Afternoon Feedtime

By the time I got home from work today it was getting pretty late so I thought I may have to let go of my idea to see if Lacey wanted some work.  I had a ute full of hay to unload and had to feed the horses before it got dark.  When I finally got to the paddock they were all waiting very impatiently.  I bought the barrow full of feed through the gate and Neo moved in quickly and grabbed the hay throwing it aside to find his bucket feed.  I quietly asked him to calm down and stood shaking my fingers and putting my body in between him and the food.  It is unusual for him to act that way and he was clearly telling me he was starving despite his rotund appearance.  He then decided to stand quietly so I could get his bucket out and he proceeded to inhale the contents.  

I went down to Caz, Lacey and Feather and as always the triangle of bickering started.  Feather would bite Lacey and Lacey would kick back at Feather and then swing round to nip at her which would get her an even bigger telling off.  Caz would tell both the mares to back off and this chaos goes on until I enter the paddock.  They know that I need them to stand quietly beside their bucket and wait until I walk away before they eat.  I have had to instil this with them as they are so overzealous with each other when it comes to food and I don't want to get caught in the middle of it all.  They were all busy eating so I loaded up three hay nets and hung them from trees around the paddock. 

Cazador Del Trueno - Spanish Mustang stallion

Lacey was the first to finish and then go over to the hay.  I had tied the last hay net down by the lake and was then stood there watching my incredibly enthusiastic blue heeler puppy named Jazz run crazily up and down the edge of the lake leaping around then burying her nose in the water and bringing her head out wet and smiling before turning around to watch what sort of reaction she was getting from me.  The more I laughed the crazier she got!!  I turned to see where Lacey was and she had been pushed away from the hay net by Caz and Feather.  I called her down but she wasn't interested and looked more annoyed than anything watching Jazz carry on like a raving lunatic.  I walked up and stood at her shoulder and asked if she would follow me.  She immediately did and we ran down the hill together and I showed her another hay net.  I left her there eating and wandered off around the paddock to let Jazz blow off some more steam further away from the horses.  From up on the hill I watched as Cazador then moved down and pushed Lacey off the hay again.  They kicked out at each other and Lacey backed down and then made large semi circle arcs around him trying to find a way back to the hay but he kept spinning his body and blocking her.  I called her and she immediately came running to me and walked beside me while I showed her where the third net was.  She walked to the hay and then as I was walking away she changed her mind and ran to my shoulder and started asking for work. 

Lacey - Spanish Mustang mare

I gave her a scratch on the tail and then asked her if she wanted to circle around me to the right.  She walked a perfect circle, her body curved around me.  I said 'woah' and told her how incredible she was.  She stood tall and proud and positioned a part of her body for me to scratch.  I then asked for another circle to the right which she did superbly again to copious amounts of praise.  We repeated the exercises on the opposite side and then I walked to her shoulder and pointed at her hoof.  She lifted it for me.  I didn't attempt to pick it up, instead praising her and scratching her for such an amazing job.  She has massive issues when it comes to having her hooves trimmed.  I have been working through these with her using only positive reinforcement little by little.   She was at a point where she may give her hooves but she would slam them into the ground when I went to release her hoof.  That is also changing as I let go of my own agenda and take the training slow to help her work through her discontent about having her hooves picked up.  I was so thrilled with how connected and giving she was today.  

Grey Feather must have been watching us as she quickly came over and pushed Lacey out and spun her tail to me demanding a scratch.  I told her I didn't think that was a very polite way to ask me and walked away from her.  She then came and briefly connected by sniffing my hand before asking much more politely for me to scratch her tail.  I obliged this time and then asked her if she would like to try the same thing Lacey had just done.  She walked a few steps on the circle and then presented her tail to me.  I asked her to try a little harder and things got a bit muddled.  Lacey was watching and was quite annoyed by all this and she stormed in with her nose crumpled and her ears pinned back and showed Feather how it was done before enticing me to walk further down the paddock with her away from Feathers rude interruption as she seemed to see it.  I laughed and we had some cuddles before I then had to leave.

I just love spending time with this little herd.  They all have very huge and opinionated personalities.  Lacey's love of learning and the mind boggling speed at which she picks up my cues is so exciting to me.  I can only imagine what an exciting future we will have when we start venturing out and about more.  I still remember her leaving the herd as a foal to come to the house and find me each day.  I would sit with her and often she would fall asleep, her head in my lap.  Our bond was instantaneous when she was born and I am in awe of where she is taking our relationship and learning these days.  What an incredible mare she is!!!

Lacey and her dam Indian Scout.  Lacey was less than a week old here.

Lacey rising 4 years - a beautiful,independent, spirited and highly intelligent partner

Grey Feather - Training Log

I first met Grey Feather a couple of years ago when I was on went on a trip to the USA to find a Spanish Mustang stallion to import to Australia.  My first stop was to meet Donna Mitchell at the Little Cayuse Ranch.  We had been conversing via email and I really wanted to meet Donna before we started our trip to find a stallion to import.  Donna and her family were such wonderful people.  They opened their homes and their hearts to us and I consider them very dear friends.  Soon after arrival at the ranch, we were taken out to see the horses.  I won't ever forget that moment that I first laid eyes on Grey Feather.  I was totally in awe of this filly.  I spent a long time in the yard with her just marvelling at her exquisite grace and beauty.  Donna kindly agreed soon after to let Grey Feather make the long trip to Australia so we spent an extra 10 days at the ranch after we had finished our stallion search and during that week I started handling and getting to know Grey Feather.  I remembered her to be an extremely sensitive horse with a fire in her belly.  

