OK, OK, I know what you are thinking…  How could a prisoner do a good job gentling a mustang?!  Well, I understand how you feel.  That is EXACTLY how I felt before I went to the Prisoner Gentled Adoption in August.  I wrote about that adoption and you can read it in this link here.

Basically, before I went to the Prisoner Gentled Adoptions in August, I was VERY skeptical.  I mean, after all, prisoners are mean and gruff, right?  They couldn’t possibly take a wild animal and show it the kind of love and respect it would need to become a good member of human society.  Sheesh, if the inmates couldn’t get it right, how could we expect them to make solid citizens of the mustangs?  Besides, aren’t mustangs wild enough?  Wouldn’t it be like putting two wrongs together to make a right?

WHY THE PRISONER PROGRAM WORKS

Well, lemme tell you.  I WAS WRONG.  Here’s the deal… this program is run by a guy who knows his stuff.   And, he can pick and choose from all the inmates because this is a really popular program.  Let’s see, would I rather sit in my cell all day or be outside with a horse?  Yup.  Easy answer.  So no funny business here or you are OUT.

Next, these inmate spend 8 hours a day, 5 days a week for 2-3 months with these horses.  Hmmmmm.  Can you say that?  Me, neither.

So, the end result is a very well desensitized and socialized horse.  Also, these horses are groomed daily, well maintained, gelded, vetted and trimmed on a regular basis.  Yum!

Last but not least, you are getting a young, PURE mustang who still has all the heart and good genes but none of the “cannot be tamed” part.  Truly, the most difficult aspect of mustang adoptions is the training.  Many, many folks have a very difficult time because these mustangs are different than domestically home bred horses.  One has to spend concentrated time with them in order to create a bond that they naturally move toward.  The trick is that these mustangs also naturally move away from humans… so you have to spend enough time with them to override their fear and take advantage of their desire to herd.

So, you get the best of all worlds at these Prisoner Gentled Adoptions — if you want a young mustang.

WHERE TO GO OR WHERE TO SEND YOUR FRIEND WITH THE TRAILER

Saturday, Oct 9, 2010       Reno Livestock Events Center (1350 N. Wells Ave 1721  Reno, NV 89512)

For Information          775.853.4182, or lawrence.cindy@ymail.com

NEXT ADOPTION of Prison Trained Mustangs SATURDAY –

Viewing 9:00 AM, Live Auction/Adoption 10:00
Please remember – NO JEANS  (It is important to not wear jeans so that the guards know who is a prisoner…)

MEET THE HORSES

OK, well, if these horses are anything like the last round, just go gettum’!  The horses I saw at the last adoption were varied in size and color but they all were beautiful!  And this group looks even better…

I’m telling you… if you cannot get there yourself, send a buddy with a trailer.  I swear on Aladdin’s grave that I would have been happy with any one of the mustangs I saw go through the last prisoner adoption.   It was interesting that at the last adoption, the colored and flashy horses went for more money – A LOT more money.  The simple brown or bay horses went for $200.  $200!!  It was crazy!  Those brown and bay horses were just as talented and just as good.  They simply were a basic color instead of flashy.

Could you EVER find this many young, well trained, up to date on shots and farrier, genetically sound, where you are told the exact and total history of the individuals, and  RARE BREED horses in one place for that kind of money?  Nope.  I’m telling you, if you want a sane, smart and sound riding horse, GO!

1)  JOSEY WALES

BLM #1456    Age: 4   Gelding    14 Hands   900 pounds   HMA: Granite Ridge
From the Trainer: Line Back Dun.  Picks up leads well, lunges, travels in all gaits smoothly and stops well.
From Cindy:  He looks pretty muscled up already….can you imagine what he will look like in a few years – after putting on some weight and working hard….He will be a knock out!  He looks like a horse that will work all day for you.  He’s a handsome boy…and really pretty mane!

2) QUICK

BLM #1312    Age: 2   Gelding    16 Hands   1000 pounds

HMA: Calico Mountains

From the Trainer: Quick, a red roan,  is very supple…possible dressage prospect?  Travels awesome.  Picks up leads great!

From Cindy: I spoke with the trainer at length.  Of all the horses he has trained…this is one of his favorites…that says A LOT!  He said “Quick” is very calm,  kinda like a “surfer dude!”  He also said he is soft, supple, and like  riding in a rocking chair – he is sooo smooth.  Has been a very easy horse…never bucked.

16 Hands and he is only two…This could be a very BIG horse….better have a mounting block if you get this guy!!

We always try to get a picture of their ears forward….which we get by throwing dirt, wiggling plastic, waving a hat…..whatever it takes.  Well, Quick wasn’t worried about ANYTHING…he just kept an ear on his trainer at all times.  These two are a bonded team…

3)  CISCO

BLM # 1354  3 Years Old  14.1 Hands  1000 lbs HMA: Warm Springs Canyon, NV

From Trainer: Cisco is a chestnut with four socks.  He has a good temperament, learns quickly, trailer loads nicely, and picks up his feet easily.

