Wylie - 4yr old South Steens -Teens and Oregon Mustang Challenge

07/28/2024

Wylie’s buddy Cooper is looking for his forever home💕

Cooper is such a nice boy with the potential to go almost any direction. He is a 6 year old mustang gelding from the Palomino Buttes HMA. He is a stocky 14.2 and weighs about 1100lbs. He is a kind, patient, laid back and a thoughtful fellow with a lot of 'try'. The vet summed him up on his first visit, "He just wants to get along." He is solid built, able to carry a couple of hundred pounds and built close enough to the ground for easy mounting. Cooper knows exactly where his feet are and can navigate complex obstacles as well as place each foot where you want and leave it there upon request. His work on the longe, long lines and in a round pen has shown his movement to be freely forward without any innate hotness; he has a lovely extended trot and can jog softly. He also seems to have a talent for jumping. His ground manners are excellent as he is consistently respectful, soft and thoughtful. At the Spokane Mounted Patrol obstacle day, he accomplished every obstacle asked of him from bridges to belly deep water to stepping on mats that water squirted up through. Clips from this included in his video- this was also his first time hauled to an arena. He will stand for hours while kids ride around him for lessons as well as patiently in a trailer even if the horse next to him is being unruly. After more than 5 years in the wild, Cooper is still cautious in this 'hooman' world, but with patience, time and more training, Cooper will become a 'steady Eddie'.

Cooper is not yet started under saddle, but is getting close to first ride ready. He has carried both a large western saddle and a pack saddle with weight down the trail. Has been ponied across all kinds of terrain. This past week I took him camping in the mountains and ponied him on some steep, gnarly mountain trails with lots of loose rock. We even ran into a mama bear and her cub. He was very sure footed and handled it all with ease. He high lines, ties, is respectful of fencing, good with his feet, easy to haul, and compliant to deworm. He is available for reassignment. BLM approval required. PM me for more details!

09/03/2023

Ohhh Wylie. I honestly could not be more proud of this horse❤️ We had great goes in handling and showmanship. Both patterns had a couple little bobbles, but they were my fault. He was perfect! Wylie was a little nervous/tense during the riding portion, so it wasn’t our best. However, it was his first time seeing a crowd or riding into a new arena alone and he trusted me enough to give everything a try.. and really, what more could I ask for?! It’s only been 39 days since his first ride (and no, he hasn’t been ridden every day since), 95 days since his first halter, and 4.5 months since his world completely changed at pick up. We definitely didn’t start out as friends and I almost took him back to the BLM twice in the first 6 weeks because I didn’t know if I was the right trainer for him. But holy goodness, we have both learned so much.. and we’re friends now too🙃😂Thanks to the Steffen’s for getting us on the right track in June, to Sheona for being our biggest cheerleader throughout the last 140 days, and to Mustang Matt for giving me the confidence and skills to start Wylie under saddle and continue riding him at home. I’m so thankful for the support and lessons learned. And I’ve grown to really love this big guy💕

Wylie has grown leaps and bounds this weekend. Spending an entire weekend meeting new people might be the best cure for a horse that’s a little shy when it comes to strangers. He’s actually starting to like all of the visitors! Wylie has handled stall life and exploring a new facility well. I even rode him out alone in the field yesterday and he was awesome❤️ He is going home with me today, but will be looking for his forever home in the future when he’s a little more ready. I’ll continue to post updates, so feel free to follow his page if you’d like to follow along!

P.S. I thought about editing his little spook out of the trail video, but I’m all about transparency. Apparently he doesn’t like it when I kick logs😂

08/28/2023

08/27/2023

Plot Twist: I will not be selling Wylie in the auction.. I just couldn’t handle not knowing who he’s going to😂 I’ve had a few people ask because I was planning to/he wasn’t listed in the catalog. Wylie is getting better and better every day. He’s been so good under saddle and even led the way on his second trail ride ever. He was a gentleman to be saddled, stood nicely at the trailer the whole time, and hauled like a champ (it was his first time tied in the trailer or to the trailer). He’s so reasonable and thinks through things that scare him… like when he got his foot stuck under the rubber mat while he was tied or when the group of 4-H kids all wanted to pet him at once the other night🤦🏼‍♀️😂 I’m having a blast with him, so the plan is to keep him for now, get him a little more broke/comfortable with new people, and help him find his forever home when he’s a little more ready💕 I will continue to post updates on his page, so feel free to follow along if you’d like!

