This is the method I most commonly use to teach the wild ones to pick up their feet. Every once in a while I have one where I get them used to letting me touch their legs (separate process) and then find that they’re happier if I just use my hand rather than the leg …
Category: Stefanie’s Notebook
May 16 2023
Growing through progress and change
From the looks of things, these two Mustangs are going to be making riding and packing season happen this year, and it’s time to get them out and about for some team building. Making the best of the situation at hand and moving forward… What else can we do? Salt Wells WY gelding Tiny and …
May 11 2023
Lacy and Littlefoot
Before we go back to regularly scheduled programming, here’s a look behind the scenes. I haven’t been posting much lately outside of announcing upcoming workshops. We have some other exciting announcements coming up and I have literally dozens of awesome pictures taken by our wonderful volunteers waiting to make their appearance on social media. Horses …
Apr 04 2023
Gentling unhandled domestic horses
Meet Blaze (coming 4yo sorrel mare), Spencer (sorrel yearling gelding), and Pia (bay yearling filly). Some of these pictures may be hard to look at, I apologize. These guys have had a rough go. They need weight put on, veterinary attention and trims. We are working towards that. A friend of Wild Horse Outreach & …
Apr 02 2023
One foot in front of the other
One of my favorite Charlie Mackesy quotes goes like this: “I can’t see a way through”, said the boy. “Can you see your next step?” “Yes” “Just take that”, said the horse. I feel like that’s been the story of my life. Growing up, changing paths a few times because what I really wanted to …
Mar 30 2023
Teaching a (wild) horse to ground drive/long line
Three different ground driving sessions, in reverse order from this week to last week to when we first started. Brought to you by one of our fan favorites, Frank Stetson, coming 4yo gelding from Sand Wash Basin, Colorado. He’s accepting contact on the bit now and following my guidance from voice, reins and whip much …
Mar 26 2023
Mornings with the herd
Out and about early a couple of weeks ago to start the day with the Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy Ambassador herd. They’re still fuzzy but started shedding a while ago, giving me hope that spring will eventually arrive after a long, cold winter. The plan for this year is to travel with the herd …
Mar 23 2023
Getting greedy… Outcome focus vs process focus in Mustang gentling
One thing that gets in our and our wild horse’s way – namely in the way of building a relationship based on mutual understanding and trust, of making lasting progress without lots of big fireworks and having to go back and repair damages – is being so focused on the outcome that we forget how …
Mar 21 2023
Saving Buttercup – Dealing with the unexpected in the backcountry
This post is only a year and a half overdue. Sometimes it takes me that long to put something into perspective. November 2021, a long-anticipated pack trip with friends into the middle of nowhere, Southern Utah. First time taking the Mustangs out of state. First time packing in the desert. First time sleeping outside on …
Mar 18 2023
Mustangs as mirrors
One of the things that makes working with Mustangs so special, yet also raw and humbling is that they are some of the best lie detectors around. They respond to what they perceive rather than to what we would like them or others to believe. In that way they are true mirrors of not only …