From Cindy: Oh, my gosh…look at the four beautiful white socks.  I love “chrome” like this…how pretty will he be in the show ring?!?? And look how white his socks are…I have to scrub for an hour to get my horses socks that pretty!

4) AZABACHE

BLM #1342    4 years old  14.2 Hands  1000 lbs HMA: Warm Springs, NV

From Trainer: Azabache is a black horse who learns quickly.   He picks his feet up quietly, and trailer loads well.  I’ve had fun working with this horse.  I think he is a good horse.

From Cindy: I looked up Azabache…here is the meaning; Having a jet colour; of a deep black, and often glistening, colour. Okay – I guess I should say this is a TERRIBLE horse (NO! Not really!!!) – A friend of mine really wants this horse…He is gorgeous!   He isn’t real tall, but solidly built! AND, still has a few more years of growth.  Look at the beautiful, LONG tail…..

5)  DYLAN

BLM #1412   Gelding    2 years old  15.1 Hands  1100 lbs HMA: Callaghan, Austin, Lander (NV)

From Trainer: Dylan is a Seal Brown gelding. He has been easy to teach because he is so willing and has a lot of try.  He picks his feet up nicely, and trailer loads well.  He has been a real pleasure to train. (The trainer will be getting out of prison the Monday before the adoption…we wish him well!)

From Cindy: The pictures do not show the beautiful coloring of this horse.  He is so pretty – you have to see him in person!  Another tail that almost touches the ground. It took me 3 years for my horses tail to look this pretty.  This is a solid horse – need a ranch horse?  Well, here he is!

6)  STORMY

BLM #1491    Gelding     4 years Old    15 Hands    1000 lbs

HMA: Granite Range

From Trainer: This horse works HARD.  He is willing to do everything you ask.  He is a quick learner.  He trailer loads, and picks up his feet well.  He has a nice stop, side passes, and backs up well.  I can close gates on him and he is gentle.  He will make a good horse for anyone.

From Cindy: Good Looking horse!!  This horse was being worked when we pulled up..he does have a pretty stop!  I love the coloring on this horse!  15 Hands – 1000 pounds…another horse build like a brick house!

7)  COLUMBUS

BLM #1492     Gelding    3 years old    14 Hands  900 Lbs

HMA: Granite Range

From Trainer: Columbus is a Palomino gelding who is gentle and really smart. He picks up his feet easily, side passes well, has a nice stop and side passes.  He moves real nice. He is also a real good friend.

From Cindy: Look at the golden color…he is so pretty.  Don’t worry about him only being 14 hands…my horse from the prison grew until he was 6 (he started out 14.2   900 lbs and is now 15.2 and over a 1000 pounds). He would look awfully pretty in the show ring…or on the trail….Can anyone guess why the trainer named him Columbus?

8)  EL AS de ORO

BLM #1495   Gelding    3 Years old    15.2 Hands  1200 Lbs

HMA: Warm Springs,  NV

From Trainer: El As de Oro is a real gentle horse.  He picks up his feet, side passes and stops and sides passes really well.

From Cindy: 1200! pounds!  Wow!  Need to pull out any trees?  I think this guy could do it!  And, look pretty while he is doing it!  (I looked up El As de Oro – it means Golden Ace)

9)  ROJO

BLM #1545      Gelding    4 Years old   15.1 Hands    1200 lbs

HMA:Warm Springs

From Trainer: Rojo is a real gentle horse.  He is good with this feet, side passes and backs easily, and trailer loads with no problem.

From Cindy: Here’s one of those “just a bay” horses….He’s beautifully put together and look – white socks on the back legs.  Looking for a horse that can carry anyone without being 16 hands, here you go.

10) FRED

BLM #1297   Gelding    2 Years Old    15.1 Hands     1000 Lbs

HMA: Calico Mountains

From Trainer: Fred can trot, lope, stop and back up.  He trailer loads and is good with picking up his feet.  He is easy to catch and is very gentle.  He has been fun to work with and ride.

From Cindy: When they said Fred, I said,”Why Fred?”  Lachuga said because he looked like one of their trainers named Fred…..I kinda think whoever adopts this guy is going to have to change his name….”Fred” – What a name for a horse..I really like this horse.  He has the start of a really nice spin in place.  4 white socks…I love white socks – I just don’t like keeping them clean!  I watched Lachuga with the horse…Fred is VERY responsive to both the leg cues, and the reins.  Here is a picture with the trainer showing me how responsive he is.

