While I have not done the mustang thing myself, one of my trainer friends back in SoCal did the extreme mustang makeover a few times, and my good friend out here trained one herself (she was 72 when she got him!) and is currently showing first level on him. I’ve also trail ridden through much of Arizona with her and that pinto mustang. So while I’m familiar with them, in general, I certainly am not the expert you are, @eightpondfarm. But how can I resist window shopping with mustangs?
I hope I don’t offend you with my comments. But if I were hanging around the pens with you, looking at each of these, here’s what I’d say:
The first horse, 6409, may have something kinda funky with the right hind leg. It seems to bow out through the hock then be very base narrow at the bottom. Or I could be blind.
8515, the bay with two hind socks, is (in my opinion) a good looking, handsome horse. I know he’s older but I can only imagine what he’d look like with your care. Are you sure some cowboy didn’t lose his roping horse out there a decade ago?
8459, the gray, doesn’t do anything for me. Again, just my opinion, but he seems to have a quick, short, choppy stride.
I really like the little black horse, 8403. He was brave and curious enough to step into the light. And he’s a light, athletic mover.
8405, the liver chestnut, is attractive, but notice how his neck connects to his body and how muscled it is on the underside. That could be something you’ll forever deal with under saddle.
8410, the red roan, seems to be athletic. I like how he uses his body and kind of snakes his neck around. Plus, he’s a roan. (I seem to collect them).
5995, the little brown one with the sweet face has a very soft, kind eye. He seems to have a slow approach to life, although I realize that may be deceiving! While his back is on the shorter side, I like the way he carries himself.
The last one, the bay 6845, looks like what I imagine as the typical plain bay mustang. Nothing glamorous, nothing grotesquely wrong. Just a blank slate. And that can be a good thing, right?
Whichever ones you choose will enjoy a wonderful life with you. They are very fortunate.