A lot happened over the two years that it took for me to finally be able to bring Grey Feather home.  I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and I feel that reason was for me to progress in my learning with horses to a degree where I could do justice to the relationship I am building with this incredible horse.

Grey Feather hasn't had a whole lot of handling and very little training.  She lived on 3000 acres at the Little Cayuse Ranch and grew up in a herd environment there.  This is the sort of upbringing that brings out a strength and substance in a horse that I find lacking when they are raised by people.  There is a marked difference between my horses in this distinct way.  Neosho was raised on the Cayuse Ranch running with 17 other batchelor stallions and mostly untouched by people until I bought him as a 7 year old.  My Australian brumby mare was captured as an 8 year old, never touched until that age, then sadly abused before coming to me so she took some time to gentle down.  These three horses all have a history of limited or nil human handling until adulthood.  They are extremely sensitive, exceptionally intelligent and working with any of them is the most incredible gift I have ever been given.

Scout, Lacey and Cazador on the other hand are the opposite.  They are bold, fearless and I often have to remind them about personal space and the need for boundaries.  I find it far more challenging to work with horses that have had human interaction from an early age.  That may just be a personal thing as I am sensitive myself so I guess I am drawn to the softness and respectful way that comes naturally with the wilder ones.

So on to Grey Feathers training and the way in which I have decided to approach this with her.  Grey Feather is not a horse that you can just walk up to in the paddock and pat or lavish attention on.  She gets very offended at the suggestion and I am fascinated watching how people reacte to her.  She unwillingly draws peoples attention due to her almost unbelieveable beauty and ethereal way.  Some people want to touch her and see it as a challenge to work out how to achieve this.  Others respect her space and will marvel at her from a distance that is comfortable for both parties.  Some people she will eventually invite in, others she won't.

On her arrival home, I was told by the transport company that delivered Grey Feather that she was hard to catch and would turn her rump to threaten to kick.  I discarded the information quickly as I knew this horse or all horses for that matter would not intentionally harm me as long as I was paying close attention to the conversation they were having with me and never let them feel they have the need to escalate to that level.  I had been worried about importing Grey Feather due to her sensitive nature however interestingly she handled the trip better than any of the other horses and I was contacted by handlers along the way that fallen in love with her.  She has the ability to really open peoples heart space when you spend any time with her. 

Starting out with Grey Feather I could clearly see she did not like the halter and also being caught to her was not something she was interested in.  I thought about this for a short time and decided early on I would always be upfront with her when it came time to put a halter on.  After she had been settling in for a few days I decided to move her into another larger paddock with grazing.  I walked into her yard and held my arm out showing her the halter.  She ran away at the suggestion and I stayed where I was until she stopped running.  When she stopped and looked at me, perhaps confused at why I was not persuing her, I held the halter out again and asked if I could come towards her.  She allowed me to come close to her then walked away a few steps.  I walked level to her shoulder and if she wanted to move I just walked beside her.  She slowed and stopped to sniff my hand and the halter and I stood beside her giving her as long as she felt she needed.  Eventually I put the end of the rope over her neck.  She flinched and tensed so I took the rope off and stood allowing her to sniff it again. She was relaxing now at the lack of pressure in this situation and the next time I put the rope on her neck and opened the halter she dropped her head and put her nose into it.  

Once on the halter, moving beside her is wonderful. She reads every subtle movement of my body and responds as if in a dance.  Every single time I am with her in these moments I am honoured at the lessons she chooses to teach me and the way in which she imparts her wisdom so gently.

There was one day when she was running around her paddock very stressed as one of the other mares had gone over the hill and she could no longer see her.  I went in with the halter to move her so she could be closer to the other mare and I made a mistake that day that I try never to make with horses like Grey Feather, Neosho and Sienna.  Grey Feather was cantering back and forth and her adrenaline was high.  When she got close to me she stopped and came over and I told her I would move her in to be with the other mares.  I placed the rope over her neck and closed my hand around the rope.  Grey Feather went to flee and for perhaps a second I held the rope.  That was a terrible mistake as I like her to always know she can get away however thankfully she didn't hold on to the experience for long.  She initially bolted away then spun to look at me with a snort.  I said out loud how sorry I was and if she wanted to go in with the other mares she would have to have the halter on so I could safely move her into the paddock with them.  Incredibly, the instant I said that she ran back to me and dropped her head waiting for me to put the halter on.  She is such an sensitive and intelligent - horse so much so that she seems to really understand when I explain something to her.

The next thing I wanted to address was Grey Feathers issue with picking up her hooves.  She had been trimmed a few times but was certainly not thrilled at the idea.  Very soon after she arrived I decided at feed time I would start by running my hand down each leg.  The first time I did this she ran sideways. I made sure she was always free to leave if she needed to. I waited till she came back to her food and gently put my hand on her leg. Instead of fleeing, this time she snatched her leg up and snorted. I stood up and said 'Thank you Feather - wonderful, thank you'.  The next time I touched her leg she very quickly held it up.  Again I thanked her.  I repeated this routine twice a day and she got very comfortable with the idea of me touching her legs however did not want me to hold them.  One afternoon recently I went down to the paddock with some bits of carrot in my pockets.  I was asking Feather to pick up her hooves and although she would snatch them up quickly there was still no way she wanted me holding them.  I decided this time I would give her a carrot when she lifted her hooves.  Well the instant change was astounding.  Her whole thought process seemed to change so quickly to one of intrigue as she would try to figure out exactly what I wanted so she could get that treat and the worry of giving her hoof had disappeared entirely in that instant.  I am now using food to teach her basic words like come and stand.  She picked that up in a matter of minutes also.   

