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?

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire

Every mile is two in winter. ~George Herbert

I have no room to complain about the weather, compared to others, but let me just whine for a little bit. I woke up to 4 degrees this morning with a -19 degree wind-chill. This makes barn chores really a chore. Okay, I feel a little bit better now.

On to Argo updates:

First # 1

Last week was a bunch of firsts; they are beginning to come in steady streams now. Argo now fully expects to be hand fed each meal. He no longer looks at me when I come in and appears to think he is merely entertaining me. When I bring his meals, out the come in the form of the red wheel barrow, I take his bucket of goodies into the field and leave the wheel barrow outside the field which holds his lovely hay. In the past he would stand by the fence, longingly looking at the precious, red vision of beauty, and stand there looking at it and then looking at me. I would have to whistle at him and shake his bucket of goodies to get him to begrudgingly follow me to his shed for his goodies. Once there though, he would quickly forget about the dreamy vision of the red wheel barrow. He would gladly stuff his muzzle into his feed pan that I so willingly hold up for him and eat his meal. Only after we had our moments would I give him his hay. Now though for the past several days, he has watched me put the barn horses out to pasture, and he whinnies at me, as if to say "Hello, don't forget me!" Once the red wheel barrow and I get to his field, he waits for me to come in, to make sure I have brought the goodies, and then he turns away from me and heads to his shed. This, my friends is a big, dang deal! Argo has turned his back on me. Argo never turns his back on anything. Except for Flash, and I didn't blame him there. Flash is a bit impetuous and is kind of like the person we all know that talks incessantly and we literally tune them out. I digress though… Argo knows that by turning his back on something, he leaves himself vulnerable, 17 years of living wild has ingrained that into him. So what does it mean that he has turned his back on me? I did really over think this one. When you spend your days alone for 10 hours cleaning stalls and performing barn chores and playing with horses, you have way too much time to think about things. Again, I digress. My opinion on it is Argo has learned the routine, he knows the hay won't come until we have some time together and that he is only delaying the inevitable and hey, the abominable snowman, wrapped in polar fleece, really is not that bad, she brings goodies. This is a big milestone for Argo and I in my opinion.

First # 2, or should I say try # 64

Argo lost his 15 ft lead rope several months ago, but the bull snap was still attached of course to his halter. At first it did not bother me that it was dangling there, now though it has become an annoyance to me. Each time I let Argo eat from his bucket that I hold up for him, I attempt to touch the snap. Believe me when I say this it's not easy. I am currently on try 64, yes I'm counting, and I'm weird that way. First I started just touching it with my index finger on my left hand, while holding the feed pan. He would feel the change and quickly step away, but just as quickly comes back in for the goodies. And again I would touch it, until he would just stand there and let me touch it. Then we progressed to me cupping the snap in my hand, again he would step back and then just as quickly come back to me. So as I said we are on try # 64 of removing the snap. Maybe by try 100 we will have it off.

First # 3 or more like a progression of my thumb

While Argo has been eating out of his feed pan that I so lovingly hold for him, are you seeing a pattern here? I had begun touching him with thumb under his cheek. This of course was met with, "OMG! What was that?" very quickly though it turned into a tolerance of my thumb. It has gently progressed to four fingers and my thumb scratching his jowl and under his chin, which he is really beginning to enjoy, as am I. I now have progressed to taking my index finger and stroking his forehead while he is busily eating the goodies. I also have been able to touch his halter underneath his head and both cheek pieces.

First # 4 Kara sings to Argo

This morning as I was so lovingly holding Argo's feed that is now in a smaller bucket, I was so bitterly cold and just wanted him to eat so I could be done, Argo decided the smaller bucket was not to his liking. For several minutes Argo did his little dance, like a small child saying "No Mommy, I want the blue one, not the red one! (Insert whine)" My cheeks were on fire from the cold, but I did not want to give up, so I began singing Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire. Where is the sanitarium truck when you need one? Argo was priceless. I am sure you have all seen dogs tilt their head when something strikes them odd, well this was exactly what Argo did. Just priceless! He must have taken pity on me or just wanted me to shut up because he quickly came in and dove into the smaller bucket with the goodies. I continued to sing Christmas carols to him while he ate. He finished breakfast in record time. I was somewhat offended.

