Happy Adoption: Rhett Adopted through the TIP Program Painting # 336

"Rhett"
4 by 6 inches Watercolor
by LindaLMartinArtist
$35.00

Nicole Stuart McAleer's story on how Rhett came  be hers: 

"Last fall (2011) I was helping a trainer with her mustang for the Extreme Mustang Makeover. After that mustang she loved it so much that she brought in 4 TIP horses. At the time I couldn't have one because I already had 2 horses. About 40 days after the TIP horses came in my 5 year old gelding passed away of unknown causes. I was devastated and so was my mare. The TIP trainer informed me that "Brownie" as he was called, was still available and asked if I was interested. I couldn't resist the idea of a mustang, as I have always wanted one. So in January of 2012, I brought him home.

My favorite book is Gone With The Wind.My mare came with the name Scarlett, so that is where the name came from. We thought BLM's Gone With The Wind was a good name and call him Rhett around the house. He spent 30 days with a trainer and withing 6 months we allowed beginners to ride him. He has a wonderful temperament and is a pleasure to own. Other than my mare I don't think I will ever own another breed!!"

The Tip program ( Trainer Incentive Program) is a good way for a new adopter to adopt their first mustang. The trainer must be approved by the Mustang Heritage Foundation then they have a period of time to handle the mustang that is fresh off the range. The horse is gentled, feet handled and most of the ground work is done to make sure the horse can be handled safely for grooming, vetting, hoof care, haltering and leading and loading safely into and out of a trailer.. Tip trainers can also help with additional training for the first time owner. To find out all the requirements to adopt a mustang through the TIP progam please go to http://www.mustangheritagefoundation.org/trainers.php 
 Just click on the map for trainers near you.

Mustang A Day Challenge Painting # 303 Burro #2531

Burro #2531
5 by 5 inches Watercolor
by Linda L Martin Artist
SOLD

Burro #2531 is part of the Eastern States Internet adoption That started April 11th and will end on April 25th. 
 All bidders must be approved before they are able to bid on the available horses and burros. You can get information about this burro and 9 others and how to qualify to adopt through the BLM sight:
https://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse/horse.php?horse_id=5123

 ***
Here is the information as provided by the BLM.:

Burro #2531 Ready to Adopt
Photo provided by the BLM

 Sex: Gelding
Age: 8 Years 
Height (in hands):
Neck tag #: 2531  
Date Captured: 09/26/09
Color: Gray   
Captured: Slate Range (CA)

Burro #2531 Ready to Adopt
Photo provided by the BLM

Notes:
#2531 - 8 yr old gray gelded jack, captured Sept 2009, in the Slate Range HMA, California.
This burro is currently located in Canon City. For more information, contact Lona Kossnar at 719-269-8539 or lona_kossnar@blm.gov.
 
Pick up options (by appt): Canon City, CO; Elm Creek, NE; Pauls Valley, OK; Piney Woods, MS.
Other pick up options: Rutland, VT (6/15); Unadilla, GA (6/23).
  
  
The opening bid is $125.00        
You must be approved to bid
***
This is your opportunity to own an amazing piece of living US History.  Personally I think he is a very cute boy and doesn't even begin to look his age.He has a lot of potential for the person wanting to take on a gentling and training project for the summer.

If you are interested and have never adopted I suggest two things: 1) read the requirements and then 2) locate a Tip Trainer near you to guide your through the process and the training.

Tip Trainers can be found through  the Mustang Heritage Foundation: http://www.mustangheritagefoundation.org
Requirements and available horses can be found on line at the BLM On-line Adoptions site. http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/whbprogram/adoption_program/facility.html

Mustang A Day Challenge Painting # 298 Megan Jones' Nevada

"Nevada"
4 by 6 inches  Watercolor
by Linda L Martin Artist
$35.00

Megan sent me some amazing photos documenting the training of her Mustang Nevada. I suppose I could have done a traditional head portrait of him. But I was thinking back to my younger years with my own black horse and sitting in the pasture while he grazed just being together.

Its more amazing when you think that this beauty of a black horse with his white blaze was wild and has had less than 18 months of training when he arrived at Megan's home.

Megan adopted Nevada at the CSU Mustang makeover in 2010. He had been aged at 4 years by the BLM but seemed younger to her. From Megan's Facebook Page: " I can't say enough Good things about Steve, the trainer that took him on for the EMM(Extreme Mustang Makeover). He is like no other horse I've ever worked with . He (Nevada) stepped up on this obstacle the very first time I asked him to . He's just incredible ."