Wylie is the type of horse that will get sour if he does the same thing over and over, so I’ve been working hard to keep things interesting for him! I’m still riding him most days, but I’m also trying to get him out for walks (he’s awesome, even in the woods by himself), doing obstacles in the arena, lunging over jumps, hand grazing, and following things around. We went for a 4 hour trail ride the other day with our friend Scout’s Trail (thanks for the pictures, Scout!) and he loved it!! He would thrive in a home that uses him: trails, cows, packing, cross country.. He’s getting more comfortable with new people and was so gentle when the neighbor girl came over and haltered him/practiced showmanship. He even stuck all his pivots for her🥰

I can’t believe how fast things have gone. It’s hard to believe that just 4 months ago he was wild and untouched. His world has completely changed and I’m so proud of the trust we’ve built❤️

07/29/2023

More content coming soon.. but here’s a little preview of how Wylie and I’s week in Montana went! He’s going to make the coolest mountain horse/cow horse/working horse for the right person!! Love this dude🐴🌲❤️

07/19/2023

Shout out to my friend Maddy who took these stellar auction photos of Wylie today!! He’s such a handsome boy with pretty much perfect conformation and stunning movement.. It’s been hard not to talk myself into keeping him💕 He would make an awesome sport horse, ranch riding, or mountain trail horse and will be available via competitive bid on Sept 3rd.

I was out of town for 4 days, so Wylie had some time off. I think the sweet boy missed me, because he followed me around the field for an hour looking for scratches while I cleaned his pen. He rocked the showmanship pattern we practiced and was calm as we walked around the property. He also had his first trim today! Wylie is great with his feet when I pick them up (I can move them around, clean them, bang on them with a rock while he’s ground tied), but it still takes him a little to trust new people. We’re continuing to work on that and he’s getting more comfortable each person!

Speaking of meeting people.. Wylie and I are headed over to spend a week with Mustang Matt in Montana this weekend!!! We’ll be there from 7/22-7/27 if you’re in Montana and want to come say hi! We’ll also be down in Oregon sometime between 8/13-8/19!

07/12/2023

It’s been a big week for Wylie! He’s honestly one of the sweetest horses I’ve ever met. He has yet to offer to kick/bite a human or a horse.. I don’t think I’ve even seen him pin his ears! He’s a little on the timid side, but I think that will go away as he grows more comfortable with domestic life. I’ve asked him to do something new every day the past week and he’s been so willing and brave about it all, even though his eyes (and occasional snorts) have told me he’s been a little bit nervous.

He’s had a bit of stranger danger, so he’s met someone new each day this week. Today he stood so quietly while my dad, uncle, and I all pet him. I have a couple friends lined up to come work with him to continue helping him through this!

He’s also been spending lots of time saddled out in the field and is getting more comfortable with it on. He’s still a little nervous about it being up there sometimes, but his reaction all along has been to stop and sink back or walk over to me in hopes that I’ll help him/make it go away😂 I’d prefer that to taking off bucking!We’ve been practicing going forward with the saddle on and he’s getting so much confident trotting around with it!

I also took him for a walk down the driveway, and have introduced him to standing tied, the hose and fly spray. He’s still most comfortable being sprayed on his shoulders/neck/legs, but we’re getting there! We’ve spent time working in the arena while people are riding and he’s been great with the traffic… even when one of the other horses was being a little naughty🙃 I also ponied him for the first time today. He stood quietly while I got on/off my pony horse. He was a little hesitant to trot, but figured it out pretty quickly! He’s such a smart, sweet, handsome boy and is going to make the best forever friend for someone in September❤️

07/02/2023

I have not been doing a great job at updates, but here’s a sneak peak at what Wylie and I have been up to! He is the sweetest, most respectful boy and I am having so much fun with him! Looking at his teeth, I think he’s likely a little older than we originally thought (he has his canine teeth l, so probably 5-6 years old). So I think it’s fair that it took him a little time to settle in!

Wylie is easy to catch and walks up to me in the field. He halters/leads at a walk/trot from both sides and picks up his feet nicely.We’re working towards our first ride, but are taking things at his pace. He is a little looky at times, but is so brave and has been willing to try any scary things I’ve asked him to.. Like loading in the horse trailer and walking over blankets and bridges with railings! We took a field trip mid June to go see the Steffen Family, also Teens competitors, and he settled right in. They were so sweet and helped Wylie and I a ton! Wylie also got to spend two weeks working with my friend Kendra (Kendra Van Beek Horsemanship) while I was visiting family in Canada.

I’m so excited to back back home working with Wylie and can’t wait to see where the next two months take us. We’re planning road trips to Montana and Oregon this month! I’ll post dates soon in case you want to come meet him while we’re in town. I’d love to keep him as he’s so kind and a gorgeous mover, but my barn is at capacity through the winter. He will be available via competitive bid on September 3rd!❤️

05/28/2023

Meet Wylie💕

I knew from the moment I saw him that this guy had lots to teach me. It took him a few weeks to settle down, but I’m so happy with the trust we’ve built and progress he’s made. I usually wait to name them until the tag is off, but since he slipped his halter AND his tag, I waited until his halter was back on. And today was the day he finally decided the halter wasn’t going to eat him🙃 All if his gentling has been at liberty this far and he’s had a say in every single step. I’ve got big plans for a summer full of camping, pack trips, and horse shows with him, so feel free to follow along to watch out progress!

Wylie has the kindest eyes and absolutely stunning movement. He is very big bodied and is about 15 hands. He will be available in September💕