The 2 hour drive took me out in to the middle of nowhere and the landscape was vast and barren, unlike anything I've ever seen before but still truly spectacular!
When I arrived, I was greeted by several smiley, happy people, looking somewhat exasperated and armed with long sticks with plastic bags taped to the ends!? They were sorting some of the youngsters as some of them were being moved to a trainers to receive some basic handling and 'friendlying' from a fellow supporter of the ranch. These horses were basically, totally wild and not even used to wearing a headcollar but they have a clever system of paddocks all connected by alleys with moveable gates so you can create a pathway from one to the other, so that the horses can be sent along. It's effective when a horse needs separating from the herd for whatever reason but it's also kind of out of control! The sticks with bags, know as flags, are used to wave to send the horses in a particular direction, or also to wave frantically if they charge towards you! These horses are wild and will run you over if they are panicked and you happen to be in the way, but they've take every precaution possible to stay as safe as they can, mostly positioning yourself on the other side of a fence.
Once all the excitement was over, it dawned on me how many horses there were here. Over 200 on a 50 acres site run by a handful of very hard-working and passionate people. They were almost entirely mustangs of various sizes and ages. Some babies only 6 months old- to some in their late 30's! They have a special pen for the partially sighted/ blind horses and another for the very elderly. Then there's an area for the sick ones who are currently receiving treatment and mares and geldings are separated into groups in much larger pens depending on who gets along with who.
 |
| This poorly little girl was currently in the 'hospital' on a special weight gain program along with getting treatment for her cushings.. |
The day was so busy with there vet visiting and treating some 20 of the horses that day. One had a sand colic which is quite common here, one had a tumour under her tail which had caused total paralysis of her dock and some of her hind quarters, another had an eye injury and there were discussions about whether or not to operate. One thing was very apparent, that they would always do whatever was best for the horse regardless of cost, but always putting the welfare of the animal first, which unfortunately for the old mare with the tumour, meant euthanasia.
I couldn't believe this place, and all it's facilities could be run by so few people, so well, and financially supported only by donations and grants!
 |
| baby mustangs.... |
 |
| ....having a nap... |
It was a long, exhausting and very eye opening day but I'm keen to go back and spend a day with one of their other trainers and see how my skills can hopefully make a difference. The more horses that can be comfortable with a head collar, being led, groomed and taught to be calm and stand still for the farrier, the more likely they are to be able to be re-homed, which is what they wish for every horse they have. Realistically a vast majority of the horses here have some or another ailment or condition, be it physical or psychophysical, which will prevent them from ever being re-homed, but there are also a lot of very fine horses, still with plenty of years left in them who with basic training, could go on to make lovely riding horses.....
 |
| Some of the geldings, out in the 20 acre paddock... there were around 60 in this paddock alone! |
No comments:
Post a Comment