You might have read or heard that Steve Mantle from Mantle Ranch in WY was here last week, working with me and the Mustangs here at Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy
(WHOA).
Steve has been training Mustangs for 25 years, does demos at Cheyenne Frontier Days every year, helps get the Meeker Mustang Makeover trainers off to a good start, and teaches ‘back on track’ clinics to bring wildies and their adopters on the same page.
My objectives were to learn more about working wild horses from horseback, get comfortable using our chute, get tips on how to improve our gentling program and to work on my riding.
We worked on all of that and more, and talked about horses and life until dark every night.
My main takeaways? “Pet ’em more”, “Wait”, teach them to “follow the feel” and to raise my expectations.
Steve manages to be gentle and firm, patient without being permissive all at the same time. He visualizes the desired outcome and has the tools to get there. He teaches humans and horses in the same quiet and easy-going manner.
It was a fun week building on what we learned from Mustang Matt when he was here 2 years ago around this time. And yes, I’m wearing Gus’s tail as a scarf because having fun isn’t optional and Gus is cool
I’m already applying what I’ve learned and am so excited to continue to do so, to see the outcomes and to pass it all along to our adopters and clients also.
If you’d like to learn from us, are looking to adopt a gentled Mustang or for someone to gentle the wild horse you’re planning to adopt, we’re here to help.
PM or email us with your thoughts and questions, we look forward to hearing from you.
WHOA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Guffey, CO. We work with amazing haulers if someone needs a Mustang transported to or from here.
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