When I was a child they were still force breaking wild horses. Gosh, they were force breaking almost every horse. And some of them were so scared that they were never safe to ride. Others were so severely injured that there was nothing left for them but to be put down. Some grew to hate people and would literally fight to the death rather than submit. It was a rough time for horses and for the people that tried to "break" them. Breaking is pretty much what they did, too. Bones and spirit of both the men and the horses is some sort of conquering war that enslaved the animals until they were useless, in some cases, and the men so crippled they were useless too.
  

 In the 1970s the University of Maryland began an experiment that would eventually revolutionize training for those who accepted it. It was, at that time, called trackless training or gentling behavior modification. Those of us who adapted the method to use in training were not generally accepted for using it.. But the horses learned quickly to trust and to follow. Those horses that the method were applied to were very safe mounts, in my experience. Trainers that used it also were ridiculed and harassed for using the methods.. as "it was for circus horses and trick ponies" the critics said. When I experimented with it I discovered that you could start the babies young. It was unheard of for a whole farm of young horses in training to never learn to buck. No horse I worked with at the time did after being handled gently and constantly using the method.

Now this new breed of young trainers is amazing. The first day off the trailer and less than an hour on the ground these new gentle trainers  reach out their hands to wild horses, not to dominate them but to gain their trust. Trainers that are leaders to the horses, in both movement and language that the wild ones understand from being on the range and running with a herd. This new breed of Mustang trainers capitalize on the wild horses' experience from the beginning life when they heard their dam's first wicker and nuzzled their side for nourishment, to follow a leader..

Nevada in full tack on the
obsitical Course. Photo
Courtesy Megan Jones

There are many philosophies for the new more effective training methods, even many variations. Most of these accomplished  Modern Mustang trainers make a relationship to the horse that does amazing things in a very short time. Sometimes its as short as 60 to 90 days to start a green horse. And the really successful trainers know that they do not limit themselves to one training method or philosophy, but use what ever the horse they are working with needs to accomplish willingly what needs to be done, because of that trust. It all comes down to this:That amazing first touch, where the completely wild horse realizes that he wants you to be that close and craves it when you scratch that special spot on him.

Looking through all the photos that Megan sent me and the ones she has in her album on Facebook its not hard to tell that the relationship is not only there but its solid and steady. When I was growing up, and later teaching and training with horses of my own I often told my clients this: "If a horse trusts you he will do anything you ask to the best of his ability." From what I have observed through Megan's steady documentation, Nevada and Megan have that kind of relationship. Its a beautiful thing.


Mustang Adoptions are coming up again on the Internet. If you are interested and have never adopted I suggest two things: 1) read the requirements and then 2) locate a Tip Trainer near you to guide your through the process and the training.

Tip Trainers can be found through  the Mustang Heritage Foundation: http://www.mustangheritagefoundation.org
Requirements and available horses can be found on line at the BLM On-line Adoptions site. http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/whbprogram/adoption_program/facility.html

Happy Adoption: "Cueca" from Coppersmith HMAChallenge Painting #118

Beautiful Bay Filly Trained by Gerry Gesell through the Trainer Incentive Program administered by the Mustang Heritage Foundation



"Cueca"
5 by 9 inch Watercolor
by LindaLMartinArtist



Cueca, a bay filly from Coppersmith, CA HMA, was hand-selected by Gerry Gesell for 88 Wild Horses, a wild horse training program developed to promote adoptions and showcase the talent and versatility of these horses. She was one of over a dozen horses selected during the Spring of 2010 which were then started and trained by Gerry until they were adopted into various disciplines in various states. From her energy and presence came the name "Cueca": the cueca is the national dance of Chile.

 

Cueca was started in Wyoming then moved to South Carolina where Gerry Showcased his string of  TIP horses. There Cueca was picked to become part of a polo string. After a season in South Carolina she was headed to Florida for the winter polo season and more training. This Summer(2011) she is scheduled to play in her first polo tournaments in  New York.

To read more about 88 Wild Horses go to:

www.88wildhorses.com
www.facebook.com/88wildhorses
www.gerrygesell.blogspot.com

Happy Adoptions Challenge Painting #108 "CP and Dulce"

When Quarter Horse Breeder Deb Moore-McGuire  went to  see some mustangs with Mustang U TIP Trainer Tracey Westbury she didnt expect to come home with a mustang. And she didnt. She came home with three, eventually. 

