03/29/2025
This picture doesn’t look like much, but THIS IS HUGE. There is always “a change” or a “flip of a switch” that happens with mustangs. Domestics as well, but for sure with mustangs that I watch and wait for. There is almost always something that keeps them separated from a connection with me. They duck their head away as if to hide, they keep looking out always searching for a herd, they are white eyed and don’t trust…something that shows the connection just isn’t there. Some of this is measurable-will they eat with me in the pen, will they eat in front of me, next to
Me, with my hand on their back-all things I use to measure how the trust is going.
But Sly.
Sly would NOT meet me at the gate. When I walk in he walks to his corner. Progress was when he turned and looked at me from his corner. Progress was when he stayed standing in his spot and didn’t leave at all. Progress was taking a step toward me-before exiting to his corner…
But on this day…
Sly met me at the fence. He stuck his nose through the panel to smell me. He didn’t move his head away as if to hide-he stood very soft eyed and relaxed as I reached through and petted him. He ate AS I was dumping his food into his bucket-he usually stays 10 feet back and waits until I’m done and take a step back…
Today, the switch flipped. Trust has been made. Today was a big day-and I never even put a halter on, but it was a massive win of a day.
Mustangs are different. Mustangs make you work for everything. Mustangs are worth it and make us better.
I love what I do. It’s time to ride.
