Wild 2 Mild: The journey of gentling mustangs

08/10/2026

There will be a new face at Wild2Mild soon! Whoever we bring home will be available after gentling so stay tuned!

08/10/2026

08/06/2026

Old video from an 8 yr old Piceance East Douglas Creek mustang gelding I gentled. He had a huge issue with bolting when you would try to lead him in any tight space. This was my daughter working with him after I got him over the issue. Lots of leading between barrels at first, then sending between me and the panel, to eventually leading in and out of gates using a long line, so should he bolt I had a better chance of keeping hold of him.

08/06/2026

Came across this today and had to share. So incredibly true and beautiful.

While “Humanizing” the Horse is a great disservice, I have taken many a great lesson from the Horse & applied them to other situations in my life.

I was recently blessed with my first opportunity to interact with an ungentled Mustang & this is what he taught me.

With a Mustang, there’s fight or flight; they are living in survival mode….

The Human then steps in & “asks” them for TRUST…

In return for that TRUST, the Human “offers” a CALM… a COMFORT… a PEACE… within a SAFE SPACE & a GENTLE TOUCH.

We as Humans, also desire a SAFE SPACE & a GENTLE TOUCH.

However, some of us, through our own experiences, have been conditioned to live in survival mode, with fight or flight being our only familiar reactions.

Those of us that are able to clearly see & fully understand both sides of this dynamic; are simply setting up the very space for the Horse, that we innately desire to have set up for us.

When this space has been set up properly, it can allow the SAFETY & COMFORT of the “True Partnership” we’ve been longing for in other aspects of our lives, to eventually take place.

It is the grandest of gifts we wish could be given us & therefore, with grace & humility, we offer this “Gift” to the Horse.
~Brooke Sweat

08/05/2026

New video is out this morning! Check it out!😊🤠

In this video, you're coming along for a little bit of everything-f...

08/05/2026

When you bring home your new mustangs, do you get right to work or let them settle? Let me know in the comments! There’s no right or wrong answer here, I truly think this is personal choice and depends on the individual mustang and his/her needs.

08/05/2026

08/04/2026

RED & GREEN LIGHTS: Respecting what the Horse tells me.

The key is to get really good at reading the subtle signs the horse gives. I always check for red & green lights.

Red Lights tell me to slow down, to give the horse a bit more time. The horse is telling me: "Hey, wait a minute, I am not ok with this."

A horse that doesn't move isn't necessarily relaxed and ok with what I am doing. It can also be frozen and ready to explode.

How to know the difference?

Red lights are:

- raised head, stiff neck,
- not blinking the eyes
- moving stiffly and abrupt
- cocked hindleg in combination with raised head
- eyes wide open
- skin shivering when touching
- moving away from the mounting block as I get ready to mount or moving away from the saddle, flag, whatever...

When I see any of those, I know that I shouldn't go to the next step.

First, I make sure that I get green lights with the step I am working on.
A green light is as if the horse is saying: "I am ok with this now, you can go to the next step."

Green lights are:

- lowering of the head
- eyes resume blinking
- horse is checking in with me, bending his nose
- lick and chew
- sigh, blow out

If I get a green light, I know the horse has accepted the step I have been working on and is ready for the next step.

Working like this ensures that I proceed in the rhythm of the horse and don't push the horse too far. This is what keeps me safe and the horse confident as a learner.

Yes, this approach might take a little longer than if I would just push the horse through little worries - but it does create a very confident and happy horse that trusts the rider.

And isn't this what's most important?

Being able to Read the Horse right is one very important Key to Success when starting Horses.

08/04/2026