All these things may seem small and insignificant however they are the most important building blocks of our growing relationship together.  Grey Feather and I seem to understand each other very well.  Perhaps she recognises in me that same independent spirit and the fight that I to unleash if I feel my freedom is under threat.  She is a very unique and special horse that embodies the power of the feminine spirit.  I am very grateful she has come into my life.

Learning from Neosho

Neosho arrived to Australia in July.  He had a very difficult journey and it took him a little while to settle in.  Once I put my mares with him his demeanor changed dramatically and he was back to the soft, gentle horse I had heard so much about.  I have started working with him each day as I finally feel we are both ready (he has been ready for sometime however my personal journey of late has seen me reluctant to move forward with him or any of the horses for that matter). 

When I first met Neosho at the Cayuse Ranch in Wyoming where he had spent the first 7 years of his life, he was a high ranking stallion that had been unhandled and running in a herd of 18 other bachelor stallions for 6 years.  Personally I feel to raise a stallion in this way teaches them herd behavior and you end up with a horse that is soft, sensitive and very polite to work with IF you gentle them in the right way and have the patience to do so.  Obviously it takes a lot of work to get there but the results at the end are incredible.  My Australian brumby mare Sienna is extremely similar to working with Neosho.  She is an absolute joy to  handle but the road there was a long, slow one for us and she taught me more than any trainer ever could.  I took her training at a pace that she dictated and the result is that we are now inseparable and she lives a very content life here.  She has had the option on many occasions to return to the bush and her old way of living yet she always chooses a life here with us.  The work with Sienna was good preparation for me to understand Neosho.

Neosho has an intelligence about him that is just awe inspiring.  He commands respect just by being himself and is as gentle as a lamb if you treat him right.  I work with him in a very soft and sensitive way and he tells me gently if I have used to much energy or pressure in a situation.  Yesterday I really started to see what he gives in a training session.  I think of a training session differently in that I always see myself as the student and the horse as my teacher.  This brings an openness to the table for both me and the horse.  It ensures that I enter the yard with no ego about my abilities and opens me up to learning every time I am with them.  

Yesterday Neosho showed me a whole repertoire of moves and he was so enjoying the session that we continued for much longer than I had intended.  Sus from Freehorse Farm http://www.freehorsefarm.com/index.html spent 7 months preparing Neosho  for his journey to Australia.  The work she did with him was outstanding and I am really beginning to see the brilliance in the connection they created with each other.  Sus really focuses on willingness in a horse and takes things at the horses pace ensuring that he is happy to enter a training session and explore the horse/human relationship.  In fact Neosho actually seems to thrive on it.  It helps him release any tension he has stored and it also allows both of us to become closer and understand each other better. 

There is a depth to Neosho that is well beyond his years.  He is an old soul with a huge heart and wisdom unlike anything I have seen.  He is teaching me to build my confidence and also have fun in the process.  He teaches me to lead in a consistent and soft manner and to retain my focus.  When he has taught me a new skill we both change quite instantly.  He will soften dramatically and his acceptance is clear.

I hope to be able to get some video of one of our sessions to share on here soon.  My gratitude for having this magnificent stallion in my life is beyond words really.  

Update at Takoda Stud

Well it is over a year now since I have updated this blog.  I guess updating on Facebook became an easy and somewhat lazy way of keeping the news on the horses out there.  It certainly isn't the same as the thought process that goes into writing a blog so I hope to be committed enough to write here once a month. 

So much has happened in the last twelve months.  Neosho arrived to Takoda stud in July 2011.  He has quickly won my heart and I am still in awe of him every day.  He is a phenomenal stallion with a deep and knowing energy.  He is teaching me more about horses and myself each time I work with him.  He lives with my brumby mare and our Spanish Mustang mare Indian Scout.  Both mares are expecting foals in July.  They are all very content living in a family band and I am extremely excited to see these little ones when they finally arrive.  

 Neosho (Azor x Lonesome Prairie)

We also welcomed another new addition to Takoda stud in February 2012.  Cazador Del Trueno, a red dun overo colt with rare bloodlines, impeccable conformation, a huge heart and a playful nature is now very proudly standing at stud in Australia.  This colt is exceptional in every way.  He has lovely, free uphill movement, endless energy and a war horse spirit.  His heart and will are huge and I look forward to when he reaches an age for riding.  He is a joy to train and enjoys the interaction and stimulation of learning new things.  

 Cazador Del Trueno (Apache Thunder Horse x Crystalina)

Grey Feather has been bred to the beautiful Sulphur stallion  Mestenes Peublo.  This pairing is a dream come true for me and the resulting offspring will stay as foundation stock for Takoda stud.  Grey Feather will be coming to Australia later in 2012.  I eagerly await this beautiful mares arrival.

Scout is doing wonderfully and is a joy to be around as always.  We had a lot of wonderful times riding together however now she is in foal she is living the easy life again.  Both her and Sienna are inseparable these days and both mares seem so content and they seem to approve highly of Neo.

Sienna (left) Australian Brumby mare and Indian Scout (Steel Dust x Sha-ko-ka)

Beautiful Lacey (Scouts Honour) is growing fast and maturing into such a beautiful mare.  She is a real joy to work with these days and sees nothing as  a drama.  She will be put in foal to Cazador towards the end of the year.  She is currently living out West until she is old enough to breed to save her tormenting the boys to much!  

Well that is a very brief update on the past, busy 12 months.  I will endeavor to visit here much more often from now on!

