So, I remember far back enough to recall the controversy over people using airplanes to chase mustangs, gathering them up in truckloads to drag off and sell for dog food. When that was outlawed, the ranchers complained to the government that the Mustangs were eating up the range and drinking up the water they provided for their cattle. The Mustang adoption program was born – and from the very inception of it, I’ve dreamed of someday adopting a Mustang.

As a child, I wasn’t allowed to do so – I was not exactly in total control of what sort of horses I had – and had to be happy with whatever I had. And I was! Believe me. Grin. When I was older and worked with horses for a living – again, I worked with what I was paid to work with. (This is also why I’ve never indulged my life long love of gaited horses – I lived in Quarter Horse land)

Now I find myself living in the beauty of Southern New Mexico. Wild horses run free within a day’s drive of our ranch. I haven’t been up to see them yet – but I will. Once some boring old practical needs are taken care of, I will be able to purchase a horse or two of our own to enjoy. Whatever I want. Mustangs or Fox Trotters – or both!

So when I saw an article that there would be a Mustang adoption event in Las Cruces, just 70 miles south, naturally we had to go. Our facilities are not quite up to the requirements for a Mustang adoption yet, nor do I have the requisite stock trailer – but I wanted to go SEEEEE…

And drool. And dream. James came and brought his camera. He got some great photos you can see here – and I’ve been teasing you with the one on the updates table. Sorry – got the photos up and couldn’t resist sharing, even though I had not gotten around to writing a blog entry yet.

The burros were darling in several shades of grey, and one black jack. When I was a child, we went to look at a horse for sale – and I was gobsmacked instead by a beautiful black jack the people had there. My mother was adamantly opposed to any burro or mule and dragged me off with fury. LOL. Someday I’m going to adopt a black jack, and some cute fuzzy grey jenny to keep him company. James loves the burros – more than the horses I suspect. And then there is the whole – “OMG there are WILD BURROS IN OUR CAMP” episode when we were camping at Squaw Lake. Yes, we love the burros, too.

I saw half a dozen horses I would have loved to bring home. A pretty chestnut filly with mixed flaxen and black mane and tail. A rabicano mare! James caught an excellent photo of a buckskin gelding who had a bright, alert, intelligent eye that impressed me greatly. A pretty, slender spotty red roan mare captured James’ heart. Most of them were 14 to 15 hands, heavy boned with shaggy fetlocks and broad chests – just the sort of horse I love. I noticed that the three geldings sold as green broke were all nearer 16 hands high. I suppose most people prefer a larger horse. Of course, most people are over five feet tall – LOL. One of the requirements for my own horses from now on will be that I can roll right up on them bareback – meaning that anything over 15.2 is out. :P

Although I wouldn’t adopt a yearling right now – simply because I want a horse I can ride sooner than that – I saw a beautiful buckskin filly that would have certainly come home with us if I were adopting. I even briefly considered adopting her anyway, and trying to find someone who could transport her. (We are only a two-sided shelter away from making the requirements for a yearling…) Although she was only about 13 hands, she was leggy and long in the back and slightly goose-rumped. In fact, she looked like a small Akhal-Teke. My experience of cowboys is they don’t like that look. My experience of horses who have that look is that they are fantastically fast and athletic, able to both jump and run barrels. My kind of horse. She turned and walked away and OMG the length of stride on her was amazing. Sigh.

One thing I missed was the lack of any pintos in the group. Not a one. The horses were from Wyoming, Montana, Kansas, and even Oklahoma. I was hoping for native New Mexicans. I have a hope that a Mustang that grew up in this area will be able to handle the weather, thrive on the graze naturally on our ranch, and also know about most of the major dangers – from predators to mesquite thorns. (One of the sadder things I’ve seen here was a horse that grew up in Oklahoma and didn’t know about cacti – he was covered in scratches and punctures from thorns – OW!)

All in all – I just wish I had a bit more money in the bank, a stock trailer, a pen with a six-foot fence (we have a pen of the right size – but the fence is only 5’ 6” tall), and a two sided shelter. I’d have me some Mustangs!

Of course, nowadays you can adopt any time – online even! Go drool – or give one of these living treasures a home if you’re up to it (it isn’t for just anyone). Meanwhile, I’ve got a few more pressing needs to work on, but we are making progress. Someday…someday soon…

Blessedbe