Fuzzy Wuzzy Argo and Other Rambling Tails

Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway. ~Mary Kay Ash

Well the weather just stinks, especially when you have a horse that lives outside 24/7. I wish I would have progressed to the point with Argo that he would be in the big barn so I could play with him in the indoor, but we work with what we got.

Time with Argo has been extremely limited due to bitter cold and working to keep him comfortable with plenty of hay and non-frozen water in his tub. I snapped a few pictures though during the sub zero temps. Sorry for the blurriness, it was cold and I had to take my gloves off to run the camera.


In other news with Argo though:

I have been working on getting that dang snap off of his halter. He is getting much more comfortable with the abominable snowman hands touching his cheeks, jaw and forehead. We have practiced with me holding the snap in my hand. The first 72 times he would back up the moment he felt my hand around the snap. He slowly became comfortable with it just resting in my hand while I stroked his cheek with my other hand. We are now up to him feeling slight pressure when I hold the snap. The first time he felt it, he quickly stepped backwards. I make sure he always has an escape from me. He feels safer and more confident in our sessions when he does not feel trapped. He now will hang out with me while I gently grasp the snap and hold it, so for now the snap remains.

What amazes me during our little sessions is the way he watches me with his eyes. I try not to stare into them, but it is so hard not to watch those huge windows to his soul. Each time I am with him, I feel another thin layer peel off of him. Little by little he learns to trust me a little more. As I stroke his forehead, I am amazed by the sensitivity of Argo. Just a breath from me and he reacts, not in a jumpy way, but I can feel his skin underneath my hand tighten and then relax. I have never been around a horse that is as sensitive as him. I now understand why my friend’s mare, Mystic does not like a stiff brush used on her. I always felt it was the princess in her, but now I realize it is her sensitive nature.

I began touching the area where his neck ties into his shoulder with a crop. This was quite comical to watch the first few times. Now though he has pretty much gotten used to it, almost to the point where I think he enjoys the scratching now. He is more protective of his left side than his right, so we start with the bad side and when he allows me to touch his left side, and then he gets his much deserved treat. He has quickly figured out that if he works with me, he gets rewarded, and the longer he holds out, the longer I will pester him. He is an extremely quick learner when you think about it. 17 years in the wild and then plopped in my lap, that’s a lot to overcome and he has been a shining example of how special the Kiger Mustang is. I’m not sure if I will ever adopt another one, but I’m not, not saying that I wouldn’t adopt one in the future.

I can’t wait till I can curry that coat of his and look at that tail, it will be so gorgeous when it gets a proper brushing, his mane is in wind knots right now, but we will get there, we have nothing but time.


Argo also has been getting more used to my dogs. My dogs normally in the past, always followed me into the stallion paddock, but since Argo arrived, they have not gone past the fence line. I worried he would be alarmed, scared, charge them, etc..., if they ended up in the paddock. I think they sense what could possibly happen and are respectful to Argo. That does not keep them from doing their antics outside the paddock though, which always gets quite the snort and blow from Argo.

I mean come on, what would you think if you had that charging out of the barn towards you at full tilt with the food lady and her red wheel barrow?

And then there were two....

Courage is the power to let go of the familiar. ~ Raymond Lindquist

When I made the decision to adopt Argo, I had to quickly decide where to house him. My facility houses about 23 horses at any one time. Of that number, three are mature stallions. Housing stallions, mares and geldings on a 20 acre farm can be a challenge to make sure everyone is safe and sound.

One of my stallions, Flash, suffered a serious injury six years ago. He fractured his shoulder and elbow in a freak accident. He found himself relegated to stall rest for a year, and then he was allowed a small paddock for a few months and then was allowed the flattest pasture I had, which believe me in Western Pennsylvania is no easy feat to find. Flash has had a long recovery and has come through it like a trooper. Through that time he has had pasture mates from time to time, whether they are geldings or bred mares. This past winter though I had no companion for Flash to share his field with. (I strongly believe stallions should have daily turnout and if possible have a pasture mate. They are herd animals, not solitary creatures to be locked up.)