Neosho - Australia's First Purebred Spanish Mustang Stallion

Scouts 1st time at a surf beach - Noosa Nth Shore

Firstly, I must apologise for my extended absence.  I have been spending the last couple of months having wonderful times with the horses.  Scout is doing so well under saddle and we have been making regular trips to the beach, camping in the mountains and now I am starting endurance training with her.  She is ridden in a halter and is a dream to ride bareback.  She really never ceases to amaze me with her laid back demeanour and I am surprised at the fact that the more I ride her to more affectionate she is with me.  She is incredibly sure footed and I am amazed at how she can avoid any hole or obstacle that I haven't noticed.  She is agile and so much fun to be around.  It seems she passes these traits on to her foals and with Neosho's gentle, sweet and wise nature they should have some very special foals together.  

Neosho in training at Freehorse Farm

Neosho is finally getting ready to head for quarantine.  He will be going into quarantine in April and flying to Australia early May.  His training went exceptionally well and I am very eagerly awaiting his arrival so I can start getting to know him.  He has gone from running with 17 other stallions for the past 7 years at the Cayuse Ranch with little human interaction to 6 days a week gentle training with Sus at Freehorse Farm for the past 6 months.  Sus describes him as a very wise, gentle and noble soul.  That was the impression I got when I met him briefly at the Cayuse back in June.  He has a softness about him that is plain to see but he also has a depth and spirit to him that makes him a joy to behold.  I am in the process of setting up a paddock for him around a house I am moving into next week.  He will be right at the house which will hopefully enable me to spend time with him regularly and keep a close eye on him while he is settling in to the shock of all the changes of coming to a new country brings for him.

Sadly, Grey Feather won't be joining us here in Australia until 2012.  She will foal at the Little Cayuse Ranch in New Mexico in July and we are all excited to see this little one.  I hope to have her on her way by early to mid next year all going to plan!

Neosho at the Cayuse Ranch before beginning his long journey

All About Scout

It is just short of 2 years now since Scout joined me here in Australia.  I took a big risk with her buying her sight unseen and investing so much in her without even knowing if we would connect.  It has been a huge learning curve for me over this time, finding my way with her, learning how to communicate with her and all the differences that the Spanish Mustang breed hold. 

I have had many times of despair however they are hard to even remember now that we have connected on such a deep level.  Scout has taught me more than I could ever have imagined and she has done it in her characteristic patient and grounded way.  

I recently sent her to a trainer to have her started to saddle.  I had done some work with her prior and had ridden her a number of times but lacked a confidence in my ability so decided someone else would be better to teach Scout what I felt I couldn't.  Two weeks after her arrival at the trainer I received a phone call telling me to come and pick her up as the rain hadn't stopped and they had been unable to work the horses.  After two weeks at the trainers standing in a stable and small yard with no training, Scout was less than impressed with me.  When I picked her up she showed me that by sniffing my hand then taking off in the other direction and glaring at me while letting out a loud snort.  She forgave me very quickly which is her way and with the help of my kind friends support telling me Scout was waiting for me to just trust myself and her ,I finally stepped up to the plate and the magic started.  

Nothing could have prepared me for the connection and experiences I am having with Scout now.  I am commitment phobic on all levels in my life and this does include my animals.  The very special and patient ones plug away at me and breakthrough but that is rare and has only ever been achieved by my horse Sienna and my dog Storm.  Scout seems to have been the next one to have broken through.  What a gift it is to spend time with her now that we trust each other.  

Today I took her on her first trail ride.  I have walked  with her often through the bush but never ridden her.  She was amazing.  She has probably only had about 15 rides and only about 4 of them with the saddle.  She has never been at all worried by me being on her back, in fact she acts like we have been together for a long time and this is nothing new.  I have not taught her much about travelling in a straight line yet and when we were first on the trail she was looking around and weaving here and there to start.  I opened my hands and used my legs to ask her to travel in the channel I had created.  I focused forward and immediately she cottoned on to what I was asking and strode out without faltering.  She crossed muddy puddles, creeks and fallen trees.  She climbed effortlessly up the steep rocky hills and came down the other side without missing a beat.  The terrain was varied underfoot.  There were sandy sections, clay sections, mud followed by sharp shale.  Some areas of the trail are fairly rocky and Scout handled this all completely barefoot without a worry in the world.  

I had become so scared to ride after reading so much from Nevzerov and others about it being something that is detrimental to horses.  I agree that some horses don't like being ridden. Sienna is one of them and I respect that choice and don't ride her instead offering her a safe and loving home for her life with me.  Scout on the other hand seems to revel in the connection and excitement that riding brings for both of us.  Never have I felt this sort of joy when riding.  Never have I felt a horse so accepting and willing to take a journey with me on their back.  The connection feels complete when I am riding Scout and today I got that she feels that also.  Early on when I was getting disheartened by not feeling like I was making progress with Scout, Leslie, Scouts previous owner told me that often the connection comes when you start riding these horses.  I struggled with that thought and I have been reluctant to really take that step back into the world of riding horses for fear of hurting the animals that I hold so dear to me.  I finally took the plunge and over the past week, the change in Scout has been incredible and very visible, not only to me but to my friends who have witnessed the change as well.  Scout and I communicate with each other as if we are one now and even when we have different ideas about which way to go we always meet in the middle with no conflict or worry.  

For years I have researched this breed and been attracted to the stories of these sorts of deep connections that other Spanish Mustang owners have with their horses.  Today was the day that I could really feel the depth of all the time Scout and I have spent getting to know each other since she got here.  There is no way to put it into words really.  I am in awe of this horse and her trust and love for me.  Scout has never been an affectionate mare, instead choosing to see that I am around then happy to move away back to the herd.  She has never been to thrilled with being petted and fussed over.  She is a proud, strong horse and I respect that about her.  The last couple of weeks a change has happened in both of us.  It seems we are both now ready to open our hearts to each other and she now seems to crave my touch and attention.  If she glimpses me walking out into the yard, she throws her head up and calls out to me.  She watches my every move now and takes a genuine interest in having me with her.  She even accepts touch now with delight instead of annoyance.  

