the other day the BLM announced that with the rising costs of fuel, feed, and everything else, that they are running out of money for the Wild Horse and Burro Program. They are looking at options and sadly one is to euth some of the older and unadoptable horses in long term facilities.
As much as this news saddened me, after looking at the reports and other info I could find, it looks like they really are running out of options.
The big question is can we as citizens find ways to be of help?
Well after thinking about it for awhile I feel there is some things we all can do to help.
1st As always we can educate and promote the Mustangs and Burros for what they are. They make wonderful trail horses, endurance horses, and can excel in just about anything we can train them for.
2nd The BLM is allowed donations. They do not flat out ask for them, but they can take private donations.
3rd Some of us are in positions were we can organize some kind of fund raising activity such as a trail ride, or setting up a booth at an equine event to inform and collect donations for the program.
4th We can help advertise local adoptions when they are in our areas and we can go out and volunteer to help at the adoption.
5th We can take our Mustangs to events so that other horse people can see a Mustang first hand and see that a gentled Mustang is a great horse. Many horse people have never seen a Mustang up close.
6th We can work to dismiss the bad PR Mustangs have had for many years. Such as they will try to kill you, they can't be trained, they will never accept a human, things like that which we know are not true.
7th If you have a Mustang and it is good at an event or discipline, make sure it is known that the horse is a mustang. Be proud of that fact, let them know at the event that it is a mustang and ask that they announce it when it is your turn to compete.
So far those are the things that come to mind. I also think we should look for a champion for the Mustangs. Someone that is well known not just by horse people but the general public as well.
I feel that with some effort, we can make a difference. It was done before to get the 1971 law passed, and together we can do it again.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
Vinny has a new saddle
Finally got to try out Vinny's new saddle and it is fantastic. With that and Tammy's help we have gotten past the bucking and fear that I had. I am now feeling better and enjoying the ride once more.This has really been a great week for us both. Vinny is now a great horse to ride, I am feeling better about riding and I was on TV the other night.Our local news station WMUR has a show called New Hampshire Chronicle and they did a story about the NH adoption. I was one of the people they interviewed and was on the show.It was a great show and really promoted the Mustangs. I hope it will have long term affects and that more people get interested in Mustangs.If I can post a link to the show, or put the episode up here I shall do so.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
NH Mustang adoption
What can I say!! It was a great adoption and I had a great time! 70 animals total, 12 were online adoption pickups, 58 up for adoption, 51 adopted, and 7 into foster care.
All trucks went back to BLM empty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I met some of the best people I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with.
Vinny and I have been doing a lot of ground work and out trainer Tammy is coming over to help me learn. I really need to get past my new found fears about riding as they have transfered to every horse I get on now. I think they are going to blow up at any moment. I love horses and I love riding, but I can't shake the fear for some reason.
I guess I have just got to get riding and it will go away. I sure hope so! I think I am going to try to ride Sadie tomorrow as she is safe as can be. I want to ride Vinny this weekend with Tammy watching and if I can get her out both weekend days and maybe take a lesson or 2 on a stable horse, I may be able to relax more. I think I just have to ride a lot to get my confidence back.
Will let you know how it goes.
3 of the adopted Mustangs are pretty close to me here in Chester so I hope that they will stay in touch so we can have an all Mustang trail ride in a year or two with their newly trained Mustangs.
All trucks went back to BLM empty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I met some of the best people I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with.
Vinny and I have been doing a lot of ground work and out trainer Tammy is coming over to help me learn. I really need to get past my new found fears about riding as they have transfered to every horse I get on now. I think they are going to blow up at any moment. I love horses and I love riding, but I can't shake the fear for some reason.
I guess I have just got to get riding and it will go away. I sure hope so! I think I am going to try to ride Sadie tomorrow as she is safe as can be. I want to ride Vinny this weekend with Tammy watching and if I can get her out both weekend days and maybe take a lesson or 2 on a stable horse, I may be able to relax more. I think I just have to ride a lot to get my confidence back.
Will let you know how it goes.
3 of the adopted Mustangs are pretty close to me here in Chester so I hope that they will stay in touch so we can have an all Mustang trail ride in a year or two with their newly trained Mustangs.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Been awhile
Folks, sorry to be away for so long. Been working like mad and spending as much time as possible promoting the Mustang adoption next week here in Southern NH.
Have not been doing any real riding, but have been working Vinny on the ground and getting him in shape and sweaty.
Have done a couple of newspaper interviews, a few radio interviews and at least on commercial, all for the adoption. I hope so much that it helps and many horses find homes around here. I will hate if I have to watch a lot of them get loaded back on the trucks with a strike against them. It will make me feel like I did not do enough for them.
Anyways, I hope it goes well!!!
Vinny was perfect for the camera man. He did cookie begs, stuck his nose in the guy's pocket, gave him horse kisses, the works. Camera man gave me his camera and asked me to take photos of him and Vinny. He said Vinny was awesome and looked like royalty! Made me feel great.
I wish I had more news, and I am sure I am forgetting something, but have to get back at it here. Still a few days left to spread the word!
Have not been doing any real riding, but have been working Vinny on the ground and getting him in shape and sweaty.
Have done a couple of newspaper interviews, a few radio interviews and at least on commercial, all for the adoption. I hope so much that it helps and many horses find homes around here. I will hate if I have to watch a lot of them get loaded back on the trucks with a strike against them. It will make me feel like I did not do enough for them.
Anyways, I hope it goes well!!!
Vinny was perfect for the camera man. He did cookie begs, stuck his nose in the guy's pocket, gave him horse kisses, the works. Camera man gave me his camera and asked me to take photos of him and Vinny. He said Vinny was awesome and looked like royalty! Made me feel great.