CP and Dulce'
5 by 7 inch Watercolor
by LindaLMartinArtist

The Story in her words:

"Tracey and I first saw this palomino mare in Feb of 2010 when we went to Burns Ore for the BLM Colorfest adoption. In a pen of mostly dark or pinto horses the "little" palomino mare with the LONG mane really showed up. With a grulla tobiano 2yr old that stuck to her like glue. We dubbed her "Miss Cranky Pants" because she seemed to always be crabbing at someone getting into her space.

I ended up adopting the shy 2yr old grulla pinto that was her daughter. (how that happened is another whole story)  But the palomino mare with all the mane stuck with me thru the spring and summer. I would see her pictures come up on my computer screen and think about what a nice looking mare she was and ALL that mane. ;o)

Then Tracey Westbury and Maggie Rothauge came home from the corrals the end of August with photos of Miss CP (we shortened her name so it didn't sound so bad) and her 2011 loud overo filly.

I thought it would be fun to have 2 sisters that were so different. Since the filly was not quit ready to wean in Sept. I decided IF I could find someone who wanted to sponsor and adopt CP I would bring the pair home. Since CP had been at the corrals for over a year and was 8yrs old she was allowed to come out in the TIP program.

So off we went the end of Oct to Burns to get them. I adopted the filly whom we named Dulce' (Sweet). Altho when we picked them up Tom kept calling her "Tiger" and informed me I would have my hands full with her. She came around very quickly and is now halterbroke and very friendly.

Dulce' is a silly goose and always looking for something or someone to play with. CP now is very talkative and all three of them (CP. Primera and Dulce') love to bang on things. Gates, tipped over water tubs, or anything that will make noise. I think they are wanna be Mustang "rockstars". And they all love to play in water tubs.

My Friend Lisa has adopted CP altho she will live at my house until she is fully gentled and ridable. Her mane is still amazing long and she is shedding out a pretty dark golden palomino. And the "little" palomino mare is a big stout 15.1hds. Nothing little about her.)"

The reference photography,images and story were provided by Deb Moore McGuire.

All rights reserved.

A portion of the proceeds of this painting go to Mustang U

This post was scheduled for Thursday May 12th. However due to problems with Blogger it was posted on 5/13/011

~*~*~

Help support the Challenge

Have your Horse painted:

The watercolor painting of Dulce and CP is a 5 by 7 inch ready to frame. If you would like to have one of these little paintings of your horse here are the prices for 2014: 

1 horse $75.00

2 horses $85.00  

$5.50 will provided S&H for up to three paintings combined ship of this size.

Client provides Photos and  Story to be included in the Challenge. Proof of Copyright required on photography when requested.

Happy Adoptions Challenge Painting #105 "Sancho"

 Welcome to the Happy Adoptions  Week for May.



Sancho
9 by 6 inch Watercolor
by LindaLMartin



Our first painting in this series is actually chosen by Cecilia Steel, the winner of our 100 Mustangs Celebration. We reached the 100 Mustang Challenge Paintings mark on Monday May 2 and then had a drawing to give away a free 9 by6 inch watercolor. Cecilia choose for her painting a special horse named Sancho trained through the Mustang Heritage Foundation's Trainer Incentive Program by Gerry Gesell

Sancho at his current home in Texas

The following are Cecelia's own words about Sancho and the challenges he had to over come and how one remarkable trainer saw his potential.

"Sancho is  a 7 year old black gelding from Callaghan HMA , North of the Town of Austin in Nevada.  Sancho was from the first year of our program in 2009. He was five and recently gelded just before Gerry started him.

Sancho's Scar from being bitten by a
Mountain Lion. The scars while not pretty do
not affect his gates, nor his ability
to be a good riding and work horse.

Sancho has huge scars on both his hips from being attacked by a mountain lion.  The scar on the off side of his hip is from the mouth of the cat and on his near side the scar is from its claws.


Despite all this he is a gentle giant; at 15.2hh, he is one of the taller horses to go through the program. He was the first mustang I ever rode, I climbed up on him bareback on only his second ride and he safely carted me around the round pen.

Where the Mountain Lion clawed Sancho.

