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Maggy's Thoughts
I was thinking and knowing that my buddies Ellie and Shiloh have both
written things down about their lives I thought it only right that I do the
same. I was born in the wild. Being wild I thought was great. Not having anyone
to tell you what to do, and running free. I lived out west in Wyoming, on the
free open ranges. You have to be very tuff to live out there. The weather is
hard on a horse in the wintertime. You have to hunt for food and you learn to
eat very little to keep yourself alive. You live in a herd and that’s good
because you are never alone.
But you do have things to worry about. There are other animals you have
to look out for because they see you as food. You learn to be very sure footed
because you have to climb mountains and lots of rocks and things like that. One
thing that is not good is the fact that the wild horses are running out of range
space. Sometimes you even get shot at if you go onto some of the farmers land.
Now how is a horse to know whose land they are on? I haven't figured that one
out yet.
We also get rounded up every so often. This is a very scary thing. When
it happened to me the first time I was given this thing on my neck. My Mom calls
it a freeze brand. I was told it gives people information on us. But I think we
could really do with out it. The next time I was rounded up I had a colt on my
side. I had to keep him very safe. We were put into pens I had no idea what was
going on. We were here for a long time but we were given hay and water and that
was nice. I didn't have to worry about finding food on my own.
People came from all over to look at us. They had taken some of my herd
out and I was told they went back to the range. I didn't know what was going to
happen to my baby and me. I didn’t like this at all and neither were the other
horses. Then the next thing I know my colt and I were run into this chute. They
stopped me and put thing on my head. I found out later it was called a halter.
Halters aren’t too bad now but they could have found a better color for me. I
don't think I look good in green. After that we were run into this big box
thing. I didn't like this at all either. I was able to see out the sides of it a
little bit. At least I had my colt with me. There was also another young horse
with us. He was just as scared as I was.
Well the next thing I knew this big box started moving. I thought I was
going to fall over or something. And boy was it bumpy. I also had this long
thing hanging from the halter on my head. I didn't like it at all, I kept
stepping on it, and we were in this box all day before it stopped moving. The
thing opened up and we were chased out onto this pen. It didn't seem to bad
there was hay and water for us. I soon learned that the big box was called a
trailer and the thing hanging from the halter was a rope. I could really do with
out this stuff but I couldn't get it off my head. We were here for a few weeks
or so and then here came that trailer again. We were chased up into the trailer.
Ok I have to say the second time in the trailer wasn't so bad. There was water
and hay in it for us. We were moving for a very long time every now and then the
trailer would stop and we were given more water and hay. Then it would start
moving again. I would say we were in it for about 2 days.
We came to this big building; I could hear other horses inside it. This
big building opened up and the trailer went right up to it. Now I could smell
the other horses. I could also smell food. This might be a good thing. All the
time I was telling my colt and the other horse that things would be just fine.
It couldn't be that bad we were getting food when we needed it. Well the trailer
opened and the horse that was with me was pulled out by the rope that was on
him. It was dark in the building and I couldn't see where he went. Then my rope
was being pulled so I jumped out with my colt right behind me. I was herded into
this smaller place in this building. This building was full of horses. I liked
knowing we weren't alone. Well in this space that I later found out was called a
stall, we had a nice warm place to sleep. It was stuffed full of this stuff they
call straw. And you know it didn't taste half bad either. Plus there was water
and hay. Then the people left and we slept good for the night after that long
trip we had.
The next day I found out we could even go outside any time we wanted to.
This lady was always talking to me and would come in and hold the rope that was
on me. I wasn't sure I liked that. I had to keep my colt safe. After a week or
so of this I thought it was safe enough to let this lady touch me. Trust me I
was very scared at first. But she never tried to hurt me so I guessed it was
safe. She even ran this thing down me. I found out it was called a brush. Let me
tell ya it felt really well. And it got rid of all the itchy spots on me. Well
they started giving us this stuff they called grain. I wasn't sure I was going
to like it; it kind of had a funny smell. My colt liked it so I gave it a try
and I have to say I love the stuff. This lady was very nice; she came into my
stall every day and brushed me all over. Soon after they took my colt and put
him into another stall. I didn't like that at all, but he didn't seem to mind.
It did give me more room in the stall to lie down and stretch out and that was
nice. One day they took me out of the stall, boy I was scared. They let me check
everything out myself so I knew it was safe. Then the put me on the ropes that
they called cross ties. It wasn't bad at all and I got brushed too. The lady
started doing this with me every day, and I liked it. Then I learned was a wash
stall was. I DIDN'T like that at all. If I want a bath I'll stand out in the
rain, thank you very much! I
did learn to like it somewhat. The water was warm and I smelled good. They even
put these cross ties in my stall for me too. Then I was showed this thing she
called a saddle pad. I wasn't sure I would like it. But it ended up not being
something bad so I was ok with it. She put it on my back and let me stand with
it on me. But you know if you move around enough it falls off. Then she showed
me this thing she called a saddle it had a funny smell and it made noises. She
put it on my back too. It was heavier then the saddle pad but it wasn't anything
I couldn't handle. It also had this thing called a breast collar and a girth and
a bucking strap. It didn't bother me at all. It never tried to hurt me so I
didn't mind it. She would put this stuff on me every day and even walk me around
with it on.
The next thing I knew every time she would put this stuff on me she would
put her foot on it and move the saddle and it would get a little heavier. She
would do this on both sides of me, I didn't mind. I liked her and I knew she
wouldn't hurt me. I even started calling her Mom like some other horses did. She
was very nice to me. Then one day she put all this stuff on me and climbed up
the saddle and sat on me. She kept rubbing my neck and patting me and telling me
I was a good girl. Well I have to say I already knew I was. She would then start
taking me out of the stall and get on me and this friend of hers would lead me
around. It was really kind of fun. Well they then started putting this thing in
my mouth that they called a bit. I don't like that at all. But I dealt with it.
I learned that you move with it and it doesn't pull on you at all. Well I must
say this being tame isn't a bad thing at all. And its kind of nice not having to
hunt for your own food, or look for water. I now have that all the time whenever
I want it. And having someone on my back isn't bad either. Mom and Me have fun
riding together. I still haven't gotten the reining thing down pat yet, but I'm
working on it. I like making my Mom happy because she is so good to me. I have
to tell you though. I am and always will be wild. Mom knows this and it doesn't
bother her at all. She likes me they way I am. One of these days I will learn
enough that Mom will take me out on trail rides with her like she does with my
buddies. My Mom is very proud of me and I know because she shows me to everyone
that comes here and she tells them what a great horse I am. Someday when I have
all this riding stuff down real good I will show my Mom what it feels like to
chase the wind. My Mom always says you never break a mustang. That you have to
earn our trust and we will do anything for you. And I have to say she is very
right. I knew Mom wouldn't hurt me and so I let her do all the things she does
with me. If I didn't trust her she would never get near me. Mom never tried to
break my spirit and I thank her for that. I really have to say I have a better
life with my Mom rather then being in the wild. Sometimes I miss my herd but in
a way I now have a new herd with my two buddies. We all look out for each other.
And we trust each other. And we have our Mom to keep us safe and give us
everything we could ever need or want. I am happy right where I am. And I hope
other wild mustangs get to know the same. We are the last of a living legend and
with people like my Mom that cares about us that legend will live on forever. Written by, Maggy Sun Maiden |
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