I spent some time today reading other peoples blogs and I was amazed at how far some people have gotten with their Mustangs and after reading their blogs I realized that the hardest part was already done when they picked their Mustangs up.  We were told that some of them really liked to be rubbed on.  I am assuming that these mustangs must have spent more time with people at the BLM facility.  However, as far as the competition goes it placed those trainers weeks ahead of the other trainers.  However, is some ways these trainer have been cheated on know what it is like to going through the transformation that we are seeing.  This is one experience of a life time I would not want to miss out on and so happy that I am able to be a part of.

Last night was a wonderful night and I felt like I got so much accomplished with the Mustangs... I can't even begin to tell you how much I have enjoyed doing this nor the emotions I have felt.  Alice let me touch her face and even let me cuddle her a little, she ate some horse treats and grain today from my hands and I felt as if she even started to relax.  I washed her off today after she was ridden and she was so comical with the water.  She would lip the water when I sprayed it on her lips as if she was playing with the water.  After her bath it was off to the obstacle course, ever obstacle I introduced her to today she took with strides and with patience conquered as if she had been doing them her entire life.  

I do have to agree with everyone the Mustangs are extremely smart.  While we were out walking she found a spot of sand and started pawing, I watched her as she dropped to her knees and flopped down on the sand like a whale out of water.  She rolled and twisted and twisted and rolled.  She got up and then laid back down and did the whole maneuver again.   For a brief moment you could tell she had no other care in the world, the sand felt so good to her as it soaked up the water that was still dripping off of her from her previous bath.  To me her being willing to lay down with me there was a form of her acceptance of me.  She no longer feared me or she would have never of laid down on the ground.  

After all the mare were fed they were turned out to socialize with each other.  I set on a feed bucket in the center of their pen and reflected over the past month and even farther back in time prior to us picking up our Mustangs.  What their life must have been like in Nevada when they ran free on the range, them being captured and placed in to the BLM facility, and then being loaded on the trailer shipped to Fl, each time their herd size being reduced to only 4, then down to 3. (Bucks Mustang is now at his house).  The mustangs always run to greet on another as if they were long lost friends.  They snort and paw, do mini bucks and kicks, then settle on down to graze their pen and rub each others with their head and necks the way horses do.  I then begin to think of the future in just 35 days they will once again be placed on a trailer to start a new chapter in their life.  At the end of the competition once again their herd will be reduced and they will no longer have their Mustang friends with them.  They will no longer be apart of my life,  I just hope that whoever adopts them will see their unique beauty the way I do.  I was bought back from my thoughts as Ruby starting walking towards me finally nudging me for some horse treats...  I took what I had left in my pocket and fed them to her one at a time until they were gone.... 

Ruby was happy to see me when I got home today and was looking for some of her horse treats.  She had quit eating them so I was surprised that she was actually looking forward to them yesterday.  She is also getting better about being touched on her face and legs. I don't think it will be long before that will no longer be an issue with her.

Over the weekend I hand walked Ruby through our obstacle course.  She really does not have any problems with any of it.  As long as you take it slow and give her time to look she has no issues.  He went up and down the Texas Three Step like a Pro, the bridge is no problem at all and even Pikes Peak imposes no issues for her.  I still have not attempted the tarp (more me being chicken than her).  I don't want to spook her so we are going in baby steps on some things.  I can't believe we only have 5 weeks left.  They have already came so far, I can't even imagine where we will be in 5 more weeks.  I would love to hear from some other trainers on their progress so if you are a trainer send me an e-mail I would love to see how you are coming along with your mustangs.

Barry, came over and worked with Ms. Priss today as well.  I figure he will be riding her by the end of today.  He had her saddled was headed down the road with her when I got home.  I wish I would have had my camera out with me.  I missed so many wonderful pictures of the mustangs yesterday.

Today was Ruby's first day under saddle!  She did really well, I am so happy with her.  She let out a few bucks and settled right on down.  She still spooks when you brush across it, however we will be working on getting her use to it and the movement of it over the next couple of days.  

She is getting better about her legs.  I am now able to touch her all the way down to her knees without her attempting to paw me.  She still does not want her head touched at all - that is slow going.  I am brushing her all over though in the areas she will allow and working towards those she does not want touched.

I am able to lead her just about anywhere I want to on foot and she does lead really nice.

Yesterday she was eating from her dropdown where she stands tied out during the day.  Somehow she broke the metal handle free from the bucket and then managed to wrap her lead rope around the bucket handle multiple times.  When I saw it I thought what a mess we had.  I slowly untied her and was trying to unwind the rope when she pulled back.  That sent the bucket flying into the air and the feed in the bucket shot out like popcorn exploding form the popper.  I am not sure who it scared more, I was afraid of the reaction she was going to have.  She went flying around me 90 miles an hour, luckily not pulling away from the lead rope just around and the bucket was flying up and down as she moved her head.  I was so grateful she was not kicking at the bucket out of fear.  I kept telling her to whoa and it was okay while I pulled her closer each time she went around me.  Until I was able to reach the bucket and stop it from flying around.  She kept trotting around in circles for a few more mins and then stopped.  She tried to walk back up to the feed pan immediately to eat more food.  This came to a complete surprise to me, since I figured she thought the bucket had just attacked her.  Needless to say she got a new feed bucket.

Ms. Priss also got a saddle put on her and he took her for a trail ride.  Barry is doing an exceptional job with her and I figure he will have her riding by the end of the week.  