Recent trip to the beach

I realised today that for only the third time in my life, I have allowed another being into my heart and soul and welcomed her to stay with me for life.  In doing so, she has returned the sentiment in her new found openness and warmth.  

What a gift it is to be owned by a Spanish Mustang! 

2011

What a wonderful start to this new year.  I have Scout and Sienna at my friends place as the paddock became to waterlogged with the endless rain we are having.  Scout and I are exploring a new side to one another.  She is testing my commitment and is showing me that she really wants to work and discover new things.  I had an hour long ride at the beach with her over the weekend.  It was the first time I have allowed myself to trust her and finally move forward in our training.  I realised that I had lost a lot of confidence over the past few years, always doubting if I am doing the right thing by the horse and this in turn has made it difficult for them.  I made some big changes this weekend and Scout seemed to sense that.

I am really in awe of her and what power she has.  We walked in the shallow ocean, Scout insisting on going one way and me finally stepping up and giving her direction.  She has a large and powerful stride fitting for the noble horse that she is.  She was not content to walk with my dear friends and their horses instead powering forward with a determination I have never felt in a horse before.  She is an incredible mare that I feel I am only just starting to get to know.  What an honour it is to be able to share this time with such a strong, confident and powerful  being.

Neosho is doing very well in his training and is now being walked in the open paddock with longlines.  His confidence in people has grown and he is starting to show his curious and playful side Sus tells me.  He carries that same strength that I feel in Scout and I think the two of them will have a whole lot more to teach me and others about the majesty of this breed.

Grey Feather is craving human contact now which is wonderful to hear.  She will have a sonogram at the end of January to determine if she is in foal.  She is in very good hands with Donna and sounds content at the ranch.

Little Lacey is maturing so fast mentally moreso than physically right now.  Negotiations are underway for a possible new home for her.  Should it all go ahead, then I will be very sad to see her go however I could not ask for a better home for her.  I believe strongly that horses will choose their person if given the opportunity and Lacey clearly did this recently.  

I wish everyone all the very best for the year 2011.  It promises to be a very exciting one for me and the wonderful horses in my life.

Below is current video of Neosho in training with Sus at Freehorse Farm.

Trust in all things....

It seems that Scout is not meant to be trained by anyone else and I am now willing to step up and walk the path with her.  I received a phone call from Wayne saying that he wasn't able to work with her due to the rain so after two weeks, I went and picked her up and bought her home again.  It was a costly lesson for both of us but a valuable one at that.  I have decided again to trust in my horses and allow our path to unfold  without trying to force anything.  I am slowly learning to just let go and trust.  

Scout was a little cranky with me when I went to pick her up and she stayed that way for a day or so.  I have made amends now though and she is allowing me back in again.  Lacey is also back home again and she loved her time away.  Her confidence has grown even more so (who would have thought it possible!!) and the mares are now setting some harder ground rules and firmer boundaries with her.  She is learning that she isn't a foal anymore and new rules apply.  

I was honoured to be part of one of the most incredible displays my horses have ever put on when I finally reunited them all.  I let them all go and Sienna immediately spun her hindquarters at Scout pushing her up the hill and then I could feel this intense energy in the air as their excitement reach a crescendo and they all simultaneously lifted tails and took off at a gallop around the slippery, wet paddock.  

I must have held my breath as I watched them move so fast on the clay ground.  None of them even faltered and I longed to run with them however I was having a hard time just walking around let alone running as the ground was so water logged.  One by one they pranced around me then leaped into the air squealing as they did so.  Then they were off again for another few laps and each time they would pass me they would treat me to an acrobatic maneuver which made me laugh out loud to see the pure joy they were all expressing so clearly.  I looked at Sienna and smiled and she pranced over to me almost in Piaffe, spun around so her head was at my shoulder and stood proud and tall snorting so loud the echo could be heard in the distance.  I put my hand on her neck and said 'I know - you got your girls back.  It is a happy time'.  She put her head on my shoulder as I gave her a rub and then she rounded up the girls and took them on another final lap of the paddock.  

What a gift it is to see them like that.  They really have an intrinsic need to be in their little herd and it breaks my heart every time I have to separate them.  I long for the day that I can buy a property for us and I can give them the stability that is so very important for their well-being.  

I have been travelling a lot of late in pursuit of work and on these trips I am enjoying listening to my 'Path of the Horse' teleseminar series again.  It awakens in me my true desire for the life I hope to build for my horses.  I hope to remain open enough to hear them and be able to meet their needs to the best of my ability.  They are my family and my teachers and I couldn't be more grateful for the joy and direction they give me each day just by being in their presence.

Sienna

Without Spanish Mustangs!

Scout just before leaving for training

Life is feeling a little strange and empty right now without my Spanish Mustang girls in it!  Scout is now in 8 weeks training with Wayne Williams.  He was the Australian National Reining Champion in 2009 and he has trained a couple of horses for me in the past.  He has a lovely, quiet way about him and the horses do really well with him.  Scout needed some consistency in her training and I thought that she would really like the way that Wayne trains.  Scout has a no nonense attitude with training and is very business like about it all.  She likes clear direction and with my life the way it is at the moment I cannot give her that consistency that she is craving right now.  She is really wanting to work right now which I must say surprised me.  She changed dramatically after Lacey was weaned and now felt like the right time.  I will start endurance training with her once she gets home.  She is really going to love that as she is always eager to see what is around the next corner when we go walking.  She is a very strong, brave horse with a huge heart and I am so excited to start this next chapter of our time together. 

