Stefanie Skidmore
Author's posts
Mar 05 2023
Short and sweet – The value of brief, low-key sessions
This is gentling session # 3 with Behne, 12yo per BLM paperwork, from Sand Wash Basin, Colorado. He already has a loving home, he is with Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy for basic handling and to learn to like human interaction. He leads, backs, is starting to yield shoulders, hind quarters and send off in …
Mar 03 2023
Gentling older Mustangs – Cary in the rearview mirror
This boy is 9yo Sand Wash Basin Mustang gelding Cary, the youngest of the older geldings we’ve recently had the pleasure of working with. Interestingly enough, with his relative youth he was the more challenging one even though the others took/are taking a little longer to settle down initially. The other geldings are/were 11 (Schatzi, …
Mar 01 2023
Matching effort
This post was inspired by a conversation with a dear friend about an entirely non-horse-related topic, but as with so many things, I find it applies here too. I believe that we need to be willing to invest quality time and effort into our horses before we can expect better results. We have to remember …
Feb 23 2023
Connection-based gentling
Frank Stetson again, coming 4yo sooty buckskin Sand Wash Basin Mustang gelding. He’s with Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy for gentling and to learn that interacting with humans is actually pretty cool. If you’re drooling now: Yes, he really is that cute. No, sorry, you can’t have him. He has a home, and no, sadly …
Feb 22 2023
The highline
This is a question I get asked a lot: How do you contain the horses in the backcountry, especially overnight? There are several ways that can work depending on where you are and what works for you and your stock. Highline, lowline, electric fence are a few. Some people keep one animal tied in camp …
Feb 19 2023
DG Petrie – Be careful what you wish for
This is a post for and about the newest member of our Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador herd: Petrie, a coming 3yo Devil’s Garden Mustang filly and one of the 10 DG Mustangs from the 2021 gather on U.S. Forest Service-Modoc National Forest land that were passed over for adoption and sent to us …
Feb 15 2023
Lacy update
If you’ve been following along for a while, you’ve seen pictures of Lacy, 8yo dun Divide Basin Mustang mare and part of the Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador herd. Lacy is gaited, gritty, opinionated and up for any challenge or adventure. She’s been my main riding horse for the past 3 years. “‘Though she …
Feb 08 2023
Back from Elko
I spent the past week in Elko, Nevada, visiting my friend Rachel Toler and attending the 38th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering. It was my first Gathering; I have a feeling it won’t be my last. It was a whirlwind of various events and buckaroo gear shows, great people, amazing food, beautiful artwork and incredible craftsmanship. …
Jan 24 2023
Gentling goals
We’ve done this work a little while now, and one of the most important things we’ve learned over the years of gentling Mustangs is what it’s going to take for them to be successful as they go on to their new homes. That’s what we want most for the wild ones we meet, care for …
Jan 15 2023
Kindness
If there is one thing nonprofit work and being part of the Mustang community has taught me, is that there is so much kindness, so many good people out there. People who are willing to share and give so generously, be that knowledge, talents, encouragement, time, pasture land, equipment or money. I have no family …