11)  TUCSON

BLM #1549   Gelding    4 Years Old    15.1 Hands     1150 Lbs

HMA: Warm Springs (NV)

From the Trainer: Tucson is a nice horse.  He has an easy lope, responds well to leg cues, and trailer loads.  He learns quickly.

From Cindy: I like the kind eye on this horse…Pretty, AND sturdy.  This is just a NICE group of horses…so many great horses to choose from!  You can tell from his eye…he wants to please!

11)  COCHISE

BLM #1510   Gelding    4 Years Old    14.3   Hands     900  Lbs HMA: Warm Springs (NV)

From the Trainer: Cochise moves well.  He has a good stop, and backs up nicely. (Man of few words!)

From Cindy: There’s my white socks again!  He just looks like he is saying…”What do you want to do…I CAN do it…”

Cochise: pronounced ko-CHEECE.  It is of Native American Indian origin.  The name of a renowned warrier, chief of the Chiricahua Apache ( I got on a roll looking up the meanings of some of the horses)

13)  POTLICKER

BLM #1253    Gelding    4 Years Old    15   Hands     1050  Lbs

HMA: Calico Mountains

From the Trainer: Potlicker is really soft to ride.  You can ride this guy one handed, in a lope or side passing.  He is very gentle, has never bucked or given me any trouble.  He is good about his feet and trailer loads nicely.  He is ready to rope off of.

From Cindy: Potlicker?!  What the heck?  I know naming the horses can be difficult….but “Potlicker”?! This name just has to change after adoption….it just has to!  Doesn’t he look like he’d be pretty in an English saddle? He just has pretty lines (I think!)….

14)  GUNNER

BLM #1437     Gelding    3 Years Old    16   Hands     1250   Lbs

HMA: Granite Ridge

From the Trainer: Gunner is a grulla gelding.  He has a very gentle eye, and has been a pleasure to train.  He moves very well.  He trailer loads and picks up his feet nicely.

From Cindy: Stunning….This horse is just stunning looking….he is a show stopper!  When I asked Hank which horses were gentle, this is the first one he mentioned. He does have a soft eye….At 16 hands…he looks like a gentle giant!

15)  CANELO

BLM #1580     Gelding    3 Years Old    15   Hands     1000  Lbs

HMA: Calico Mountains

From the Trainer: Canelo walks, lopes, and gallops well.  He is always calm and willing.  He trailer loads well, has a nice back up and is good with his feet.  He has just been an overall pleasure to work with.

From Cindy: Hank said, “Okay, the next horse is Cantelope” – Cantelope? At this point, I was convinced the guys had all  lost their minds!  The trainer says, “No! No! Not Cantelope, Canelo.  It means Cinnamon.”  Whew!  Okay…that’s better…..

Isn’t he another beauty out here?!  I can’t believe how pretty all these horses are.  I swear this one looks like someone put a quarter horse out here!  Big and he’s only 3….what a working ranch horse he could be!

16)  ABEL

BLM #1579     Gelding    3 Years Old    14.3   Hands     900  Lbs HMA: Calico Mountains

From the Trainer: Abel is a red dun who is easy to catch.  He is an athletic horse with a smooth stride.  He trailer loads well.

From Cindy This horse decided right off the bat that I had eaten horse for breakfast, and he was going to be my lunch!   He was scared to death of me.  I have to give the trainer credit,  he kept bringing the horse up to me…I finally was able to pet on him…he still wasn’t too sure about me, but the trainer did the right thing by making him get used to me, and not letting him get his way.  The trainer said it was the first time he reacted like that to anyone (lucky me!)…. I think he’s a cutie…and man can he move….The way he was trying to stay away from me…he might be fun to play with cows on..

17)  JED

BLM #1719     Gelding    4 Years Old    14  Hands     900  Lbs

HMA: Black Rock Range (NV)

From the Trainer: Jed is a chestnut, with a flaxen mane and tail.  He has a soft lope, and a good side pass.  He is real soft in the mouth, and opens gates really well.

From Cindy: I LOVE a flaxen mane and tail….I just want to go to town bathing him.  He looks pretty now…can you imagine after some serious groceries and luxurious shampoos what a gorgeous horse he is going to be ?! Way too cute!  We had another horse that had a laid back surfer attitude…this one looks like a surfer dude with that mane!

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT!  GO OUT AND GIT YERSELF A FABULOUS MUSTANG! SPREAD THE WORD!  THIS SATURDAY, Reno Livestock Events Center (1350 N. Wells Ave 1721  Reno, NV 89512)

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
The October Bucket Fund will benefit Honey Bandit, the most sick little mustang baby struggling to survive.  To learn all about the Bucket Fund and to donate to this incredible foal,  please click on the photo (photo credit, Trish Lowe)