Little Lacey as curious and mischievous as ever!

Lacey is with my friends getting exposure to new situations without the cradling of the mares.  She to seems to be loving the change. These horses really do love adventure and new situations.  Lacey has 3 geldings to talk to over the fence and they all try to harshly put her in her place.  She has been allowed to get away with a lot with the mares so this is a bit different for her.  She holds her own though and is bonding up with the big quarter horse gelding in particular.  She gets regular walks through the scrub, along busy roads and into the ocean none of which seem to worry her instead brightening the spark in her eye and fulfilling her need for stimulation.  

I am very reluctantly offering her for sale from October 2011.  It is a tough decision for me as she has been a constant companion since her birth.  I sense from her that she would like to have her own person - someone who will give her a lot of time and adventure.  With me having numerous horses I don't get to spend the time I would like to spend with her.  She is a very bold filly that will have a huge future and I don't want to hold her back from that.  Enquiries are welcome at this time and details can be found on our website http://www.spanish-mustang.com

Neosho is doing so well under the gentle guidance of Sus.  He is a sweet and kind soul and that is very apparent when I watch the videos of his training.  Sus is a very rare type of trainer and I am incredibly grateful to have found her.  It seems that Neosho is winning the hearts of all that meet him with his big heart and open nature.

Grey Feather is fat and happy in New Mexico.  Donna says she is really mellow and coming in each day for her pats and hay.  It sounds like she could definitely be in foal but I will get her tested in another month or so to be sure.  

Beautiful Kiowa

Sienna and Kiowa seem a little lost without their friends but it is nice to be able to spend all this time with them right now.  I took Kiowa riding with my friends in the bush last week and she loved every minute of it.  Kiowa is a true no fuss horse that is happy to do anything asked of her.  I adore her and feel so lucky to have her with me.  I like to walk some of the trails when I am out and I tie the reins around her neck and she happily follows behind me.  If she lags back I can just whistle to her and she will trot up and rejoin me.  She is a one in a million horse and I am having such a great time with her. 

I will be taking Sienna and Kiowa for a week out bush with friends after Christmas.  I think they will enjoy the change of scenery and they always seem happy to have me sleeping near them when we camp.

Well that is all the news right now.  Today brings a long car ride out West to look at possible rental properties. Fingers crossed we find the perfect place for us all!

Update on Takoda's Spanish Mustangs

Lots of exciting news of late for Takoda Spanish Mustangs Australia.  Here is a long overdue update!

Lacey

The weaning of Lacey is going far better than I could ever have expected and Scout is loving this new chapter in her life.  She is located next door to where I am living and I take her and Kiowa out walking at least once a day.  It is very clear that she desperately wants a job to do now.  She is eager and responsive when we go out and yesterday she was reluctant to go back to the paddock.  She seems eager for adventure and I am thrilled to get to know this new side of her.  

I have decided that it would be best for her to go to a trainer for 4 weeks as I do not have the confidence to do her the justice that the trainer would.  She has a strong need to understand clearly what is asked of her and she really wants some consistency right now.  She will go to Wayne Williams for her training.  He has trained a couple of horses for me in the past and the results speak for themselves.  He lays a very solid foundation and gives clear direction in his training and I know this is what Scout is asking for right now.  It will be hard for me to let her go however I will be visiting her every week during this time.

Lacey is doing really well and I have taken a step back from handling her all that much right now.  She is living with Sienna who is a strong lead mare and seems to be priming her for the job in the future.  I decided that I want to just leave them to it and not interfere for the next couple of months.  I visit them twice daily to check them over and feed them.  Lacey is looking fantastic and is bright and happy which is very encouraging.

Grey Feather and Sahara reunited at the Little Cayuse Ranch

Grey Feather has left Caballos De Destino Ranch in South Dakota and has gone back home to the Little Cayuse Ranch in New Mexico where she will spend some time settling in foal.  She is booked to fly to Australia in March next year all going well with the pregnancy.  She travelled really well on the trip back and was very happy to be reunited with her buddies.  She seems to have a growing group of admirers in the USA also.  She really is a striking filly and I am so fortunate to have her come and join us in Australia.

Neosho at The Cayuse Ranch

Neosho was transported to Free Horse Farm and handled the long road trip and ferry ride perfectly.  He really is an amazing horse and I am so thrilled by his kind and calm temperament.  He has had time to settle in and his training will begin this week.  

Shadowhawk - 4 months old

We have another new addition for Takoda Spanish Mustangs named Shadowhawk.  He is the colt born to Renegade Shadow x Little Dove that I visited in the USA this year when he was just two weeks old. He is a high quality colt with impeccable conformation and a bold and personable temperament.  He will live with Leslie at Twin Hollows for the next few years while he matures.  He is a really special colt that has a strong presence and grace about him even at such a young age. 

On the home front, I have finally found a place to move to that will be a wonderful home for me and the horses.  We will be moving to Kingaroy either the end of this year or early next year.  The horses will have 160 acres to call home and I am hoping for this to be a long term solution to the ever-transient life we have had to live over the past 3 years.  Exciting times all around !

Weaning a yearling!

Lacey

I had tried to wean Lacey a couple of times over the past 6 months or so but each time was to heartbroken to continue the process and within a day they were back together.  I wanted to let Scout wean Lacey herself however at 14 months old there is still no sign of Scout doing that and despite all the feed they are getting it is clear that Scouts body needs a break.  I really don't like to have to make this decision for them as I do not feel it is my place however I had tried everything else to help Scout put weight on to no avail.

