There’s something special about young people and Mustangs. They’re not just our future, they’re who we hope will treasure, protect and enjoy wild horses, on and off the range, when we are long gone.
This kiddo has been helping us with chores for a few months. She’s tough and gritty and wasn’t at all horsey when she first started.
I’m not known for being easy to work for if you ask youngsters who are used to playing on their phones rather than doing physical work outside.
That cracks me up when I look back at the hundreds of hours of barn chores I did just to be around other people’s horses as a kid, forget about getting paid.
What I am though is willing and happy to teach someone with tenacity because that’ll outdo talent and previous experience every time if they maintain it.
She’s learned to halter and brush some of our gentler wildies and I’ve tossed her up on Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador Mustang Lacy a couple of times.
The first time I led them around the 25ft round pen, the next time she rode in there by herself, at a walk, with me standing close-by. Each ride bareback in a halter.
Tay Martin and I can communicate with hand signals, head movements and grunts when needed, so using those fine methods of information transfer, I suggested she introduce the kid to Tiny.
After meeting the colossal (compared to Lacy) teenage Salt Wells gelding went smoothly, the next bit of communication – I was in the middle of a session with another Mustang – meant to have her halter him and hop on.
Kiddo’s eyes were the size of dinner plates when she heard “Stefanie said you’re getting on him. I don’t think that was a question.” This kid is brave, so she didn’t refuse.
It took every one of the 3 steps of our big mounting block for her to climb on. We let her sit and relax on the wide red couch for a few minutes, leaning forward to hug him and back on his butt.
I’m not actually here to scare anyone, only to push at their comfort zone a little. Tiny slept through most of the kid’s acrobatics.
Finally kid said with a hopeful look aimed at no one in particular, “Miss Stefanie [ugh] showed me how to go around the round pen by myself…”
Grinning, I handed her the whip I was holding and told her to gently tap his large behind if he chose to ignore voice commands and leg pressure.
Tiny has the work ethic of a geriatric house cat most days, so that scenario was highly likely.
Right around that time he brought his giant head around to face her. Kid was rather perplexed when the horse she was sitting on was also looking back at her.
“Oh he wants to get paid” said Taylor who supports Tiny in his adorable laziness, handing kiddo a handful of alfalfa pellets. I don’t argue anymore. All I ever hear when I try to remind everyone of his many quirks is “Tiny is perfect!!!”
Taylor then added “It’s like putting quarters in the rocking horse at the grocery store”. I was at a loss.
Around the walking pen they went, Taylor leading the way the first time to show kid where to go and how to steer clear of the Mustangs that stood tied, watching the goings-on. Then the big lug and the little girl rode alone with both of us keeping an eye on them.
Every time they came back around Tiny would park himself at the mounting block and turn his head. Dutifully, kid handed over the goods. Then off they went again.
This went on for a while until she proclaimed, “No more quarters!” giving us the ‘fix it’ look. We all but died laughing and offered a refill.
A little while later I called “Hey kid, time to get back to work!” from inside the round pen, receiving mild protest in return. “Hop off and put your horse back out to pasture”, I insisted.
Reluctantly she did as I’d asked, or tried anyway. Tiny wasn’t done getting attention and he might have liked to examine the walking pen for some loose hay. Some very tender moments occurred over trying to send him out and shut the gate.
I enjoy investing in these horses’ future. Not just by turning out friendly, easy-to-handle Mustangs that have a good chance to thrive in our often crazy world, but also by sharing our Ambassadors with others.
If you’re looking to adopt or get involved, please let us know in the comments.
A list of adoptable Mustangs is available on
w i l d h o r s e o u t r e a c h . o r g
On our website we also have a “How you can help” section for those who would like to support what we do. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that depends on your kindness to continue to do what we do.
We’ll be showcasing more available horses, sharing stories, rolling out a new way to help Mustangs and their adopters, and bringing immediate needs to your attention over the following weeks. Stay tuned! (As I muster up the courage to bring all that to life 
)
Thank you to all of you who follow us, whether you’re new or have been here for a long time! It means a lot, to the horses and humans alike!
*I want to make abundantly clear that as soon as this young lady is ready to do anything more than amble around small pens on soft dirt at a snail’s pace, she’ll be wearing a helmet whether she likes it or not. She’s riding seasoned Mustangs with a horse-savvy adult only a few yards away.*
If you’ve read this far – or skipped to the bottom – we’d love to hear about your favorite memory involving horses and kids (possibly you as a kid?) in the comments!
Halter & lead rope: Rowdy’s Ropes
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