I wish I had more news, and I am sure I am forgetting something, but have to get back at it here. Still a few days left to spread the word!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Great weekend
Our friend Tammy came over to look at Vinny and see if she could advise us on what to do.
She checked him out, his tack, and everything else she could check.
Turns out that me saddle that fits every other horse in the world is a horrible fit on Vinny. We put Joanne's synthetic saddle on and it fit better. Then Tammy told me to mount up. I was pretty darn scared to get up there, but trust her.
Vinny was like a new horse! He listened to me, did what I asked and was solid under saddle!! After about 30 minutes of riding him around the pen I got down. I gave him a huge hug and was almost in tears I was so happy. I was really rethinking this whole horse thing. That I was not good enough or smart enough to handle it all. He also seemed happy and having fun. He followed me around and did not want to leave my side even after I took everything off him.
Now on Mon. Sadie did something that made everything worth it. She was laying down and I was coming in with the wheelbarrow to clean up. I walked right past her and she did not move. I walked up to her slowly and she still did not move so I extended my hand for a pet. She was laying there letting me pet her head so I sat down with her. I layed up against her side like a back rest and she hung her head over my shoulder and we just sat there together. Me stroking her nose and her pretty much falling asleep.
About 10 minutes later Vinny came over and touched my chest with his nose and also just stood there with us. For 30 minutes the three of us just hung out. Sadie with her head over my shoulder and Vinny standing with his nose in my chest.
I can't remember feeling so good for a real long time. It was a dream come true to hang out like that.
Sometimes there are days that are just too good.
She checked him out, his tack, and everything else she could check.
Turns out that me saddle that fits every other horse in the world is a horrible fit on Vinny. We put Joanne's synthetic saddle on and it fit better. Then Tammy told me to mount up. I was pretty darn scared to get up there, but trust her.
Vinny was like a new horse! He listened to me, did what I asked and was solid under saddle!! After about 30 minutes of riding him around the pen I got down. I gave him a huge hug and was almost in tears I was so happy. I was really rethinking this whole horse thing. That I was not good enough or smart enough to handle it all. He also seemed happy and having fun. He followed me around and did not want to leave my side even after I took everything off him.
Now on Mon. Sadie did something that made everything worth it. She was laying down and I was coming in with the wheelbarrow to clean up. I walked right past her and she did not move. I walked up to her slowly and she still did not move so I extended my hand for a pet. She was laying there letting me pet her head so I sat down with her. I layed up against her side like a back rest and she hung her head over my shoulder and we just sat there together. Me stroking her nose and her pretty much falling asleep.
About 10 minutes later Vinny came over and touched my chest with his nose and also just stood there with us. For 30 minutes the three of us just hung out. Sadie with her head over my shoulder and Vinny standing with his nose in my chest.
I can't remember feeling so good for a real long time. It was a dream come true to hang out like that.
Sometimes there are days that are just too good.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Things are fine
Well the horses are getting along like a house on fire. They are buddies now and hate to be apart.
Wife has put a couple more rides on Sadie, and I gave Vin a try.
That did not go so well. He was no paying attention to me and was wandering around. Then for no reason I can find he blew up and it was rodeo time! I hung in there for about 5 seconds and then bailed off. I did not get hurt, but I was pretty scared. Joanne held him and I got back on. He was still acting up, but did not buck. Joanne saw me shaking a bit and told me to get down.
I put calls into some friends for advice and they seem to think it was spring fever and told me to longe the heck out of him for a few days. Tire him out real good and then mount up. They feel after a week of this that he will be his old self again. Another thought is he is having issues with things abouve his head. and he looked back and saw me so he flipped out. While we are playing run in circles, I am also going to de spook him.
We will get through this I am sure, but I am still a bit scared to get on him again.
In case you did not know, men seem to become wimps someplace between 40 and 50 years old. After 50 it gets more like I don't care if I get hurt or not and younger then 40 nothing can hurt you. Well I am dead in the middle at 43 and am turning into a wimp. Heck I was a combat paratrooper in the Army and had no fear of anything. Sucks growing up.
Wife has put a couple more rides on Sadie, and I gave Vin a try.
That did not go so well. He was no paying attention to me and was wandering around. Then for no reason I can find he blew up and it was rodeo time! I hung in there for about 5 seconds and then bailed off. I did not get hurt, but I was pretty scared. Joanne held him and I got back on. He was still acting up, but did not buck. Joanne saw me shaking a bit and told me to get down.
I put calls into some friends for advice and they seem to think it was spring fever and told me to longe the heck out of him for a few days. Tire him out real good and then mount up. They feel after a week of this that he will be his old self again. Another thought is he is having issues with things abouve his head. and he looked back and saw me so he flipped out. While we are playing run in circles, I am also going to de spook him.
We will get through this I am sure, but I am still a bit scared to get on him again.
In case you did not know, men seem to become wimps someplace between 40 and 50 years old. After 50 it gets more like I don't care if I get hurt or not and younger then 40 nothing can hurt you. Well I am dead in the middle at 43 and am turning into a wimp. Heck I was a combat paratrooper in the Army and had no fear of anything. Sucks growing up.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Sadie is home
Sorry for the long vacation here. I was in fact on vacation with our new girl Sadie.
We drove up and got her on the 30th. It took a bit to get her loaded, but once in the trailer she was a perfect lady all the way home.
I have to say that the camera in the trailer was the best money I have spent! I was able to watch her on the road and would be able to see any problem right away. Plus being able to see that she was fine, made the drive much better for me.
She has been with us for a week now and is fitting right in. She and Vinny are getting along well.
As you can see she is a real pretty gal!!! Wifey loves her and took a first ride yesterday. Said this horse is a sofa, meaning real comfy.
We are very happy to have her and Vinny with us!!!!!
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