I went to the paddock with the intention of loading Sienna and Scout and bringing them home with me.  I had put up an electric fence on a vacant block a couple of doors down ready for the process.  I turned up at the paddock and the mares all came running down to greet me.  Sienna is a real problem loader due to her troubled past and I intend to spend a lot of time working on that with her once we have settled into our new place at the end of this year.  I have a friend that will be making me a trailer similar to the ones they use in the USA in that it will have two stalls so the horses have a lot of space and will not feel as claustrophobic as they seems to in a 2 horse straight load.  

So it turned out that I did not have the length of time necessary to have Sienna load and I don't like to pressure her or me with a time limit.  I did get her on the float however I did not want to shut the tailgate and take off.  She needs more time to settle so I let her go again and loaded dear Kiowa who takes everything in her stride and takes on absolutely any task asked of her in a calm no fuss manner.  Kiowa is an omega mare in that she is always bottom of the pecking order and gets mercilessly picked on.  Scout in particular is very rough on her.  She used to bite her daily in the same spot on the rump and chase her at a flat gallop around the paddock.  One day I decided to intervene as I felt so bad for Kiowa and I found it fascinating to notice that Kiowa filled an essential role in the herd.  Scout was very distraught not to have her there and was calling for her even more than Sienna and Lacey.  I realised very quickly that they all, including Kiowa have a need for her to take up that position.  If I leave Kiowa alone with Lacey then she is essentially the lead mare in that little herd and she is not at all comfortable with that role.  Even when I have taken Scout out for a walk, Kiowa gets very upset to not have her there also.  So I put her in the float and she waited patiently until I loaded Scout. 

 

Scout contented in her new paddock

Scout and Kiowa have settled in very well to the new paddock and I have also seen Scout grooming Kiowa and vice versa.  That is something I thought I would never see!  Scout is handling the weaning process very well and has become very affectionate with me also.  She calls to me and comes galloping down when she sees me and sticks to me like glue whilst I am in the paddock with her.  This is quite a shock to me as she is a mare with a very distinct personal boundary.  She usually values her space however that seems to have shifted for the moment.  Kiowa is very relaxed also and I am very surprised at how well they are taking the change that I have so dreaded.  

 

When I go to the paddock to feed Sienna and Lacey each day, Lacey will come galloping down and look at my car and the road waiting for Scout to return.  I feel really bad for her and am looking forward to the day when they can all go back in together.

I am however really enjoying getting to know Scout all over again.  It is wonderful to see her so content and settled in this new situation and I am loving the time we are spending together right now.

The Way Forward

Since returning back to Australia I have been anxiously looking for somewhere for me and the horses to move to.  Still no luck as not many properties are happy to accommodate 6 horses unfortunately.  In between all this searching and as a result of the changes that seemed to occur in me during my time away, my relationship with my horses has changed dramatically.  

Initially on the day I returned I excitedly dropped my suitcase and ran into the paddock to call the mares down from the mountain.  As always, Scout was the first to come galloping down and whinnied an excited  greeting then stood beside me sniffing me and asking for pats.  Sienna, Lacey and Kiowa came next and I was shocked to receive a very angry greeting from Lacey.  When she recognised me she pinned her ears at me reared up and then turned away.  This is the same angry reaction she gives Scout on her return whenever Scout and I go out for a little while.  Lacey very much sees me as a mother figure and treats me that way and she seemed downright furious with me for leaving for so long.  After a few days she was back to normal again and I found the whole process fascinating.  

There is such a huge difference in the behaviour of this breed to any other horse I have ever come across.  I am learning each and every day that I spend with my Spanish Mustangs.  All the horses have seemed a little out of sorts over the past couple of months and I to am quite unsettled and anxious about finding the perfect place for us to move to.  I had a shock encounter with my brumby mare Sienna a few weeks ago.  I walked into the paddock to go and greet the horses.  Scout walked over to me and asked for a scratch.  Sienna is a strong alpha mare amongst the group and Scout is often testing and challenging her of late.  This particular day as I was patting Scout, Sienna came over and Scout snaked her head and pinned her ears at Sienna trying to keep her away from me.  It all happened so quickly and next I knew Sienna had spun around and was kicking violently.  I received a solid blow to my arm and then another to the back of my leg as I ran away.  I was in shock.  In all the years I have had Sienna, even when she was extremely traumatised and wild after her capture and time at the doggers, she has never once shown me any ounce of aggression.  I respect her for who she is and have made sure I do not take away that spirit that she holds so dear.  It is for this reason that I don't ride her much.  She seems to enjoy long walks we take together and if I get tired she is more than happy to carry me but I felt deeply sometime ago that this was not the path that would suit Sienna in this life.  So she remains the strong herd leader and takes her role at home very seriously.  I still am unsure about why I received these kicks from her however it was a wake up call to set some boundaries about allowing this sort of behaviour whilst I am standing with them.  The next day I made the decision to place myself above Sienna in the herd and that any fighting that may occur must happen away from me.  

I don't ever need a halter or lead on Sienna to communicate effectively and within minutes she was following my body movements and dropping in behind me, accepting me as leader.  She  now seems to appreciate my role in the herd and often times will follow me around the entire property staring mesmerised when I stop to do something.  The mares all seem much calmer now and the aggression has subsided amongst them.

Just the other day I was patting Scout in the paddock and the other horses stayed back a respectful distance.  This is a big and positive change to the usual clamouring for attention.  One by one they laid down around me.  First Lacey, then Sienna then I laid down and Scout laid down close beside me.  We all napped together in the morning sun while Kiowa stood watch.  After sometime Sienna got up and came and stood over me allowing Kiowa a turn to sleep.  Scout was flat out beside me making soft whinnies as she dreamt, her big legs twitching as she ran over some imagined plains in her dreams.

