3 Mustangs, same HMA, all geldings, got here the same day, have had the same number of sessions, all 3 very sane and very, very smart. Oh and handsome, let’s not forget that. We all spend a lot of time just drooling over them. Not ideal when it’s 20 degrees out.
These pictures are from their 3rd session (I think). 3 completely different approaches to accommodate for 3 totally different personalities.
Since everything in this post seems to come in 3s, here are what I find to be 3 of the most important things when gentling Mustangs, or doing anything with any horse for that matter:
Being able to read the horse. What is their emotional state, when can I ask for more, when do I need to back off? What is their personality, how do they view me?
Being able to be present in the moment, mindful of my own emotions and how I move my body. That includes breathing and actively seeking connection with the horse. This is not woo. It just doesn’t work when I’m thinking about what I need to add to my shopping list while expecting the horse to be totally tuned in to me. Connection is a two-way street, in any relationship.
Having tools in my toolbox that fit the situation at hand. That’s how it all comes together:
I need to figure out where the horse is at on any given day, I need to show up for the horse, and I need to know what to do about it.
Easier said than done sometimes? Of course. Still, I believe these are the ingredients for success. And why learning – not just about horses and training techniques, but also and especially ourselves – is so important.
Adjusting to the horse, to the situation at hand, adjusting our attitude… I often say to myself, and to our volunteers when we are working with the wild ones we are gentling “Is what you’re doing working [for you/the horse]?” If the answer is no then what’s more of the same going to do? Yes, that’s shrink talk, as is “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome.”
True though, isn’t it? I read so many posts along the lines of “I’ve had my Mustang for x many months, I’ve been doing x, and I still can’t x” That’s because one or more of the 3 aforementioned points aren’t there. This is not to shame anyone, but to encourage learning and reaching out for help when needed.
Also, if you’ve missed it, these 3 are our newest students, Sand Wash Basin Mustang geldings Cary (8yo grey), Schatzi (13yo dun) and Frank Stetson (3yo buckskin). They all have wonderful homes and are with Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy for gentling before joining their adopters.
For the Love of Aria and Troublesome Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc.
PC and kudos to our fearless photographer Tay Martin who tolerated unspeakable temperatures to document these sessions.