Well back to Argo, the safest place to house Argo was going to be in a round pen inside my stallion paddock, Flash’s pasture. Now what to do with Flash…. I obviously could not put Flash in the same field with Argo for some time. So I made the tough decision to stall Flash for the long haul. Flash is an extremely special stallion, not only in temperament but in his courage and will to survive. If any horse could handle long term confinement Flash could. While Argo has been residing in Flash’s pasture, Flash has been relegated to the indoor arena and weekly riding under saddle, glaring at the stranger living in his pasture. Flash has once again though enjoyed hand walking and grazing. This time gave me an opportunity to appreciate Flash in a whole new light. He has become a handsome, mature stallion who easily adapts to the environments he is presented with.

A couple of weeks ago, I began to notice a longing in Argo’s eyes. He does not give the other horses much of his attention, but I catch him watching them when they are not paying attention. I used this want for companionship to help me with him, to connect with him so to speak. As my previous post explained, I had a major success with Argo.

I felt it was time to introduce Flash back into the pasture, to give them both the opportunity for companionship. Of course, my brain went into overdrive as I thought of all the horrible things that could happen. Would Flash feel he would have to challenge Argo through the pen? Would I watch Argo draw on his wild instincts and forget he had a 6 foot panel in front of him? And the debate went on in my head for several days. Finally, I made my mind up and put a 22 foot lead on Flash. My plan was if things went badly I would rely on Flash’s obedient nature to listen to me no matter what, and pray that all the intelligence I have seen in Argo would hold true. Well I don’t know what I was so worried about. Flash did his normal, puff up like a peacock, to impress Argo. Argo unthreatened, looked at him and blew at him as loud as I have heard him yet, but it was not an alarm blow, it was a “puhh!!! That’s supposed to impress me?!” Argo then turned on his heel and walked away. Oh the look on Flash’s face was priceless. He was infuriated, hurt and blown away all at the same time. Flash has always felt a need to announce his arrival to the other horses as he walks into the barn, and after one of his bellows you could hear a pin drop. Well, Argo was not impressed one bit and Flash was totally put out.

I took the next step and unhooked the lead from Flash’s halter. Typically, I never leave a halter on, but under the circumstances I felt I should if anything were to happen. As soon as Flash felt my hand leave the halter, he took off like a bullet to the round pen. I watched and waited. Flash began to circle the round pen like a hungry lion. I watched Argo’s ears and body movement. Argo never wavered and never changed his stance. He kept his rear end facing Flash the whole time and never once did he acknowledge Flash was even there. Flash of course, not to be ignored began to snake his head toward the ground. This is a typical stallion behavior when a stallion is trying in earnest to get a mare to mind him. Again, Argo ignored all of Flash’s stallion behaviors and began to eat his hay. I watched Argo some more and was pleased that Argo was not threatened by Flash’s antics, nor did he feel a need to challenge Flash.
Argo basically was non-impressed by Flash and Flash quickly tired of the fact that Argo was not going to bow down to him and went off to graze in his pasture.

Flash spent the night in the field and I watched a new calm come over Argo, a satisfaction so to speak. Flash spends every other day with Argo now. When Argo sees Flash coming out to the field, he calls to him, as if to say “Where have you been, we have so much to catch up on.” Flash will answer, but not in his normal announcement of his arrival, with his puffed up chest, but in a whinny that says, “The food lady said I had to stay in to give you some space, but man do I have some stuff to tell you about what happened in the barn.” Flash and Argo will hang out together catching up on gossip for a while and then they go their separate ways. Argo off to eat his hay, and Flash off to graze. Usually, Flash will come back to hang out with Argo several times throughout the evening. They both seem content with each other.

What I have observed with Argo is he is very comfortable in his own skin. He is not at all rattled by a younger, testosterone pumping, teenage stallion. He is very stately and exudes wisdom. I think he enjoys bestowing his knowledge on a younger horse, someone to share his stories with. Flash also enjoys having someone to talk to; I’m sure he points out all the mares to Argo and tells him who his favorite is and asks Argo for advice with the ladies.

I sit back and watch my two boys gab to each other and I think how courageous they both are in their own unique ways. Flash showed courage as a two year old with a severe debilitating injury, he never lost his cool during confinement; he came back from it and was put under saddle, again courage to try something that no one thought possible for him, he never argued, just tried to please. Argo has shown so much courage, he has had his world turned upside down in the past year. Everything he knew is gone, but yet here he is calmly and quietly dealing with what life has handed him, and flourishing. He has so much to teach me and Flash and he seems happy to do so.

