The Mustang Diaries

Backstory and context Mama Bear is a five-year-old reservation mustang who joined us just over two months ago. Her owner had domesticated her for two years, but gentling proved to be a steep path. In holding, Mama Bear formed a surprising bond with three foals in addition to one she already had, effectively nursing four babies at once. Her adopter could not leave without the mare and ALL FOUR BABIES. What an incredible and brave woman she is taking in FIVE wild mustangs at on

Pecos is back from a big couple weeks on the road, and the signs are all pointing in the right direction. These past two weeks included a northern Vermont trip, a long trail ride, some well-deserved rest, and a return to the arena that showcased Pecos’s growing confidence and abilities. Previous two weeks at a glance: Northern Vermont trip and a 10-mile trail ride: Pecos faced everything the terrain threw at him—steep inclines and declines, water crossings, rocky stretches, a

We are trying out a new cadence for the client horses with us and doing weekly updates. Phoenix had another productive week in training, continuing to build confidence, trust, and foundational skills. As a 4-year-old former wild mustang, he is progressing steadily and showing a willingness to learn as we introduce new challenges and reinforce important groundwork exercises. This week we focused on several key areas: Standing Tied Phoenix spent time working on standing quietly

Gypsy, a young Arabian / APHA mix came to us last month for a quick start under saddle. Knowing that I didn't have A lot of time with her, I got to work as soon as she arrived. She was the kind of horse that makes you lean in and listen, sensing that she was capable of more than she showed at first. She went home yesterday, and as I watched her leave, I was reminded how training isn’t about pushing a horse into a mold but guiding a relationship toward understanding and mutual

Just over one month ago, Pheonix was a fresh-off-the-range arrival at our facility! Now, he stands with us, curious and cautious, learning that touch can be safe, that attention can be shared, and that a life beyond the range can be gentle and bright. It just so happens that within the first few weeks of him landing at our facility, someone came by and fell in love with that wild spirit behind his big beautiful eyes!! Today, Pheonix and his new owner worked together in close

Over the last few days, Pecos, a USFS Devil's Garden Mustang, stepped into the arena for two first rides that were big careful breaths before the longer journey. At 16 hands and a very drafty build, he carries his nervous energy with a lot of power. It’s a long way down to the ground if something were to go south on a ride, so safety and patience have led the way from the start. What followed were two very different, yet wonderfully progressive, sessions. ## First Ride We sta

Pecos arrived at our facility the beginning of February. He has come to the facility for a restart: a full reeducation of groundwork and saddle training that begins not with speed or flash but with the patient art of listening and creating a bridge between fear and focus. Pecos is, in presence, a perfect image of drafty power—broad through the chest, sturdy through the withers, and every bit of 16h. The Devils Garden name carries stories of wind and wildfire, of stubborn land

Yesterday, Axl graduated into a new chapter of his life; being ridden. It was his very first ride and then today marked his second, a monumental moment in every young colt's life. Axl is eleven years old, and for ten of those years, he lived as a wild stallion in the White Mountain management area. The knowledge of that wildness does not disappear with a saddle and a halter; it glows in his eyes, it hums beneath his skin, a reminder that freedom is not given up lightly. Axl i

We are soooooo excited that Atlas has found his family!! Atlas will continue to live at our facility while his new mom and him deepen their bond, develop their skill sets together, and as she integrates him into her business. He's really a workin' man now! It's always a special moment to be part of bringing a horse and person together that were just meant to be... Charity is a therapist who works with high-risk teens—the ones many people shrug off as untamable, fierce, diffic