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?

Seeds of Faith

“On a long journey of human life, faith is the best of companions; it is the best refreshment on the journey and it is the greatest property.” ~ Buddha

The above photo of Argo was sent to me by Suzy Johnson. She took this last November at the adoption in Burns, Oregon. Thank you Suzy!

Just so everyone knows, I have borrowed a tripod from a friend to video my evening time with Argo. Most of it is us staring at each other, but every time I pull the camera out we get a few moments of interesting video. I will compile it all and then edit it into to one video. I’m hoping to have something in the next month or so.

Never in million years would I have thought hand feeding a horse would be such a rewarding experience. Over my 25 plus years with horses, I have rescued quite a few horses that were fearful of people, had been neglected and/or abused. I took my time and learned from them the importance of touch. I have always had an extreme compassion for these horses. It is from most of those horses my foundation in learning how to live with and care for them was learned. Argo, though never abused or neglected, is quite similar in some ways and a perfectly clean slate in others. I learned at a young age that every time we interact with the horse, we are training him. Whether it is right, wrong or indifferent, they are learning from us. I guess in knowing that, I try almost too hard to make sure everything I do with Argo is correct.

When I sit with him in the evening, he will step back if I move my hands. He is not worried about my legs or my head turning, just my hands. My answer to this was to offer good things that he likes with my hands so a few weeks ago I began offering my hand to Argo while he was eating. At first he snorted and backed up and I just kept my hand there about six inches from his food. He became used to it after a while and even managed to get a little closer to my hand. After a few days of just my hand being there, I had hay in my outstretched hand. I had no illusions of him actually taking it, but I wanted him just to be comfortable with my hand. I did this with him for about three nights. On the fourth night, my husband came into the barn and asked if I had given Argo his evening hay. I replied I hadn’t yet; I was still working on barn chores, so he offered to take out his evening meal.

Now just to give you a little history on my husband, he was raised on a dairy farm, his experience with horses did not start until he met me. Jeff is a very gentle man when it comes to the horses. He has been invaluable to me when I have a difficult mare in for breeding, I can always trust that he will be on the end of the lead with that mare and talking to her and being kind, but yet firm when needed. He always has been good with the horses in our care, sometimes a bit naïve, but always gentle and never has he even thought of manhandling a horse, like some men do. He rides about once every two years and I really wish during those times that osmosis would work with two people, who sleep in the same bed next to each other, but my senior stallion, Malarky is very good to him and Jeff appreciates it. Jeff is not in the barn on a daily basis, but he does help when needed.

Anyway, back to the night in question. Jeff takes out the evening meal. He knew I had been offering my hand with hay in it, and he decided to do the same, but instead of giving the hay to Argo and sitting next to it, Jeff sat on the hay and offered a handful of it to him. I guess Argo was not impressed, but Jeff just held it out there for him. After a few minutes Jeff casually dropped it a few inches away from him. Argo happily reached down a picked it up. Jeff did this a few more times with him and then to Jeff’s surprise on the 5th or 6th time of offering the handful of hay, Argo took it from his hand. I wish I had been there to see it, or at least have the video camera set up to “catch the moment”. Jeff hand fed hay to Argo for a few more minutes and then on the last handful Argo’s lip brushed over Jeff’s thumb. I guess the “touch” was just too much for Argo and he stepped back from Jeff. Jeff again just dropped the hay for Argo and he eventually came back in and took the hay.

When Jeff came back into the barn and excitedly told me what had happened. I couldn’t believe how extremely jealous I was that it was anyone but me who had had that first moment with Argo, but I was. I did my best not to let it show to Jeff. He was so very proud oh “His” moment as he should have been. It made me sit back and think though as to how perfect I try to be with Argo, and here comes Jeff with no significant experience in training a horse, just a gentle nature about him and Argo takes hay from his hand. Ughhhh!

I am extremely happy to say though, that for the past few days Argo has begun taking hay from my hand, it has been extremely rewarding to me. I know I have said this before, but looking into Argo’s eyes, there is such wisdom there. I am so honored that he decides on a regular basis to share space with me. The seeds of faith are slowly sprouting.

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.