Gerry took these photos last week. Gerry went to visit and ride Sancho at his home in Texas. He is a pleasure horse for a beginner rider in his late 60's, he's a "husband horse." Nearly two years after he was adopted, Sancho is sleek and shiny, fat and happy (maybe even a little too fat..). He has always had that twinkle in his eye. His best friend is a donkey. He is trustworthy and reliable and anyone can ride him. He is a sweetheart and he is much loved.


As far as we have gathered, he has two freeze brands because he was first state owned and then federally owned.

Sancho under Saddle as he was baing trained
by Gerry Gesell

A cowboy and horse trainer, Gerry Gesell, has for the last two years been developing a wild horse training program. Gerry hand selects horses from a BLM facility in Nevada, trains them and finds adopters. He has successfully started and adopted out a total of 18 mares and geldings ranging in age from 2 to 9. The horses have found homes across the country and in a wide variety of disciplines including ranching, polo, showjumping, trail riding, foxhunting, dressage, and eventing.


Gerry is currently looking for a permanent base of operation on a ranch or facility in Texas or out west."

Gerry added a little more to the story for us on Facebook; in his words: "We had an expert look at his scars and he determined that the scars were roughly 3 years old. He looked at the scars 2 years ago, so Sancho would have been 2 when he was attacked. He receieved NO treatment for his wounds because he was still living in the wild when attacked. He is so unique that everyone remembered when he was gathered."


To Read more about Gerry and his program. here is his website: http://www.88wildhorses.com/about.html

All Photography and reference photogrography was provided by Cecilia Steel and used by permission.

She owns the copyrights to her work.

Ready to Adopt Mustang Babies~ Challenge Painting #85

Adoptable Palomino Weanling
5.5 by 5.75 inches Watercolor
by LindaLMartinArtist

Gorgeous! Palomino Colt available for adoption.  Contact Tracey Westbury at Mustang U for more information on this special baby. tracey.mustangu@gmail.com.

Palamino colt ready for adoption/
Reference photo provided by Tracey Westbury.
Used by permission.

Part of the proceeds from the sale of this painting benefit the work of Mustang U.

" First Touch" Fort Collins Mustang Makeover ~ Challenge Painting #77

"First Touch"
8 by 10 inch Watercolor
by LindaLMartin Artist

“First Touch”

Painting number 2 following the Fort Collins Mustang Makeover with Madeleine LeClerc and Robert Carlson.

The first step in gaining the trust of a mustang is being able to have them accept your touch. Everything else is on hold until you get to that point.  Getting there is step by step almost a dance of acceptance.  Entering the space, the small world step by step until your hand is gently on the horse’s shoulder and he doesn’t flinch, he doesn’t move away.. There is an intimacy there that the horse connects with the handler. With a mustang it cannot be forced it must come by degrees so that the horse is not only willing to receive but he wants it and comes willingly.

Madeleine LeClerc using the whip
to make first touch.
Its not to threaten or beat the horse,
 but just used as an extension of the hand.

The first time I ever saw a horse worked with in this way I discovered that the whip as a tool was really an extension of the hand. The lunge whip, that whip with the long leather on the end, folded around the whip and touching the horse, making space between the handler and the mustang but touching. When touched first with the whip.. soon he will except the hand.  The key is touch

To follow the ongoing details of Madeleine and Robert you can like their Mustang Makeover page at this link on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/2011-CO-Mustang-Makeover-with-RM-Performance/119433394800806


Robert Carlson Making first touch with his hand.
Photo illustrations and reference by Lightning Bug Creek.
Used by permission.



Steens HMA Week " Dibs" Challenge Painting #66

Today's Challenge Painting is of a young Steens bachelor stallion. He was named Dibs by the daughter of this week's guest blogger Tracey Westbury.  



"Dibs"
5 by 7 Watercolor
$45.00
by Linda L Martin Artist
SOLD



" When we made our first trip to the South Steens in the winter of 2008, we encountered the Hollywood Herd, and among them were two pinto colts who appeared to be long yearlings.  Katie stood quietly, and patiently made her way up into their space.  One colt stayed completely relaxed and continued grazing until she was 10-15' from him, at which time he simply turned and walked away.  She was determined to adopt him if he was among those gathered the following year.  She called Dibs.

When the South Steens was gathered in '09, Dibs was among them.  We spotted his photo in a friend's online album about a month after the gather.  We contacted the BLM, knowing that we'd be down for their special adoption event in February, but were told that Dibs was not there.  He was good looking enough, they felt, that he should be returned to the mountain.



