- We adopted
our first BLM mustang during the spring of 2001, shortly before
we moved from Austin, Texas to Mora, New Mexico. After a lifetime
of working with many different breeds of horses in many different
riding disciplines, that first adoption changed how we feel about
our horses forever.
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- There
is simply no way to effectively describe the bond that develops
between human and horse during the gentling process, where you
bring a wild and almost untouched horse to a place of trust and
confidence. Those who have experienced it almost always say it
is humbling to have a horse overcome great fear and choose to
bond with a being they perceive as a predator.
-
- With
the current changes in Federal protection for wild horses, we
felt it was important to correct some of the misinformation about
wild horses by sharing the stories of each of our formerly wild
mustangs. We hope you will enjoy reading about our 'wild boys'
and how they have enriched our lives.
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- Valeroso
- 'Courageous' -
New Mexico
-
 Valeroso came home to
live with us just in time for Christmas 2005. We have been told
he was part of a small bachelor band that ran together in the
area of Placitas, New Mexico.
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- As you can see
in this photo, Valeroso has an extremely crooked left front leg.
It is not known if this is due to an accident or is congenital.
What we do know is it doesn't slow him down a bit! Valeroso runs,
plays and climbs the mountain with no discomfort at all.
- We adopted Valeroso
from Walkin
N Circles Ranch
in Edgewood, New Mexico where he was known as 'IHop'. We changed
his name to Valeroso to honor his courageous survival. Valeroso
was rescued from people who chased him with ATVs and it was his
fortune to be taken in by kind people who then took him to the
ranch. His only job with us will be to live a healthy and happy
life.
-
- At a little
over thirteen hands, Valeroso is by far our smallest horse but
he makes up for it with a big spirit. We will tell more about
him as we have a chance to know him better.
-
- Cuervo Humoso
- 'Smokey Raven'
- Sandwash HMA Colorado
- 1997 - September
17, 2005
-
 We adopted Cuervo in
2001 from the Canon City, Colorado prison facility. We saw Cuervo
on the internet 'Special Adoptors' list and adopted him based
on his photos and recommendations from the staff.
-
- Cuervo had gotten
a deep impalement injury on his right side near the girth area
while still a free running horse. He had fully healed prior to
capture but the deep scar was irritated by the placement of a
western cinch causing his first adoptor to return him.
-
 We could tell the fittings
on our Australian saddles would not come near his old scar area
and based on the glowing reports about his friendly and willing
nature, we decided to adopt Cuervo without ever having seen him
in person.
-
- Cuervo lived
up to his reputation in every way and quickly made himself at
home with us. The only surprise was his decision to bond with
Mike who had never had a horse of his own before. A relatively
unhandled mustang as a first horse for a green rider doesn't
seem like a desirable combination and yet it was a perfect one.
Cuervo's deep trust in Mike was amazing to watch. His willingness
and desire to learn gave Mike confidence in training his horse
while learning to ride himself.
-
- It breaks our
hearts to share that we lost Cuervo very unexpectedly on September
17, 2005 to a ruptured intestine believed to be caused by an
internal abnormality. Mike truly lost his 'brother in hooves'.
-
- Corazon de
la Tierra
- 'Heart of the
Earth' - Owyhee HMA Nevada
-
 The first time we saw
Corazon was at the Western States Wild Horse & Burro Show
in July 2003. We were there as vendors and to learn from the
many good clinics being offered as part of the show. There was
also an auction for BLM mustangs and we couldn't resist going
out to take a look at the horses being offered.
-
- I was immediately
taken with this plain brown gelding who stood quietly in the
pens. I couldn't say why I was drawn to him; but I know the same
thing has happened to many other adoptors who find themselves
inexplicably drawn to a particular horse. We were not in a position
to adopt a horse at that time so I had to be content with a private
fantasy about this quiet brown horse.
-
 When the auction began,
I couldn't resist running out to see who would be bidding on
and taking home my 'special' horse. When I saw him moved into
the round pen I was even more impressed by his lovely way of
going and was stunned that no one looked twice at him or bid
on him. I could only conclude that all they were seeing was a
plain brown horse without a bit of flash to him.
-
- Corazon was
still not adopted by the end of the show and it broke my heart
to leave him when it was time to head back to New Mexico. I did
write down his number though in hopes that he might still be
available when we were in a better position to adopt another
horse.
-
 In October of 2003 while
we were returning from a trip to the east coast, we learned that
our black horse, Star, was seriously ill. We drove almost non-stop
to get back in time to do all we could for Star. Unfortunately
in spite of excellent vet care, we lost our black horse on October
22nd. With a space suddenly open in our small herd, we immediately
thought of the plain brown horse we had left behind in Nevada.
With a few phone calls, number 2022 was located in long term
holding in Carson City, Nevada and an adoption was arranged.
-
- Corazon came
home to us in November 2003 and our great adventure together
began. Corazon was a fearful horse who took time and patience
to adjust to his new environment. In the process, we both learned
trust and to look for new ways of communicating.
-
- Corazon is now
six years old and has become a wonderful addition to our herd.
He is kind to the other horses and greets us with a nicker and
eagerly trots to meet us, even in a snow storm. He is a compact
horse who shows his Spanish heritage in many ways.
-
- It is sad we
had to lose a horse to bring Corazon home; but it is a blessing
too. Under new federal legislation removing protection from horses
over ten or passed over for adoption three times, Corazon's future
would have been very uncertain. Prior to our adopting him, Corazon
had been passed over three times because others had not seen
past his plain brown color to the sweet intelligent horse he
is.
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- Griton
- 'One Who Shouts'
- Stewarts Creek HMA Wyoming
-
 We bought Griton in March
2005 from an ad we saw for a five year old titled mustang. Since
Corazon is still a year away from being ready to ride, we wanted
a saddle trained horse we could take out right away.
-
- The woman we
purchased Griton from had bought him just before he was due to
be loaded on a truck headed for the slaughterhouse in Texas.
He had been adopted as a two year old and judging by the old
pressure scars on his body, he had been ridden early and hard
in a saddle that didn't fit him. As a result, Griton had developed
a fear of saddling and mounting. Griton's rescuer had kept him
for a year and helped him to recover from a bad foot condition;
but she was unable to work him through his fears. She needed
a reliable 4-H horse for her daughter so offered him for sale
again.
-
 Aside from this one issue,
Griton was clearly a kind, intelligent and willing horse of a
good size. Since we have a great deal of experience in working
horses through these kinds of problems, we bought Griton immediately.
-
- In just a few
sessions of using a positive reward system with clicker training,
Griton was standing calmly and quietly to be saddled. He is steadily
working through his fear of being mounted and gains confidence
daily with our quiet reward based approach. He now allows us
to stand in the stirrup and we expect to be on his back and starting
our adventures together soon.
-
- Griton is a
minimal curly coated mustang whose curls are primarily expressed
in his winter coat. His face is covered with soft curls like
lambs wool and he has waves down his back and rump. He also has
the characteristic 'bunny fur' coat of the curly genetics.
- Griton is five
this year and he and Corazon have become best friends who roam
the mountainside together. We call them The Hardy Boys since
they always seem to be off on an adventure of their own.
-
- We hope you
have enjoyed learning more about our BLM mustangs and that you
will take the time to contact your state representatives asking
tem to support HR 297 and S 576 to restore protection to our
wild horses. It is both shocking and sad to think how many other
horses like these might end up at slaughterhouses without our
help.
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Black Horse Design