By Jay O’Jay with Bronwen Belenkie
It’s been a busy summer and fall! The most recent addition to our barn has been keeping me particularly busy. I thought you might be interested in this two-year-old sorrel filly’s story.
The journey begins: wild mustang meets helicopter
This is the chronicle of a wild mustang mare who found her way to a horse sale in central Alberta, Canada. She was rounded up by helicopter in the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada and herded into a boxed-in canyon, where all the wild mustangs were crammed in like sardines. They were then put individually into squeeze shoots to be identified with collars.
On her way up north the tips of her ears got frostbitten in the stock trailer – now they bend over. Once in Canada, some cowboys snubbed her up to a post and nobody really knows what happened during that time. My client Matthew spotted her at the horse sale and – what can I say – it was love at first sight.
Buying this wild Nevada mustang was only the start of a journey that would eventually lead Matthew to my doorstep. Simply put, Matthew has no experience when it comes to starting young horses and, as he quickly discovered, knowledgeable advice is not very easy to come by.
Wild and wary horse
All I can tell you is, I am now working with the most frightened horse I’ve ever met. Becoming the leader of this fearful mare will definitely be a priority, but just as importantly, I will need to prove to her that she can trust me. Earning her trust will take a special amount of patience and understanding; the kind of patience a person has to dig deep within to find. I have a saying and it rings dead true – slower is faster with horses – and this is exactly the approach I will take with this mustang, whose survival instincts are dialed-in and on high alert.
I have agreed to work with Matthew and his wild mustang only because of the keen desire Matthew has to learn. The three of us are sharing a journey together and it will be a long one – especially considering that both mare and Matthew have a great deal to learn.
Confidence and learning
A wild horse’s instincts are more acute than any horse raised in captivity. I caution anyone, who isn’t experienced, when buying a wild or green horse of any kind. Without professional help, people with the best intentions (and most romantic notions) often bite off more than they can chew.
Building this mare’s self-confidence is another goal of mine. I do this through encouragement and reward for the slightest try, not through disappointment and frustration. I never want any horse to become worried or fret about doing something wrong. After all, horses learn best from their mistakes. Let them make mistakes and then calmly fix them. Work under the umbrella of emotional control and let the confidence grow!
Our personalities, our movements and our actions speak very loudly, and our horses are a reflection of who we are. You see, “communication is the seed, and it’s confidence and trust that grows”.
First steps
I’ve been slowly working with the mustang for about 8 sessions now. All I ever wanted from our first few sessions was to be able to go up to this trembling and frightened horse and touch her on both sides. It sounds simple, but to a wild horse that’s hyper-sensitive to movements, especially our body movements, this was no easy task.
Survival demands that horses run for their lives when they get frightened or spooked. This “right brain” reaction is exactly like a built-in time bomb that’s ready to explode at the drop of a hat.
Moving predictably in what I call “nature’s rhythm” and working under the umbrella of emotional control is powerful medicine – it subdues fear and replaces it with trust. This is how I was able to first approach and touch this mustang on both sides. Not only that, I was also able to put the halter on and do some very basic leading exercises.
Consistent repetition forms a habit that we call training. It’s also another key ingredient to gaining trust and building confidence.
Groundwork is preparation for saddle work. We all want a safe horse, a horse that gives us confidence and a horse we can enjoy when working or playing – a partner! Earning respect and gaining control on the ground are the prerequisites for success. Groundwork allows us to build the solid foundation that we so desperately need for our saddle work.
A less wild mustang: building a connection
The following is a list of some of our accomplishments to date:
- Slowly gaining more trust
- Building more confidence
- Making a connection and bond that is still growing
- Picking up all four feet
- Starting to lead in hand
- Accepting a saddle pad/saddle – the cinch was tricky
- Side passing up to the fence with me half way on her
- Starting my exercises for respect and control
- Desensitizing her to foreign objects such as plastic bags etc.
- Lowering her head in preparation for a bridle
- I’ll be sure to let you know how the journey with this mustang unfolds in upcoming entries.
Jay O’Jay update
Our family has been busy getting the second Stoddart Creek Stables equestrian facility up and running in Calgary. Also, I’ve been shooting my latest DVD entitled Earn Respect & Gain Control, (soon available online, contact me if you’re interested in learning more), attending a successful Mane Event in Chilliwack, (thanks to all who stopped by our booth and watched my demonstrations), and now, settling in, getting our Invermere facility ready for the winter. And riding of course!