Dibs and  Katie
in 2010
photos and references used by permission
copyright2010 Tracey Westbury



Katie was heartsick.  She knows what a rough life it can be for horses out there, and she didn't want to see Dibs hurt in battle, or worse, starving as an old, aged stallion in years to come.  When that day comes, it will be incredibly difficult for her.  But now, in the meantime, she's able to make trips with me to the South Steens to see 'her' wild horse.  In August of 2010 we found Dibs grazing with a bachelor herd.  He was huge...so grown up and filled out!  Katie again quietly made her way toward him, choosing her steps carefully as he grazed.  She'd stop and take a photo or two, then continue to approach.  Eventually, she was there.  The big pinto stood and posed for her, then turned his head to look at her.  As she stood looking into his eyes, he turned and faced up.  It was no more than a moment, and Katie took a step backward, 'releasing' him, and they both walked back into their respective worlds."

Tracey Westbury operates Mustang U, a non-profit for the purpose of helping make older gathered mustangs easier to adopt. You can read more about her work on her blog. http://mustangu.blogspot.com/

You can read more about the Steens on Mustang A Day Challenge News: http://mustangadaychallengenews.blogspot.com/2011/03/south-steens-week-on-mustang-day.html

*****
Paintings from the Steens HMA Week are available for sale. Each painting will be 5 by 7 inch watercolor offered for $45.00 each. A portion of each sale will go to Mustang U.  If you have a special  Steens horse that you would like to commission for the project please contact me through my facebook page: www.facebook.com/LindaLMartinArtist

Adoption: "Tavaci" From Nevada Wild Horse Range- Challenge Painting #57



"Tavaci"
5 by 7 Watercolor
by  Linda L Martin Artist

     Tavaci was adopted by photographer Amy Spivey and her husband, Christopher,  in September 2010.
Tavaci, was rounded up in July of 2008 from the Nevada Wild Horse Range. He was born in 2007 according to his Bureau of Land Management Tatoo.  The sorrel gelding with the long silver flaxen mane and tail was trained by Texas trainer Robert Carlson. 
According to Amy, Robert, along with Fiancé Madi LeClerc, have both worked with Tavaci.  
Readers may remember that Artista and Riley in previous Adoption posts where both horses that came out of Robert and Madi’s  Training Facility. In addition to training TIP and adopted mustangs, as well as other horses, both Robert and Madi compete in the Mustang Makeovers held by the Mustang Heritage foundation .org.

"Tavaci"
Reference Photography by
Amy Spivey/Lightening Bug Creek Photography
Used by permission

Amy’s Lightenning Bug Creek Photography documents the training activities of Robert and Madi through out the year as they prepare for competition in the Mustang Makeovers.
Amy says that Tavaci is to be her husband’s trail horse.

Adoption: "Riddle Me Dino" Stormy Ranch's Kiger Mustang. Gathered Riddle Ridge HMA 1999 Challenge Painting #54

From the Stormy Ranch blog: "We have been gentling mustangs since 1996. We love to work with wild horses. My wife and I have adopted 36 wild horses. We like to train them to ride and find good homes for them. We have a 15 year old Kiger stallion (Dino) that we adopted in 1999. He was 4 years old at that time. He is our show horse and we have traveled many miles to many states to show him. We love to take him places as he attracts a lot of attention and we can show the public what a Wild Mustang can become! We love to take our mustangs out to ride the wild horse herds in Oregon and take pictures."



________

"Riddle Me Dino"
16 year old Kiger Mustang
8 by 10  watercolor
by LindaLMartinArtist



He is now 16 yrs. Old. He is still a stallion and owned by Kevin and Lisa Sink of Sheridan, OR. According to Lisa in a recent email, Dino is known for his super calm demeanor.  "He was not hard to gentle and very easy to train. He is a joy to ride and he can even ridden by small children. "

She told me that Dino started his show career in 2002.  "Since then he has traveled many thousands of miles to many states to compete! He has won numerous championships and creates a fan club everywhere he goes."

Lisa also told me that this beautiful Kiger also is a bit of a camera hog. On the day the reference photo was taken he proved it.  "In the picture were Dino is looking back on the camera was a day I was trying to take pictures of other horses and He was keeping an eye on me because if I pointed the camera at another horse he would step in front of the camera. He was telling me he is the only one that matters!!! ", Lisa Shared.

