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Willis Lamm has organized some workshops that provide Wild Horse Adopters the chance to learn safe and quiet methods to gentle their adopted, or about to be adopted, Mustangs. His Web Site, for more information, is located at the LRTC site. The BLM sponsors the adoption and brings many fresh mustangs. To learn more about the BLM Wild Horse Program itself, click on their Logo on the right.
I've gone to two of these, one in Asheville NC and the last one in Denver CO. The following pictures were taken by numerous people. The photos will show you some of the ways I use to gentle both Wild Mustangs and re-train problem and aggressive horses, here at home.
The underlying theme I use is patience and a keen knowledge of the Mustang's own communicative skills when she is dealing with her own herd mates out on the range. These ideas are not new to the world. References to such patient methods date back thousands of years.
It's my belief that if I keep the Mustang quiet, he, or she, will learn much faster than if I make her run all around the pen fleeing from me. There is a time and place when it's appropriate to send a Mustang out on the rail for a lap or two. These times occur in response to aggressive acts be it from fear or from attempts at dominating me.
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If we watch the wild herd, which I have often done, we'll see that the Alpha Broodmare, for instance, will use "Phases" of requests. These start with her presence, for example asking a minion to move away from a good eating place, to her "Demand" where she lunges and bites the miscreant herd member . Yet she will always start with the polite request first. She is consistent in her requests. She does not bully or badger other herd members. She is fair!
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The Human Round Pen, or as I call it, the Navajo Circle Way. Vicki, Julie and Sandy, all from Danada Equestrian Center, near Chicago, are moving in rhythmic actions, all of which is soothing to the ungentled mustang seen here.
Do not try this unless you have a lot of experience reading the body language of the fresh Mustang. I'm the one on the far side who looks like he's leaning on one foot. Really though, I'm demonstrating how to keep a flowing motion going.
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So, as we progress, the Mustang decides that we aren't so scary after all and takes some hay from Vicki. Since we've kept her quiet, not pressing her, she's been able to use her thinking abilities to evaluate all of us. She's beginning to show some of the famous mustang traits of "Curiosity". |
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And we hit "Pay Dirt" as the Mustang gets curious about Vicki. |
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With the halter in place for the first time, I'll begin showing her how nice it is to have her back rubbed. |
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Sometimes I stand upright -- other times I bend, in a way, simulating a resting horse. Here, the little colt is rather obviously, resting and not too worried about the back scratching. And that's the concept isn't it? Don't use any more energy than is necessary to convince the Mustang that I am the leader and that I am a friendly "Horse" to be near. It may take longer than those methods involving roping and squeezing, but, in the end, the Mustang has made all the decisions herself. And she's barely exerted any energy herself! |
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Sometimes they just seem to ask ya for a kiss .... Can't help myself ...just gotta kiss 'em. |
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