Until the next entry, Happy Holidays and remember, “Success with horses starts with us”!
Dear Mr.Jay OJay,
I wanted you to know that your training videos have been a life line for me and my two recently purchased horses.
I purchased a 13yr old Arab mare and her filly in Sept 2007. I am the mares 3rd owner that I know of. She was thin/bony, unrideable and the last owner had great trouble catching her. I was told she was green broke by her first owner. The filly at the time of purchase was 3 1/2mths old and terrified of her owner and people in general.
At the time I knew nothing about horses, still don’t know how to ride a horse. I went to a Vet. who advised me not to get the mare. He said she may be to dangerous for me. He knew I was bent on getting the filly but, I could tell he thought I was being foolish.
I thought about it for 2wks. not wanting to be impulsive as I have always had great admiration for horses and really wanted to be around them. At the same time this would be a life long commitment which would change mine and my husbands life.
I couldn’t sleep thinking about the mare and filly being separated. Her filly is the only good thing she had. I knew I was going to get the filly out of there and I felt that separating them was going to destroy the mare. I felt no one would want the mare and she was not wanted where she was. She looked bad.
Foolish and dangerous but, I knew I had to bring them both home.
I went over there everyday to feed them and try to catch the filly. It took me 5 mths to get them in a trailer and on my place. The trailering was forced (but gently done) with the help of my husband holding a rope behind them.
Soon as I bought them, I started reading books on horse care. In the reading I learned that if they are going to live with people, they really must be trained to be at ease and live a happy life. These girls are extremely sensitive and over react to everything.
In my search for training information on the Internet I learned that there was the “standard way” and the “natural way”. I knew that above all these horses were to be repected and loved so the “natural way” was for me.
I knew the mare was being tolerant of me. I could halter her but, I was not allowed to touch most of her body. She even cow kicked my husband (he didn’t get hurt).
Every meal I gave was met with her ears pinned back. The filly was not coming around. She tryed charging me a couple of times. I would get the ears pinned back and rear turned to me everyday.
I told my husband I had to have a round pen so I could do the things you showed in your videos. I needed the mare to learn that she must repect me as her leader or this was going to get to dangerous for me.
Last week I waited until my husband was a work and I put the mare in the round pen for the first time. I did as you said, to the best that I could.
I don’t know how long we were in the pen but she was starting to lather up. I worked her around and around, turning over and over until she started facing me. The second time she faced me she was licking and chewing.
I just stood there in amazement.
I called her to me but she didn’t come so, I went to her. I had forgotten to give her the kiss kiss sound.
The next day, we went around in the pen a few times but, this time when I called her AND gave the kiss kiss she came right away.
I tryed to lead her without the halter or rope. She followed me turning both right and left and even backed up for me. She let me rub her neck, head, and back before she walked off. This still makes me cry happy tears.
Her filly had been outside the pen watching each time. Here is another amazing result. I have now been able to halter the filly without using a bambo pole to drape a rope over her neck to catch her. I can now touch her head, neck and back. They both greet me with a whinny now. (“Big Grin”)
I must suppose that the filly is learning this more desirable behavior from her mom. The whole look of their faces is softer.
The only time I get the ears back now is at feeding time and only from the mare. I don’t blame her as she had been starving and trying to feed her filly. They do not turn their rears to me any more. This just after two short sessions in the round pen. I know these girls are smart but this is amazing.
I had been trying to get them to trust me some for 7mths. I can’t tell you how greatful I am to have come across your web site. I know this is just the start of our growing relationship. We will be moving at a snails pace but, that is fine with me. Not in any rush as I want them to have happiness everyday.
Want them to gain a new being like you are doing with the wild Mustang in your article.
I’m glad you pointed out that it took 8 session to be able to touch her.
I don’t feel so bad about it taking me 7 months and still can’t touch the girth, breast or legs yet. Will work on that slowly.
I would like to beable to ride the mare in maybe a year if we are both ready. My goal to ride the filly, is on her 4th birthday.
We have a lot of ground work to do.
Hope to take them both trail riding someday. I think they will like that.
Thank you from all of us and best regards to you and yours.
Jane TenNapel
Comment by Jane TenNapel — March 27, 2008 @ 11:15 am
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Comment by free sms — April 15, 2011 @ 9:25 pm