6W Ranch, "Raising the Bar"

Although difficult, I am going to attempt to steer away from the emotional take on each side of the issues listed above. I have attempted to write this opinion for weeks if not going on to months, even prior to the wholesale Omnibus package that was approved by Congress and signed by the President which authorized the sale of wild horses.

We have received numerous pieces of mail from friends and unknown persons that are concerned with the wholesale slaughter with this new bill, of one of this nation's precious commodities, the Wild Mustang.

I began to think about this bill and could only conjure up images of Abby, our other wild horses, and hundreds of others that we have worked with over the years and who have left their indelible, emotional, impact upon us, loaded into an eighteen-wheeler livestock truck, and headed for the slaughter house.

At the same time, voices began to echo in my memory (very recent memory as well) of things that I have heard or been told, "when you're ready for a real horse (1/4 horse), let me know," "wish you worked with real horses," "that horse will never...blah blah blah," "damned mustangs are un-trainable (or unreliable, or not trustworthy)," "what did you get one of THOSE horses for," "of course it pulled loose, its a damn'd mustang," and the list goes on and on.

As my mind began to wander upon the negative opinions that have been zealously voiced over the years to me, my family, friends, and clients, I began to reminisce on numerous sights and sounds I have witnessed. All the negative images that then came to my mind were those of mustangs that validated what I had been told or heard over the years, or at least within a certain level of, "the bar." As I pondered my minds-eye, I realized one thing: it wasn't the horse's fault in any instance that I could recall. But where did the problem initiate from? The answer came in an over-simplified fashion: The owner/handler.

There is not another realm more finicky than that of the horse industry in general. You are snubbed if don't have an Arab, Thoroughbred, Warmblood, 1/4 horse, color, etc... at a barn that houses that particular breed. Bring in a Mustang, and whoa-be-tied, the plague just entered. Why? Because we have a, "cheap horse," of no particular breeding (at least that is how we are viewed)...and the negative behavior is more unfairly attached to the mustang horse instead of to its handler/rider/owner than in any other breed. Yes, we have seen the enemy, and he is US (not U.S., it is.....us).

If I go to an event and a quarter horse gets loose from the trailer, its just a loose horse. Hey, it happens right?! No big deal. If a mustang gets untied from the trailer, there is an automatic negative connotation that accompanies it, "that damn mustang." I've heard it. Why is that? We haven't done our job. We have to be better, not EQUAL.

We have a higher responsibility in the horse industry, "We" have to prove "them" wrong, or better yet, re-educate the general public as well as the general horse industry/owner.

But we can't do it when we are merely getting a "cheap horse." Our presentation has to be better. Our training has to be better. Our overall presentation of ourselves and horses together have to be better. We have to prove to that barn/facility, that our horse is not what they think it is going to be. How do we do it? Better training. Higher expectations of ourselves. Higher expectations of our animal through better training. RAISING THE BAR by: Staying away from the gimmicks and gimmick organizations that have no foundation in equitation and/or horsemanship..."feel good" organizations/clubs; Remaining steadfast in quality training for our animal and not the short-cut junk that is out there which only makes money for those selling a 'product' or joining that "feel good" club.

Point is: when the gimmicks, trickery, and deception fail, where does that leave us? We have to go back to what master horseman have learned and known for centuries. Everything has been tried and everything has been done. There is nothing new under the sun as far as horse training goes. The only modern difference is.....MARKETING.

So we have to strive to do better. Not only do we have to strive to do better, we must accomplish that goal for the continued success of the adoption program. I have actually had to argue with folks who have told me that the horse I was working with or riding was not a mustang. I have asked them why they would insist upon such. The response, "because its too quiet."

How did that happen?

1.) Training.
2.) Quality training, not gimmick-bags/sticks, and sticks with a rope attached (that also has a cutsey name attached as well instead of calling it by it's name..."a WHIP"). Not to mention the bias conotations of what the public perceives of the wild horse.
3.) Time.
4.) Time, our biggest and most precious investment of ourselves.

If we don't present to the general public and horse industry in general, a proper presentation of ourselves and the training of our wild horse at an appropriate level, the adoption rates will decline and the more drastic measures of population control will continue to HAVE to be implemented.

Here are my personal and very blunt thoughts/opinions and suggestions to enable all of us to very simply and easily promote the program:

#1: Understand, you are not getting a cheap horse. You are getting a very smart horse. Therefore, your work has just begun.