The Human Factor

“Use your gifts faithfully and they shall be enlarged; practice what you know, and you shall attain to higher knowledge.” ~ Matthew Arnold

This quote felt so appropriate to how Argo and I are learning together. I have found I do not need to be perfect with Argo, not to say I still don’t try, but he seems to trust me more when he sees me make my little mistakes. Mistakes such as not respecting his space soon enough, or moving my body at just the right time. My timing with my horses’ has never been one of my strong points. I constantly struggle with it and I strive to improve it daily whether in my riding or my ground handling with a horse, it has gotten worlds better, but it is always one of those things that need improvement.

Our time together has been pretty much spent under his favorite tree during feeding time. He taking his hay from my hand and getting more comfortable with it each time I offered it. Very, very rewarding to me, here is this animal that for 17 years knew no human, he was independent, the patriarch of his herd and absolutely had no need for a human being. His life was known in the wild, he would live or die by decisions he made in a split second. Repetition was not the normal way of life for him. The only thing he wanted in the wild was water, food and his herd. Why would he want the companionship of a human? Humans captured him, branded him and took his freedom away. Well here we are two months later and he is seeking companionship with a human. Eating out of her hand so to speak and he allowed the first stroke of a human hand across his cheek last week. Oh my, did the tears flow from my eyes and form a pool in my lap, as I touched a part of the wild. I was breathless as I watched Argo’s eyes through my own tear filled ones. Such understanding and wisdom is in those large windows to his soul. I watched him look at me, he wanted to be there, wanted the companionship of this human. I was deeply honored and humbled.

I think of how the BLM is now faced with the decision of euthanizing wild horses that have been captured and are in long term holding. They have come to this decision, due to the large cost increase in hay and availability of land to keep them on. I said several posts ago that the BLM is a double edged sword. I understand the position they are in. I don’t like it, I don’t necessarily agree with it, but I understand why they feel this is their only option. I strongly feel that Argo, had he not been adopted, would have been one of the first ones to see a needle. The thought of it makes me shudder. God’s hand steered Argo and I together way back in November when I saw the first pictures of him and his eyes spoke volumes to me. I had my reasons or as some will say my temporary insanity, and someone else had a reason for Argo. For that I am truly thankful.

Several years ago and several times since, I said to a friend who owns two Kiger Mustangs, how I would never own one. I most certainly admire them, and their abilities, movement and beauty is breathtaking, but I told her I did not think I could work on a day to day basis with one. Their brain works different I told her, than that of the horses I have worked with. I felt I would never have the patience to work with one, nor would I want to. I was perfectly happy being on the sidelines watching her work with hers’, helping when needed and being “Show Mom”, watching her realize goals she had set for herself and her Kiger mare. They have done fabulous by the way and she has every reason to be extremely proud of her accomplishments. It has been a long road with several bumps along the way, but the partnership between horse and human has been one of patience, devotion, trust and hard work. Some people who own Kigers will never realize that and it is shame to think how they willingly are missing out on one of the most important parts of having these magnificent animals in our lives. The Kiger Mustangs truly are a horse like no other. They are a gift to us and I am beyond thrilled to be learning with Argo and letting him teach me how that special mind and heart work.

Argo last week. His ears tell the story.
He is listening and thinking.
What are we learning next?

The 15 Foot Rope

First, I apologize for the huge delay in posting. Between horse shows, barn work, home improvements etc... I have had no time to sit and just write. My thoughts have been scattered and I have been unable to put words to paper.

Argo is doing great and we are making wonderful progress. I will post details of it in the days to come.

Some people have asked why he has the 15 ft. lead rope attached to his halter. I thought I would try my best to give reasons to this and my observations of the absolute necessity of it. If anyone has more to add to the benefits please feel free to post in the comments.

When I was first told I would need a rope on him, I assumed a mere catch rope like I put on for my weanlings. Four to six feet usually suffices and this helps to teach them to give to poll pressure without getting them in trouble and getting themselves hurt. Have you ever tried to hold back a yearling that is adamant that he or she is going to go where they want and you can either come along for the ride or just sit in the dust? I did years ago, and I learned then the value of a catch rope. By stepping on it while doing their own thing, they learn to not have hissy fits and panic attacks when faced with the pressure of a halter. The catch rope is a very useful tool.

When the BLM told me the rope needed to be 12-15 ft long, I did question their wisdom as to the length. My first thought was what if he wraps it around two legs and falls? What if he somehow gets it caught around the panel in the pen? What if it wraps around a tree? And the questions went on through my mind. The BLM did insist that it must be a cotton lead and not a poly type lead and because they have done this much longer than anyone, I went with it. Hence the 15 ft cotton lead Argo now finds attached to his halter.