I took Ruby out for a walk yesterday.  With no horse escort...  she is really starting to come around.  We have came such a long way and still have so far to go.

I was able to brush her body with a brush, she is like most horses more sensitive on the right than her left.  She does not like her face or legs touched and since she still wants to paw and kick we are going really show in these areas.

I was surprised by her grazing habits... She prefers the twiggy grass to the lush grass (resembles what my goats would eat).  I am assuming that come from the ranges she was on.

When we finished I washed her down with the water hose again and she did really well considering I held her lead line in one hand and the hose in the other.  She did not freak out and we stopped as soon as she started licking her lips.  

Okay things have been really busy... (just normal life events)  Anyway, I was at home yesterday and was able to get some photo's taken.  There are a lot of them so (Click here to see them).   Yesterday was sort of like the "Karate Kid" wax on wax off effect :>)

Update:  The Mustangs are all doing well.  We have had some real challenges that I feel that we have had to work on overcoming.  The main factor being that we bought 4 Mustangs home with us.  This number has allowed them to keep the herd feeling and has made it harder to get them to bond with us.

Ruby and Alice belong to Buddy and I.  I will only be giving updates on them and from time to time I might slip in a little on Buck and Barry's mustangs.  They named theirs Sally and Miss Priss.

All 4 of the Mustangs are now halter broke and lead pretty good.  However, their instinct to run from the first horse eating thing they see (or think they see) is still very much a part of them.  Ruby likes to kick and does so with full force and with both cannons.

Ruby loves food and I have been able to get her to eat horse treats out of my hand.  This was a very big step for her and it made me very happy.  She seems to perk up when she sees me.  I am sure if you could read her mind it would say something like, "here comes the snack lady."

None of the mustangs like to have their face and ears touched, so we will be working on this. 

Recent photos coming soon...

BLM Pick up in Florida

Jan. 2009

There were several Mustangs ranging in ages 
waiting for their trainers and/or to be adopted.

Butt shot!

No skinny buns here!

I think this mare is really unique looking!
Love the Blaze...

This mare was my daughters pick
She asked if we could buy her in April.

This is Faith - My friend in Fl. got her

She is doing really good with her!

You can view Michelle's blog at  www.ourextremedream.com

My mare is the sorrel with the small blaze on her face.

She will paw you and kick you!

I can't wait for her to settle in and let me love on her!

This is Ruby - My mare
and Alice - Buddy's mare

Another picture of the mares

These are Buck's and Barry's

I know there as to be a way out of here somewhere!

They are very beautiful to look at!

The white on her neck is her BLM brand

This is an example of Freeze Branding

The day we picked up the mustangs then we had to head to Alabama for a competition
so today will be their first really day of handling...

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

Local Horse Trainers Selected to Compete in Extreme Mustang Makeover

J2 Quarter Horse and Buck Wild Horse Training of Quitman, Ga. have been selected to compete in the Gatorland Extreme Mustang Makeover during Lynn Palm’s Women LUV Horses event in Ocala, Fla., April 3-5.  Trainer from eight states will have approximately 60 days to gentle a wild horse they picked up in Marianna, Fla. January 24 and 25 to compete for a total of $10,000 in prize money.  

The three and four year old Mustangs, gathered from Nevada, will be judged April 3 and 4 on condition, groundwork, and a “Horse Course” that requires maneuvers and includes obstacle found in trail and recreational riding situations.   The competing mustangs will be available for adoption through an oral bidding adoption on Sunday, April 5th.

Buddy, Serena, Buck and Barry Johnson have all been selected as trainers and have been assigned 4 mustangs to train for the competition.  Buddy has been training horses his entire life and his 2 sons have been raised working and training horses.  You can view more picture of the mustangs and follow their training progress on their website http://www.calfhorse.com

The purpose of the competition is to showcase the beauty, versatility, and trainability of these rugged horses that roam freely on public lands throughout the West, where they are protected by the BLM under Federal law.  The BLM periodically removes excess animals from the range to ensure herd health and protect rangeland resources.  Thousands of removed animals are then made available each year to the public for adoption.  All of the animals involved in the “Makeover” competition will be available for adoption at the Ocala, Fla. event in April.

Adoption fees will be set by competitive bid with initial fees being determined by the level and quality of training each horse has received.  To qualify to adopt, one must be at least 18, with no record of animal abuse.  In addition, adopters must have suitable facilities and can adopt no more than four animals.  Adoption applications may be obtained and approved on the spot.

 About the Mustang Heritage Foundation

The mission of the Mustang Heritage Foundation and the goal  of the Extreme Mustang makeover is to increase the adoption of mustangs across the county.  The Mustang Heritage Foundation created the Extreme Mustang Makeover event to showcase the recognized value of mustangs through a national training competition and has placed more than 1,000 mustangs for adoption since September 2007.  Go to www.mustangheritagefoundation.org for more information.

 About the Bureau of Land Management

The Bureau of Land management (BLM) is responsible for managing 258 million acres of public lands, located mostly in the West.  Wild horses and burros roaming public rangelands are managed in a manner consistent with BLM’s overall multiple-use mission, as set forth in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.  Since 1973, the BLM has placed more than 219,00 horses and burros into private care through adoption.  For more information, visit http://wildhorseandburro.blm.gov or call 866-4MUSTANGS.