Happy Gotcha Day, Chisum!

Chisum, in the Holding Facility...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 2016, Craig and I learned about the Trainer Incentive Program (TIP), a collaboration between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Mustang Heritage Foundation. The goal of the program was to adopt "wild" Mustangs out to the public and train them for ranch work. Given our positive experience with Cap, our Mustang who participated in the inaugural Extreme Mustang Makeover, we wanted to bring more of these incredible representatives of the American West to Hideout Ranch. We made arrangements with the sponsor of the program and trainer, and scheduled an appointment on May 6th to meet with officials at the BLM Holding Facility in Florence, Arizona. Excited at the prospect of another Mustang, we started the three hour trek to Tucson at an unholy hour.

Cap, Hideout Ranch's first Mustang, and a young guest at Granite Gap...

We picked up the trainer at White Stallion Ranch, then continued on to Florence. Craig, JP, and I followed the BLM official to the section of pens. Most of the horses were plastered to the back of the pens - except for the black with a blazing white will-o'-the-wisp centered on his forehead. Fizzing, we made our way to the front of his pen, and I stretched my hand out toward the small gelding. He took a shy step, reached his muzzle and met my fingertips. Once he touched me - of his own volition - Craig, with a catch in his voice, announced "He's ours." And with that, Chisum became the newest of the Hideout Horses.

Shooing us out of the way, they ran Chisum out of the pen, down the alleys, and into a chute where they did what they did to get him ready for his trailer ride to his new life. Craig expertly backed the trailer to the head of the chute, and we all waited to see how Chisum would react. It really didn't take a great effort to usher him into the big, roomy aluminum trailer. Of course, he wasn't tied as being haltered was one of the first training exercises of Chisum's journey. Once he was safely in, we shut the door and headed back to Tucson where Chisum would be staying at White Stallion for his training. 

Chisum, waiting rather calmly to start his new life...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chi

Chisum traveled quietly, for being a "big, scary wild Mustang". After an uneventful loading, we were curious about how he would unload. See for yourself...

It was tough to leave him, having just fallen in love with him, but we were slated to be back at White Stallion for an AZDRA meeting on May 12th. Of course, we were planning to spend time with our boy. After the meeting, we all gathered out at a small round pen where, only six days into his training, I rode Chisum. Myself. JP said, "You realise this is not typical, adopters riding their Mustang so soon."

I replied, "You realise we are not your typical adopters."

He could not disagree.

Chisum came home to Hideout Ranch in July of 2016. He's gone on trail with me countless times, and with guests nearly as often. Craig was inordinately proud of our "Big Scary Mustang". I teased him about his saddle being too big and too heavy for Chisum so obviously Craig couldn't ride him and, therefore, Chisum was mine. He didn't seem to mind, he was simply overjoyed to have Chisum home with us.

I could not recommend Mustangs enough, though with proper and professional training. They are proud, noble creatures, but they are steady and stalwart. Chisum and Cap are living proof that the legacy of America's Horses lives on...