Last week I was on the phone with an old friend. She was my German teacher in middle school. Dorith is in her 80s now. I graduated high school 20 years ago (ouch). We go back a long time and she’s essentially my bonus grandma.
She asked what I was doing the following week. I replied “Going packing with a stranger from the internet.”
Dorith: “We’re not telling your mother, are we?”
“Correct.” I said, “Maybe afterwards.”
That’s where I’ve been these past few days, in a new to me wilderness area, with Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustangs Lacy (Divide Basin, WY, under saddle) and Tiny (Salt Wells, WY, pack horse), German Shepherds Denali and Ranger, and Marcos Costa – the stranger from the internet – and his horses.
Marcos is an instrumental part of 4 Corners Back Country Horsemen as well as the Durango Cowboy Gathering . He wanted more packing experience. I wanted someone to pack with because going solo can get sketchy fast. A slightly awkward “I don’t know you but I guess we’re doing this” turned into a win-win situation and a new friendship.
Over the years several internet strangers have become some of my closest friends, mentors and adventure buddies.
That’s another thing Mustangs and a passion for exploring wide open spaces do for us. Connecting interesting people. Wild horses and wild places also go exceptionally well together.
Another monsoon season pack trip with the wild ones is in the books, more box hitch practice, more learning where I can improve and fine tune gear, planning, prep and routines. More making great connections and character building.
In a way the – hopefully not – dying art of horse packing needs just as much help and attention as do Mustangs and I’m beyond grateful to be involved in and continue bringing awareness to both. That’s only possible with the help of our friends and supporters.
I’m thankful for all of you. Thank you for making what we do possible through your input, questions, donations, volunteer work, the horses you adopt, the workshops and remote coaching sessions you book, the merch you order, by spreading the word through shares, likes and comments and referring your friends to us.
If you have questions, want to help us help wild horses or are interested in learning or adopting, feel free to reach out via email, phone or PM. You can also contact us through
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