Dino as they call him is well loved and a wonderful example of a great family adopting a special and talented horse.

A special thank you to all the folks at Stormy Ranch for their participation in the Mustang A Day Challenge.

A note of interest. A print of Riddle Me Dino will be made available to the Sink Family as a donation to help raise money for their grand child with Cystic Fibrosis. If you would like to make a donation to the family for on-going treatment please contact them through facebook or email through their blog.

To read more of their experience with Lisa and Kevin Sink's Stormy Ranch, their is blog: http://mustanggentling.blogspot.com/

Adoption: "High Sierra" from Cyclone Rim , Wyoming Mustang A Day Challenge #50



"Sierra"
8by10 Watercolor
by Linda L Martin

Julie Gaspar's beautiful little Sorrel mustang mare High Sierra. According to Julie, Sierra was captured as a 2-3 year old at a place called Cyclone Rim Wyoming. The round-up at that time was  on Feb 15th, 2001. Julie says that she has owned Sierra for the last 5 years.  Before Julie became her owner, she was mostly a barn pet. Now Julie says Sierra is her steadfast trail mount. " I enjoy our many miles together"  Thank you Julie for sharing your beautiful mare with us for the Mustang A Day Painting Challenge.



 

"Sierra"
Photo and Reference photography by Julie Gaspar
Used by Permission

Adoption "Riley" from Sand Wash Basin HMA, Colorado Mustang A Day Challenge #48




Riley
8 by10 Watercolor
by LindaLMartin

 Riley is from Sand Wash Basin HMA and was gathered in the 2008 gather. He has now been gentled to the point that he is ready for a home and further training. Riley is being offered for adoption through the TIP program of the Mustang Heritage Foundation.

He is currently available in Texas at the Ranch of  Madeleine LeClerc and her partner Trainer Robert Carlson.

Last fall I stumbled across the coolest thing I have seen in a long time. Horse Trainers from all over the country and some overseas through luck of the draw take a BLM gathered adult Mustang and in 100 days or less gentle train and generally make useful a wild mustang. The trainer then competes on the horse for prizes and to showcase the animal. The Mustang is then offered for sale at auction. One such Trainer is Madeleine LeClerc.

These events, called Mustang Makeovers, are sponsored by the BLM and are run by the Mustang Heritage Foundation. Another program the Mustang Heritage Foundation over sees is the TIP program or Trainer Incentive Program.  Basically TIP Mustangs are placed in a trainer's care and in 60 days the trainer gentles the horse, teaches him to lead, lift his feet for trimming, stand quietly for grooming and vetting and to load and unload into a trailer. At the end of the 60 days the Mustang is offered for adoption to an approved home for $125. The trainer will then be paid a predetermined amount of money for  the work put into gentling the Mustang depending on its age. Payment is made to the Trainer by the Bureau of Land Management upon adoption of the horse. The trainer can also offer to further train the  Mustang at the new owners expense and teach the new owner the special needs of the newly gentled mustang.



Riley
Photo by LightningBug Creek Photography
Photo Used by permission

 The TIP program was put into place because of the large number of unadopted mustangs now in holding pens through out the country. One of the issues is that a "flashy" horse, usually a pinto or palomino and other horses of bright unusual colors, will usually be adopted but a plain horse such as bay, sorrel, brown with out much white  or a gray horse will not be as readily adopted as they don't look unique enough. Unfortunately the larger number of captured mustangs fall into these  plain color categories.

However, by putting some training time into these wild horses, it makes an opportunity for some one to own a mustang that doesn't have the experience level of dealing with a horse fresh off the range. Thus the horse is made more adoptable. Riley is just such a BLM horse. Riley, from Sand Wash BAsin HMA  was born wild. He has now been gentled to the point that he is ready for a home and further training.

You can contact Madeleine through http://www.westernclinics.com/  They are looking to find an adoptive home for Riley by March 1. If you know someone interested in owning  this sweet mustang please pass the word along.

At Madeline request a portion of the money from the sale of this painting will go to the Mustang Heritage Foundation.
To Read more about the various programs for trainers and the Mustang Makeover go to http://www.mustangheritagefoundation.org/

A special Thanks to  Amy Peterson Spivey of Lightning Bug Creek Photography. You can see more of her mustang photos on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LBCPhotography