#2: Training: Realize that "time" is your biggest investment. Time YOU SPEND training/working with your mustang or domestic. Even if your enjoyment is walking this animal with no intention of riding, giving a carrot to, or to look at it in the pasture. It will still need to be able to be handled/groomed, have proper ground manners, feet trimmed and doctored. The horse has to be trained to accept and be manageable for all of this. A basic training in ground manners is required.

It is not part of your veterinarian or farriers job to get kicked, bit or run over. Their job is being able to come in and DO their job, not to train your horse. Its our job to ensure that they can.

Raise the bar for yourself. If you are a new adopter or first time horse person, learn as much as you can. Your horse will only seek to attain what you expect of it. Don't be satisfied with gimmick training techniques or mechanical gadgets.

Take lessons on a schooled horse. Don't be satisfied with an instructor that takes your money and pats you on the head while telling you that you are doing great. Learn proper equitation. This will help you with the training of your horse.

#3: Please look presentable yourself when you are in the public eye with your mustang. We are (and our horse) judged by how we look.

#4: If your wild horse isn't ready to be placed on display or go to a show/event/ride, don't force it into that situation for failure. Its not the horse's fault that it was put into a situation that it was not ready for, it's YOUR own fault! Leave your mustang at home until you have put the training and time into the animal to avoid the negative situation that will be viewed by the general (horse and non-horse) public and other horseman! Don't be impatient. Remember, many of them (the general public) can only relate to what they have learned on T.V. and other poorly done clinics/methods that either don't address the particular needs of the wild horse or are poor, wild horse techniques.

#5: Realize that every negative or "unwanted" behavior from your wild mustang (caused by you putting it into a situation that it is not ready for), is seen by "X" number of people. That number may be tripled, quadrupled (or more when the story floats through all of their friends), and who knows how many adoptions we may have just killed with the one act of our wild horse getting spooked, pulling away, and running around the parking lot. The number of adoptions we prevented by that one occurrence may be the number of mustangs in a trailer that have been wholesaled.

#6: This is a WILD animal when you bring it home. Respect it as such. Don't think it is a little pony for your 5 year old to go into the corral and "play with," only to return the horse to BLM because you later, "didn't feel comfortable letting your 5 year old in the pen with the horse to, "play"(1) (without supervision, or with supervision for that matter).

No matter how domesticated an animal becomes or is, remember that when any stimulus occurs around that animal, it is a horse FIRST and our companion animal, second. This does not matter if it is a former wild horse or domesticated horse. Many a dead or injured person has said, "my horse would never hurt me."

#7: YOU ARE NOT "SAVING" THIS ANIMAL. So don't adopt it only to bring it home and do nothing with it. The animal would be better off without you. It needs interaction. Hmmmmm, That goes back to #2.....

#8: There are other costs associated with adopting a wild horse (having any horse):

$450 year for 3 ton of hay (@ $150/ton)(per horse)
$260 year for farrier to trim (@ $40/per trim)(more for shoes)
$200 year for basic vet/preventative shots/worming care

$910 Total for the mere basics to sustain the animal's life and care for its feet. Always figure $4-$500 more for unexpected expenses (vet). The horses feet grow when not in the wild and being worn off with the natural grinding of the earth against the hooves. This doesn't occur when the horse is standing in the corral without this natural wear process. Figure every 8-10 weeks for a "nail" manicure by your farrier to trim the excess hoof to prevent tendon and hoof problems.

This doesn't include brushes, buckets, soap, bridle, bit, saddle, pads, lunge equipment, horse trailer, barn fees, etc...

#9: This animal will need to be fed twice per day and ensure that it has fresh, cool water available. It doesn't care that you are busy, at PTA, late from work, SICK, soccer, baseball, or having a beer with the boys (or girls). Its needs and health of the animal dictate a basically consistent schedule. If the whole family gets sick at the same time, the one that feels the best of the worse gets to go out and feed.

#10: If they eat, they poop. Its only grass. It won't kill you. You will have to clean the corral or stall. Don't giggle, point, and squeal "eewwwwwww," when you see it defecate and urinate. And yes, I AM talking to the adults here. Teach your children about the animals and what they do. Manure happens. In fact, monitoring the horses manure can assist us in knowing when something may be wrong with the animal. "Floating" clean manure in a bucket of water periodically, allows the heavy particles to go to the bottom of the bucket. This lets us know how much dirt and sand is normal for the horse to pass. When this changes or increases, it may correspond to a change in the horse's demeanor or activity. Learn your horses basic, daily patterns (for instance: is it laying down at an unusual time). You will learn to spot when your animal isn't feeling good and possibly head off a potential life threatening event such as sand-colic.

