Day 1

Wow.  What an incredible, exciting, long day.  After barely sleeping last night, we started bright and early at 3:30AM to make sandwiches and pack a cooler, and were out the door (coffee in hand) by 5.  It took a solid three hours to get to Canon City, as was expected, but the drive seemed to never end.  I was SO excited and nervous and just wanted to meet the horse I would be spending so much time with already!  Once we got to Canon City, it was a case of hurry-up-and-wait.  We sat for an hour as trainers signed papers and had to clear security into the correctional facility.  Luckily, we were one of the earlier trucks, and we squeezed in with the first round of trainers there to receive horses.

After watching three horses load up and drive away to their new homes, it was finally our turn.  I still had not even had a glimpse of the horse I would be taking home that day, and as I signed the final paperwork to take responsibility for the mustang, he came trotting down the chute before I even had the chance to read his profile.  And just like that, he was loaded, and we were on our way.

Originally I thought I was going to leave him un-haltered, but when I was at the facility, I decided otherwise.  I did however decide to keep the lead rope off the halter for fear he could get hung up on our long drive home.

Photo by Forever Yours Photography

Photo by Forever Yours Photography

 When we finally got to Denver (entourage en tow) the incredible staff at Amen Acres already had a plan fully devised to unload him safely into the round pen.  He stood on the trailer no more than five minutes before we opened it up, and to my delight, he quietly walked off and trotted into the middle of the pen.

Photo by Forever Yours Photography

When we threw him hay, he immediately began to eat, and he settled in really well.  I have to tell you, I was completely surprised and relieved at how easily he took to everything he had just been through.  He seemed to settle right into his new surroundings, and he even didn't mind eating with me practically sitting on his hay.  Mind you however, he was still wary of me, and wanted nothing to do with me trying to touch him.

Photo by Forever Yours Photography

Photo by Forever Yours Photography

After we all wound down a bit, it was time to work him around the pen to see what I had.  He was basically calm and stayed at a steady trot, learned to switch directions, and when I stopped would turn in to me.  He even began taking steps towards me.  Once he figured out that as long as he was looking at me and being calm that I would stop moving him forward, he did just that... with minor cases of the jitters and occasional spooks.

Forever Yours Photography

Photo by Forever Yours Photography

Photo by Forever Yours Photography

Once that game got boring, (and believe me, it did... he was looking around at all kinds of stuff, none of it being in the round pen of course) we worked on some pressure/release.  This will be his foundation for leading and groundwork, and basically works as it sounds.  When I put pressure on and he gives to that, I release the pressure and he is rewarded.  Overall, he learned very quickly and was such a good boy. I finished when I had a loose rope around his neck and he would step to me when I asked.  The ultimate reward however was when a light touch that would have spooked him turned into a good rub down up on his neck and shoulder for which he stood calmly and confidently for.

This is where I left it.  Such huge strides in one day, and while I'm completely exhausted (obviously as I'm posting this at midnight) I am unbelievably thrilled and excited to have this opportunity.  Tomorrow I plan to spend another long day out at the ranch, though with much less "work".  A whole lot of getting to know each other and some trust building is on the agenda for tomorrow...oh, and that minor little detail, HE NEEDS A NAME!  I still haven't settled on anything, so if anyone out there has suggestions, please, don't be shy!

I would just like to thank Forever Yours Photography for spending several hours with us today to capture our very first moments together.  The photos you captured are amazing, I can't wait to share more of them with everyone interested in this project, and I look forward to seeing his story unfold in photos. Also, thank you to Jake Merritt who spent the entire day trailering and coaching, we couldn't have done it without you today! You guys are awesome!