Those are the treasured moments where I am deeply grateful for the trust and relationship I have with these horses.

Since I have changed my position amongst the herd Scout and I have come a long way.  I have been doing more training with her and am amazed by what we are achieving together.  I give her the option as to whether she wants to work or not by opening the roundyard gate and allowing her to go in or not.  She knows this is where we do our riding and groundwork and most times she has chosen to participate of late.  I continue to ride her bareback until we have perfected our communcation between us.  She is such a joy to work with and the more we do together, the stronger our bond grows.  She is a truly remarkable horse and I hope to get some video of our progress soon.

I recently took Lacey and Kiowa to the beach.  We had a wonderful day and they both had a lovely time splashing in the sea.  Here are some pictures taken that day.

Lacey exploring at the beach

Watching other horses arriving

Time to get wet

Beautiful Kiowa

Having fun!

 

Finish off with a good roll

USA Adventures Part 6 - Grey Feather and the Little Cayuse Ranch

We started the very long drive back down from Minnesota to New Mexico via Utah!  All up during the trip we drove over 10000 kilometres.  It was quite exhausting but I had well and truly mastered driving on the opposite side of the road by then.  We saw so much beautiful wildlife, stunning landscapes and of course horses along the way. 

Grey Feather racing the feed truck

I was very excited to get back to New Mexico to see Donna, Jim and Sierra again and of course Grey Feather.  She was more captivating and beautiful than ever and I spent a long time watching her.  During the days I would do some work haltering her, asking her to yield her hindquarters, forequarters etc and of course just getting to know each other.  She is very sensitive, intelligent and curious which was pure joy to when it came to groundwork.  She is incredibly quick to learn and I have no doubt that we will go a long way together.  

I watched one day when the horse trailer was backed into a space in one of the yards to allow the mares to get used to it.  I was very surprised to look from the house to see Grey Feather loading herself into the trailer, standing then coming out a number of times.  One of the other fillies, Josee was watching all this and came over to investigate.  Grey Feather seemed to like her new audience and quickly lept into the trailer, then backed out turning her head to see if Josee was watching.  She did this a number of times before finally staying in there and having a nap!  Needless to say she travels very well! 

I had a wonderful time at the Little Cayuse Ranch and am so grateful for the hospitality that was shown to us.  It is rare to find people who open their home and hearts to strangers and this is exactly what Donna, Jim and Sierra did for us.  The time spent there will be engraved in my memory for along time.  I learnt a lot, laughed a lot and bonded with my beautiful filly.

Azor Neosho

During my final week in the USA I received an offer of assistance to help me bring a Cayuse Ranch stallion out.  I eagerly accepted and after a few phone calls the powerful, kind grulla stallion I had admired the day I was at the Cayuse was set to join me and my mares in Australia.  

This was more than I could ever have hoped for and I am thrilled to finally be able to offer future Spanish Mustang foals to people in Australia and New Zealand.  The Spanish Mustang will be a powerful presence in Australasia.  Scout and Lacey have thrived since being here and I am certain they have a huge future in this part of the world which will hopefully one day assist in the Spanish Mustang being removed from the critically endangered list.  My hope is that they will be around for future generations to experience the depth and magic that a relationship with a Spanish Mustang brings anyone who shares a bond with them.

Sahara & Grey Feather

Sunset at the Little Cayuse Ranch

USA Adventures - Part 5

I was extremely excited  to go and meet Leslie at Twin Hollows and to see Laceys beautiful sire - Renegade Shadow.  I bought Scout from Leslie in 2008 and we have stayed in touch nearly every week since then so it was very fun to finally meet face to face.  

I didn't think it possible, but Shadow is even more spectacular than I could have imagined.  I was so impressed with him in every way.  He has a very sweet temperament and there is no faulting his conformation.  I took my tools with me and gave him a hoof trim whilst I was there and he was such a good boy.  This stallion really is a rare find.  His second foal was born a few weeks before we arrived and this colt is all quality with a bold and people friendly nature.  

Below: Storm and Rose

 We spent some time with all the mares as well and they were all in beautiful condition and were eager for  attention, particularly Storm, a lovely blue/black sabino mare and Rose, a very sweet and pretty white appaloosa mare.  Rheta is a mare that I have admired for sometime and she was also spectacular to see.  She is certain to produce an incredible foal with Shadow in the near future.  She has a lovely soft and quiet way about her and is a beautiful, proud mare.

We decided to visit a couple more ranch's and Leslie kindly came with us to see Nancy at Free Spirit Spanish Mustangs in Wisconsin.  Nancy was a delight to meet and I was very pleased to see her lovely stallion American Yellow Fox.  What an impressive horse he is!  We then went on to Zen Cowboys to see Wes and Janes horses.  Hurrah, a smokey black 3 year old stallion was very eager for attention and he was kind and gentle and a wonderful mover.  His full sister Lucita is a lovely red dun mare that I would have loved to have bought home with me!  After we left Zen Cowboys, it was time to start the long journey back down to New Mexico to spend 10 days working with Grey Feather.

Our visit with Leslie seemed far to short and I hope to get back there one day soon.  If anyone is looking for a stallion quality Spanish Mustang colt, I would urge you to contact Twin Hollows regarding Ronya, the colt born this year.  Their website is http://www.twinhollows.com

The magnificent stallion - Renegade Shadow (Silver Shadow x Faith)

Ronya - Renegade Shadow x Little Dove