Summation:

In short, these opinions apply to any horse or breed, but....we have to be more proficient, more demanding of ourselves/with ourselves, so that we may display to the horse world that we did not get a mustang out of our own ignorance. We adopted a mustang because it is a wonderful horse that deserves our elevated level of horsemanship because this animal will only strive to achieve what WE require of it to attain. The horse will only excel to the level of what is expected of it. Remember: "If you are content with the minimum, you'll never know what is available."And neither will the general, wild or non-wild, horse, public depending upon OUR presentation.

Colonel Podhajsky(2)- "If a horse becomes more beautiful* in the course of his work, it is a sign that the training principles are correct."

"..the rider who rests content with imitations of beauty* finds his horses going crazy, altho sometimes not violently enough to be noticed."

(*The words beauty and beautiful in these contexts lean more towards a meaning of truth, trust, or spirit rather than physical beauty.)

"...Suppling up and bringing the horse in balance may be compared to tuning up the instruments before a concert. Unless the instruments are properly tuned, there can be no good performance. It is the same with work in hand; the result will not be good if the horse is not supple and the action of the reins does not go through the body..."

Charles de Kunffy(3)- "The horse knows how to be a horse if we will leave him alone... but the riders don't know how to ride. What we should be doing is creating riders and that takes care of the horse immediately."

For a good start in equine care and education, click here

Yours in good, "quality," training,

Phil West

Footnote: 1) Actual Quote from an adopter.

Footnote: 2) Book: "The Complete Training of Horse and Rider In the Principles of Classical Horsemanship," by Alois Podhajsky, Former Director of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria.

Footnote: 3) Mr.Kunffy was born and raised in Hungary as a member of the nobility whose parents were eminent horse breeders with derby winning racehorses. Mr. de Kunffy started riding as a child, always under expert supervision and instruction. His riding masters were educated during the golden age of equitation 1900-1945. He has designed dressage saddles that are crafted in Germany and marketed by Courbette Saddlery.

"Raising the Bar,"Comments? (click here)
Any comments received become the property of and utilized at the discretion of the 6W Ranch.

Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 18:54:36 EDT

Phil I am in total agreement with you. What can I do to help? Being that I have 2 Mustangs and I am in awe of them everyday. They never cease to amaze me with their smarts.. S.D

Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 09:33:04 -0700

Hi Phil,
Just read your article in training tips and thought it to be very thorough and to the point. I agree 100%! L.S.

Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2005 13:06:57 -0700

"Wow! Great article. Thanks for "making the time" to write and publish
it. I plan to share it with a few friends...It is a lot about dedication of our
time and timing!!! Thanks again." K.M.

Date: Wed, 05 Oct 2005 07:45:39 -0700

"I couldn't agree more. Thanks for the article. If I may also add one
thing...regarding time. I have spent many, many hours simply standing in
the field with my mustangs. In the rain, in the sun, in the dark. It has
helped build a bond of trust that I can't describe. It's not all about work
or food when they see us. Sometimes it's just to tell them, yeah it's
raining and this sucks, but I'll stand out here with you and we will all be
okay. Our family has become a herd..." F.F.

Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 09:36

Phil, We just read your article. Our mustang is the "horse we will keep
for our lifetime (or hers)". Time with her is really a blessing and since
we were 16 when we got her, she knows all of our secrets. Mustangs become a
best friend and we believe it is important to help them be on their best
behavior when meeting new friends. Thanks for being such a great friend to
the mustang. from (Sunny Delight's buddies)

Date: Sat, 01 July 2006 22:40

Phil,
this is a very good article, I read it about a year ago for the first time right before I adopted my Mustang) and still think you hit it right on the head. My Mustang will be perfect before I consider taking him out in public. Even though right now he is already more laid back than any of our other horses, loves people and is interested in everything new, he still has some "young horse moments" (he is 2), which may give people the wrong impression. I want to help promoting the breed as much as I can.
Checked out the internet adoption site, there are Mustangs in Wyoming, some are halter broke, been saddled, pick up their feet even and been loaded into a trailer and still nobody wants them for $125, so sad.
Love all your articles, keep up the good work!
Britta

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