16/08/2021
Our Last Required Post:
Desperado,
What a journey with you, Wild Man! I don’t know what to say…. 5 months ago, you lived with your herd on abandoned mine lands. You were so skinny, scared, and knew NO people! When we met a few weeks after your round up, you were still skinny and scared. You knew people a little but didn’t really like them and you definitely didn’t trust them. Today, me & you are best buds, at least you think so. You are so much fatter, a little bigger, and definitely have a much better attitude. Well, most days. Less than 100 days ago, I never ever ever thought we would be where we are today.
You’ve earned a few nicknames over the summer that I think are worth talking about. Mostly, we call you Wild Man Stan which we often shorten to just Wild Man. Then, there’s Mini Maui! You look like a little Maui but you act like him too. You are goofy like him, a little clumsy, and you love to do things to bug me…. Just like Maui. Lastly, mom calls you little 💩…. I mean she’s not wrong because you are but I love you anyways.
I can’t believe how far we’ve come. Not just you, buddy! Me too! You see, I’ve wanted to do this for a few years. Aubrey, you know the one you think is a crazy woman, had a horse in 2017, Soleil, & I fell in love. I knew I wanted to save a horse too. This year was finally my chance & I got you! I wasn’t sure at first. I mean, you were feral…. Very feral! But we’ve both grown so much, I’m so proud of us!!
I’ve learned patience more than anything. Those first few weeks with you were rough! You hid in the furthest corner of your stall. You’d come close enough to quickly steal hay from my hand but would run if I even tried touch you. I felt like we were failing. I was failing you & your future. I worried a lot that I wasn’t good enough to get you thru this. Somewhere along the way, I told you that we wouldn’t worry about the competition, we would just worry about you and go at your speed…. And here we are! See, patience, buddy. I’ve also learned about training a feral horse (Thanks Aub). (I’ll let you in on a little secret, I’ve rode since I was 5 but I’ve never trained a feral horse before). I learned about hard work by working with you even when I absolutely did NOT want to deal with you that day and how to try & try again. Above anything else, I learned about love. You taught me that sometimes you have to just love them harder before they realize that they love you back. (I’m kidding, sorta!)
What have you learned? Everything! You’ve learned to trust & that’s huge for you! You tolerate people & have learned they aren’t all out to eat you alive. You lead, halter, & pick up your feet! You load and unload on the trailer & have even gone for a ride! You allow a saddle pad on your back. You think pool noodles are crazy but you aren’t really scared anymore. You pony off of other horses and you can lunge (sometimes you are a stinker and you lunge me). You tolerate a tarp & you hate fly spray! You aren’t a pro at anything and we still have a few days to learn some more but I can’t wait to see where you go! You still get scared sometimes but you are getting better. You don’t like people behind you or to approach you very fast and sometimes new or loud noises still scare you. But you’ve learned to look to the people that you trust for guidance and you spook less and less. Did I mention that you hate fly spray?
You are going to be one heck of a best friend for some one, buddy! I hope you find a new forever home with someone who is patient and kind. Someone who will love you thru the times you get scared and encourage you to try something new again. A person who is gentle with you when you need it but shows you who is boss. A person who you can learn to trust and love just like you do me. A new best bud for you! I’m just the lucky one who got to lead you on the first part of your new journey! We will always share this part of your story and you will always hold a piece of my heart!
We should probably thank the people who have helped us and pushed us along the way. We wouldn’t have made it this far without them but they know who they are. And they love you too, sweet boy. This barn will always be a family for you no matter where your journey takes you. & I’ll always be your biggest cheerleader.
Thanks for all of the laughs, the memories we made and the fun we’ve had this summer. No matter what happens this week, you are a champion & to me, we’ve already won! Just never forget how much I love you! I’m so so SO proud of you, Wild Man!
I love you!!
❤️,
Kinzley