Why is it still on? This has been asked a few times now. I cannot tell you how invaluable this rope will be in years to come with Argo. I will list the accomplishments Argo has made with his rope.

1. Learned poll pressure from stepping on the rope several hundred times now. At first he jumped at the pressure, and now it is “old hat” to him. He just sighs and takes his foot off the lead and tosses his head to get the rope out from under him.

2. Dragging something heavy behind him. Have you ever felt what a 15 ft. cotton rope feels like when it is soaked through from rain and mud? Argo has and I am sure he would tell you it is like dragging around four concrete blocks.

3. Desensitized on all four legs. Argo has managed to wrap that rope around them one at a time and all at the same time. Again, he calmly sighs now and extracts himself from it. I am sure if he ever were to get caught in a fence he would not panic and make his legs look like they have gone through a meat grinder.

4. Cinch and saddle tightening. This one had me in stitches actually. Argo had rolled and when he got up he found the rope wrapped around his barrel almost where a cinch would be. Of course this resulted in a bucking fit for about a minute. What amazed me with him was how quickly he assessed the situation and corrected it. He stood there looking at his barrel and I could see the wheels turning in his head. He actually thought back to how the dang rope had gotten there in the first place and he got down and rolled until he was satisfied it was off of him. This rope has also been across his rump as well and his reaction has been a calm swish of his tail to remove it. He amazes me as to how quickly he can assess a situation and make a decision that 99% of the time has been the correct one.

5. A play toy. Argo has become quite enamored with his rope. There have been a few times I have caught him carrying his rope around in his mouth. When he realizes I am watching him he quickly drops it out of his mouth as if to say “That is beneath me! You didn’t just see that. It was only a figment of your imagination.”

Argo’s long lead rope has been quite the educational tool. He would never have been able to learn so much with just a four foot rope. I must also make it clear; his rope is not meant to “catch” him. I’m not sure when it will come off, but we get closer to its removal each day.

A Journey has Begun

For those who do not know what a Kiger Mustang is, I will give you the short version. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), has two management areas for a small herd of Mustangs that stood out from the rest. Kiger and Riddle HMA's. These horses are well known for their dun coloring.
Ever see Dreamworks animated movie, Spirit? That movie's main character, Spirit, was based on the Kiger Mustangs.

Anyway, every 3-4 years the BLM gathers horses from these two HMA's and offers them for adoption to the public. This past October a gather was done, and in that gather, a stately gray, Kiger Mustang stood out from the rest. He had been seen years before in previous gathers, but had been turned back out. He now was 17 and offered for adoption. An adoption was held in Burns, Oregon and people from far and wide came to bid on the Kigers. Old Gray or Big Gray as he came to be known as, was looked at and photographed, and passed over for adoption. From what was said, people were worried about his age and being wild, some worried about his color, which years ago was probably thought to be claybank dun, and now is showing to be gray, and others yet probably did not recognize the absolute regal beauty of the stallion standing in front of them.

What was in store for Big Gray? Long term holding pens. Thankfully, people at the Burns facility watched him and recognized his calm demeanor, and offered him in a special e-mail bid adoption.

I had seen pictures, people had taken when they were at the adoption, and his eyes spoke volumes to me. I himmmeedd and hawwweeeddd for weeks thinking about what the impact would be if I were to put in a successful bid. I sent in my application to adopt and was approved. I thought some more, talked to friends who had Kiger Mustangs, those who had come from the wild, the captive bred ones and I looked long and hard at the one standing in my field, who is owned by a friend. My mind was made up and I placed my bid.

Well, I won the bid. Then it kinda hit me what had just happened. Holy Cow! What was I thinking? Well, when my sanity returned, I thought through it as logically as my non-logical brain can and calmed myself down. I have handled and owned stallions for years, even though I realized this would be different from anything I had experienced before. Shipping was arranged and now the wait started.

Well the day finally had arrived and Argo came from Oregon across the country to Western Pennsylvania. I cannot thank the BL M people enough who helped with my many questions and inquirys, sent me pictures when I requested them and dealt with my hectic schedule.

Here is a link to a video of his arrival. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sIBb9m88Ss

He is setteling nicely. He is an absolutely amazing animal.

I will post more tomorrow when I am not so tired