He’s stallion proud. In training when he bonds he will want to please.
2 Likes
Oooooo! Do you know where he lived as a Mustang? I think some of the northern Rocky Mountain herds tend to have a lot of draft influence while the Nevada herds have a lot of Paso Fino influence. The last BO had two rather drafty mustangs (she explained this to me) and the current BO has more of a Paso Fino type that did come from NV. It’s really interesting to me.
Your guy looks like he’s got some Draft in there. I love his movement and think he can do straight dressage someday. Even though he’s “snorty” in the videos, he lifts his withers really well when he changes gaits and has some suspension in his gaits. More than the mustangs I’ve seen move!
We have a trainer working out of the barn who emphasizes groundwork to create a mutual understanding and partnership between horse and human. I sent him Sir SpooksAlot when he was 4 and even my vet was “a bit afraid” of him. I never did groundwork before and loved learning it and why and when it helps focus a horse’s brain and make him more task-oriented than afraid.
Yes, keep us updated! He’s got the goods!
3 Likes
i DO know where he lived actually: Warm Springs, OR. I have 4 mustangs all from that same HMA. Have another three from Beatys Butte, OR. Both these HMAs seem to have mustangs that i gravitate toward. Yeah, he’s pretty drafty. Feathered pasterns too.
I got a halter on him today and we took a few steps forward (toward a carrot with a tinch of tension on the poll…). He should be leading very soon. He’s coming along quickly.
4 Likes
He looks like a macho dude, but not in an evil, nefarious way. He reminds me of my “Mr. Man” gelding: lots of presence and a lofty trot. And I love his coloring. Ajax is a great name for him!
Also, I think your place looks very peaceful.
2 Likes
He has a really nice trot for dressage. And seems to be built for it. Didn’t see enough of the canter to tell, but I am thinking you DO have a dressage prospect.
3 Likes
Awww, thanks :). We like things calm. and happy.
1 Like
It would be wonderful if he has the apptitude, for sure! but, well, the main problem is his age. 14 and not broke… He only has about 7 more years.
1 Like
But compared to horses in dressage training since they were four, his hocks, etc. are low mileage, so he may have longer than a horse that has been in work its whole adult life. Anyway, I’m sure you will enjoy him as a project for now. Keep us posted!
6 Likes
i like how you think!
He has a nice look to him. Sure he is snorty but even Dobbin can snort when he is in a new place. He has a presence about him. You will have a wonderful journey with him!
2 Likes
He’s lovely, and I’m always glad to see the older horses going to people that will give them life skills!
1 Like
Omg! I hope not!! I have a 26 y/o that is our best dressage pony…
7 Likes
I’ve taught Sir SpooksAlot to free longe around me at all three gaits in the arena and to follow my direction without a halter with just my hand directing him by the withers. I’ve worked cows with him to reinforce our basic dressage stuff and offer something 100% new to him (he’s now an old hand with cows…in an area…) He does poles, jumps, stairs, water-filled ditches, non-waterfilled ditches, mounds, literal sand boxes, stepping over randomly placed large branches, Rock outcroppings, mild trails, etc. - it’s taken a lot of work but these are things you can get your guy to trust you over. Being a mustang, he’s likely encountered all of this previously). If your guy is open to a relationship, there’s so much you can work on together.
2 Likes
How fun!.. Ground work is fun huh!
One of my other mustangs, Steve, who is learning how to be ridden already, has learned to walk up the stone stairs to our long, brick front porch and walk along the front of the house. I’ve yet to take him in through the kitchen door, but that will come. If he shows interest during our walks in hand to a particular direction in the woods, i will take him there. I let him make some decisions. Not always does he look at things he wants though…lol, Say if he looks askance at say, a big uprooted fallen tree, we go there and meet it and greet it and learn to enjoy it …smell the roots, bite the bark, get a bit of carrot for being so tough and brave. I love teaching them to trust the world when they are with me. And that’s what i’m going for…to let them grow to know, that when they are with me, everything is safe. And fun. I handle everything for them and all they have to do is enjoy (via a well-timed carrot bit popped in their mouth) meeting that scary thing with their mouth…“touchIt” is a favorite game. If i say touchIt and point at anything, they get verrrrry interested, because they know there’s a carrot bit in it for them. LOL. Ground work really builds a relationship doesn’t it?
5 Likes
…your horse is named Dobbin??? lol. that’s funny.
i use ‘long invisible arms’ to free longe too. you would love working a mustang, they are particularly sensitive to body language. Comes from running as a herd. They’re like land-dolphins, turning together in sync. It’s called murmuration…like a flock of birds. I’ve some videos of my guys…even in close quarters with other mustangs here-to-fore unknown, they understand the language and move together. So, all one needs to do is learn what works where to direct them … It’s not teaching them, it’s learning them. All this ‘conversation’ with a. horse is the thing i love the most. That’s what i’m in-it-for.
5 Likes
Here is Ajax, meeting the three other mustangs i was picking up that day from holding. They had been kept in different pens, and were gathered by the guys just now. See how they move in unison? so…THEY already know how to free longe, it’s just us that needs to do the learning
IMG_2638
2 Likes
How cool! Wishing you all the best with your diamond and adding another vote for updates please!
1 Like
He stuffs he nose into a halter now. (for a bit of carrot of course) And is quiet while i buckle it. I have this little nubbin of a twine on the ring and he will take a step toward a carrot while i put the tiniest pressure on. We walked around the barn (on the inside of the barn) today, one step at a time. I can also caress him all over his head, ears, neck, and topside of his back and sides. Can gently stroke his chest and down to his knees (both knees) on his front legs. When we were all finished and he was back in his enclosure, and i was quietly and up close telling him You Did Good Today, and he listened…my eyes watered.
16 Likes
Two steps forward, one step back. Yesterday we made zero progress. It took me about three little 2-3min sessions (a couple hours apart) to have him moving forward with a piece of baling twine over his poll. He never did stuff his nose into the halter, so we went another direction. Did a little bit of stick work (not with a ‘carrot stick’ LOL) but an actual long twig (8 feet or so long). That particular session was quite a success. Eventually, he allowed the stick to be upright next to him, (goal is to measure him). Drag along the ground between us. And touch him along his neck and his withers/saddle area.
But no halter at all yesterday.
Today’s a new day though 
5 Likes
