Thank You.

Well everyone,
    I want to say Thank You for sticking with me on this journey. Vesta is the best horse I could've ever asked for, and I am so thankful you guys were able to join me on this journey. Life is getting busy, and I have recently accomplished a major goal, that I personally feel would be a good note to end this blog on. Before I show the big reveal, I'd like to thank the Mustang Heritage Foundation and the BLM for this opportunity. I'd also like to throw out their that I am highly interested in doing this program again, so keep your eyes out for another blog!

   Before I say my final goodbyes, I'd like to post a before- and- after shot, it is truly remarkable to see the changes in this little horse.
 Before

 











After

Alright, here it is. Recently, I have been working with Vesta to accomplish one of my biggest goals. Needless to say, she did the typical Vesta thing and blew me away with how quickly she picked it up. With this, I will bow out and say Thank you once again for being a part of one of the best things that has happened in my life.

Western States Wild Horse and Burro Expo

Hey y'all!
     Yesterday , Friday, Vesta and I showed in the Western States Wild Horse and Burro Exposition! Man that is a mouthful! This is Vesta's first show and she was simply amazing! I could not have expected anything better.
      We entered in five different classes and ended up preforming in six. Our First class was the first class of the entire expo, and we happened to be the first contestant, so that was special! Our first classes was mares halter two and under. We placed 2nd and got to advanced to the Championship halter round. We didn't place here, but it was awesome just to be there!
      Our second class was colored halter, which we didn't place in either, but Vesta finally got the idea of squaring up! Our third class was showmanship which we did our pattern very well for our first pattern class ever! We ended up getting 4th out of an eight horse class!
     Our fourth and fifth classes were trail type classes. We've been practicing rounds but there were so many obstacles that we had never done before! Our in-hand trail round was great! She didn't spook at anything! She went easily over the ground poles, though we did knock them a little, then through the narrow mechanical gate flawlessly! This gate is notoriously tricky! We then went through the "L" and then had to back through it. She backed easily and only put one foot out! We went over and opened and closed the mail box and pulled out the mail. We hadn't done this before and she stood there so calmly! We went over a big bridge with out any problem and trotted into a 3- sided box. After we turned we went over three ground poles laid out on astro turf. She didn't even flinch! She was amazing! Placing haven't been announced yet, but I'll edit this when I find out.
    Our fifth class was called, "Gambler's Choice" it is a class that consists of a bunch of crazy obstacles laid out and you choice the difficulty and order in which you do them. You have 2 minutes to do as many as you can and get as many points as possible. We managed to rack up 60 points, which was very good. I doubt we will place because a few people out ranked us and many others got 60, but I was thrilled with how well she did! We went over a tarp and turned around on it, over a rocking bridge and made it rock, through a square with cans, through a tire rim, over trotting poles, a tiny mat strip and finally up on a pedestal. After we had finished I got to play around on the course and we did all the other obstacles. She was great!! Didn't spook at anything and was willing to try everything!! Nothing seems to phase her at all! I am so proud of her.
Alright! Well I got a bunch of pictures, I think I'll put up most of them. For those of you who like pictures, there should be around 45 or so to look at!
** EDIT** I found out my trail placings on Sunday and was pleasantly surprised! I placed 2nd in my Gambler's Choice class,which had about 5 people in it, and 4th in my trail class! I think I was more impressed with the 4th because there were about 15 people in that class! Way to go Vesta!

The course.

Rocking bridge.

Trailering in a stock load, no issue!

I love this picture, she is so adorable.

Kisses!

Champion halter, the photos are kind blurry.

Colored halter.

This lady was so awesome!

Home at last!

    I have finally returned from my road trip adventure! I am so so thankful to be home! I missed Vesta so much! As soon as I got home, I rushed out to see her and noticed she grew so much! Her color also changed from the red with light roaning to a fully roaned out bay! She is gorgeous! I have included some pictures and can't wait to work on her training!

I let her out into a slightly larger pen to meet out other horses. She and Flappy became instant friends! Needless to say that they will be little double makers!



Hope you guys enjoyed the pictures!! More from us soon!

Roan vs. Grey

    Earlier today, we were sitting in a dinner in North Dakota, and we noticed a painting depicting a cowboy and a herd of horses. My dad pointed to a bluish grey and said " Look a roan! " Puzzled, I looked and the picture and said , " Nope that is a grey." My dad asked me how I knew. I explained to him an he thought you guys may like to know also.

   A roan is scientifically known as one of the three "base" colors with a roaning modifier added. These three bases are chestnut, black, and bay. Bay is considered a base even though it is the "agouti" modifier on a black base. But that isn't of the point so enough on that. A roan is characterized by the legs and head of the horse being the base color, no roaning occurs on these areas. The rest of the horse with have white hairs mixed in with the base creating a lighter, mixed look. The three main colors of roan include: Blue roan, ( black based) Red roan, (chestnut based, also called strawberry) and Bay roan ( Bay based, also known as red.)

   Grey is entirely different. I didn't do too much research into on genetics, but the grey gene affects a base coat of black, bay, or chestnut, and makes the horse more grey over time. The difference between a roan and a grey, is that a grey will get progressively more white / grey. Their coats change year to year in amount of white hairs, while roans' coats do not change with age. Also, the greys' greying with cover the face, while the roans' roaning does not. These are basic differences between the two colors.

  This was a quick post so the grammar may not be perfect, hopefully the point was conveyed though! Good Night from Minnesota!

Montana Mustangs!

Hello from the road! I am currently relaxing in gorgeous Montana! I thought I should post some stuff about the mustangs in Montana. Montana only has one BLM documented herd area. This herd area is rather famous actually. It is located in the Pryor Mountain Range and is home to "Cloud," the mustang documented on the PBS series. This herd area is very well known and is the last remaining herd area in Montana. I am very honored to be in such a cool state with such a cool band of horses! I will do different updates, probably not much more on wild horse herds because eastern states don't have wild herds. Oh I have an idea!! More tomorrow or the next day!

Catch- Up Blog!

    Wow! Life has gotten busy all of a sudden. We are going on our road trip soon, so I figured this is a perfect time to post a catch-up blog before we go! I have been sick for two weeks with either Pneumonia or Bronchitis. Terribly fun.

     Let's see, what have I not posted on. Oh! Yesterday, I went to a monastery and gave a presentation with Vesta to the local nuns. They loved her!! Vesta also did her pedestal trick! It was amazingly cute. I also babysat all last week. The girl I watched was very polite and loved horses! I took her on a trail ride and she helped me out with Vesta. It was quite fun!

    I am rather sad, my employment with the Mustang Heritage Foundation is drawing to an end. It has been a fantastic experience and I would/ will do it again! I am thrilled I was able to meet Vesta and experience Mustangs! 

   This is the last piece of this blog. It isn't to brag at all, but mainly to share an experience. By training Vesta, I have experienced a trust and a bond that I have never seen before. I feel contacted to that horse, I can tell what she will do next and she looks to me for leadership. Not only does she look to me for approval, she walks on step with me frequently. When I have her jog next to me, it is not uncommon for her to be on the same stride as me, even if she started out on a different stride. I feel like I am dancing when I work with her. Most magical thing ever.

Pictures!

 I love sharing Vesta with everyone! It makes them happy and I get to do what I love.

She finally go up on her pedestal! My dad made
it especially for her! It has her name on it.

She was very loved!