ulcer-free horses are happier, healthier and safer to be around.

Which in turn keeps riders and handlers safer AND saves us money.

Hobbling helps prevent injuries because hobble trained horses are less likely to panic if they get a leg stuck or tangled up.

Hobble training is a process. When done properly there’s minimal risk and maximum benefit.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

This was Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustang Rock’s 1st time hobbled “in the wild” after practicing in the round pen. He did great. He’s 4yo, from Little Colorado, WY.

He’s on the right, Lacy (Divide Basin, WY) in the middle, Tiny (Salt Wells, WY) on the left. Lacy and Tiny are seasoned backcountry travelers. All ride and pack.

All 3 are hobbled. Lacy is in 3 leg hobbles, the geldings only on their front legs. On a pack trip all would be in 3 leg hobbles.

#mountains#mustang#horses#adventure#nature#joy#peaceful#makingmountainmustangmemories