Topaz is doing well with her training. She will stand still when told and I can walk around her front without her moving her feet. When I put the halter on her she will now stand still. I started with her front left foot and had a little problem getting her to pick it up but when I went to the right she picked it up with the lightest of touch! She continues to amaze me. We all love the greeting she gives us each time she sees us.
As you can see she is now styling with her name etched above the corral. She's not spoiled at all!! LOL

Topaz has a funny look because I am scratching her in a favorite spot. She has adapted well to her halter and lead. Although I did find out that she notices which lead I use. I have been using the blue one in the picture the most because it is the shortest. I have a black one I use for lunging that is longer. Well, when I wanted her to follow me using the black lead she balked. I put the blue one on & she was fine. I had to let her know the black lead was for lunging, but also for walking closer. She pays so much attention to everything around her. I know that it is part of her survival makeup but it is still amazing! She has the stand down fairly well. I am now picking up her front feet every day until she accepts it as the norm. It has been so hot here that I decided (with encouragement) to start her getting used to the hose for a bath / shower. This was her first time. The next day she played with the water more , trying to bite at the drops. We had a few people over for a BBQ and Topaz was quite a hit. She went up to everyone and let them pet her. She loved all the attention.
My mother-in-law is visiting from Ohio and checks on Topaz numerous times during the day. Topaz loves the extra scratching as you can see. Is that a smile on her face or what!!! (even her teeth are showing if you look close) Topaz seems to be one happy horse

Topaz is lunging on lead now, but at 90 degrees by 9am I keep her at a walk most of the time. By afternoon, just standing in the shade; she is in a sweat. I have started giving her only part of her morning hay before we have lessons. It's too hot to do much of anything after eating. Giving her the oats and a little hay takes the edge off her being hungry.
She is learning to "stand" on command even when I'm not right next to her.
I had some neighbors over to check her out and see what I was doing. They were very helpful in some info and thought I was doing the right things with Topaz. That was great to hear from someone who used to train and show Arabians!
They also thought she was a very good looking horse. I thought, so but I might be a little prejudiced!! ( just a little lol )

Topaz is learning to stand without moving her feet until told to, it's going well. She knows to move to the side when she is eating her feed to give me room to enter her stall. I was telling her to move over but now she does it on her own. Her favorite thing is to be "scrubbed" all over with her brush. She makes the funniest face!
"Bubba" was really "Bubette" and she is home. Her owners were very glad to have her back as she was bottle fed by them and a very special heifer. I was glad to send her on her way as Topaz is more than enough to work with.

Saturday night visitor

This really doesn't have much to do with training Topaz but was interesting to me.
Dean & I were coming home in the late afternoon when we saw a calf on the side of Hamilton Pool Road. It was grazing and we figured it would go back home. RIGHT!! We went 1/4 mile to our road, Fearless Treadway and 1/2 mile to our driveway which is another 1/4 mile. Dean put away some groceries while I started on some spray painting I needed to finish. About the time I was done Dean came down to the tractor shed to see how it was going. He called for me to look at something. What a surprise!!! There was the calf we had seen on the road at our gate. We let him in as he wasn't scared of us. Dean was sure he needed water and boy did he, 10 gallons worth! We are in the process of finding his owner but for now I named him "Bubba" I hope to make a phone call later today to return him. None of our close neighbors know for sure where he might have come from.
I need to add that Topaz is ok with him as long as he stays away from her hay!

Another great training day! Topaz works well on lead and is now learning to let me pick up her feet. I am working on the front ones first. When she is comfortable with her front I'll start on her back feet. Her right foot is much easier than her left, but I was able to get her to lift both about 8 different times. I walked her around in between to let her relax and learn slowly. Soon I hope to be able to file her hooves.
I always start her sessions with a good brushing, which she loves, and end with brushing. I want her training to be something she looks forward to without using treats.

Yes! "Cowboy Magic" did work on Dixie, Woo Hoo!!
It's been a few days since I posted and a lot has happened. I bought a traditional halter and put it on her with no problem. (this was last Saturday) When I trotted her around the corral I could tell it bothered her some so I left it on for a couple of hours. I had no problem taking it off. The next day she walked away every time I showed her the halter. It was a rough morning for her work out. It did end on a positive note. I gave up on the halter, worked her without and it went well.
Monday went well, no halter, just going over her turns, stops, and trotting. I used the traditional halter to adjust the knots on the other halter and decided to try it on Tuesday. WOW!! I was SO impressed! Topaz not only accepted the halter, she walked on lead. I had her spinning both directions, doing figure eights, and going whatever direction I led! She also was stopping with the lightest tug of the lead! I couldn't have asked for a better training session. Topaz got extra scratches and even a little sweet feed at the end.

Trust

I decided to work Topaz without the halter until I get a new one and she did great. I have her walking on command and stopping when I stop. We need to work on turning as she wants to turn 90 degrees instead of 180. I went out in the late afternoon to groom her for a "photo shoot" but no photos were taken. In the process of getting my brushes she decided to roll. Then was comfy enough that she just lay there. Here's the cool part - she let me walk up to her and scratch her without her getting up!! Horses are vulnerable when laying down as running is their escape from any danger. Topaz was showing a complete trust in me, that I wouldn't hurt her! I was so surprised she was that confidant in me!! We have come a long way together in such a short time. I hope I can teach others how great mustangs are and maybe save a few more every year.

Training continues

Training is going well. Topaz accepts the halter with no problem and I have been able to get her to move a little on lead. I can't seem to get the knotted halter to fit right. It still seems to have too much slack and moves all over her face. I will get an old fashioned flat halter to work her until I figure out what I'm doing wrong with the knotted one.
We had her tested for worms and she had a few but the vet said not enough to worm her. Yeah! I am not looking forward to worming until I get this halter issue fixed.
Topaz has been eating hay so fast that she foams at the mouth, but with feedings at regular times (3 times a day) she seems to be slowing down.
Topaz has been great with all the noise we have created except when the chain saw was started up. That spooked her big time! I stood in between her and the noise and that seemed to help. We will be working with the chain saw a lot until she is calm with it.
Today I'm starting day 12 of her training. It's hard for me to believe how far she has come.

Yesterday was a big step in training. I put the halter on for the first time and it went well. It is a knotted rope type and I need to adjust it but she let me put it on and take it off very easily. Next comes the halter and lead rope. I don't know if that will go as well.
I picked up some "Cowboy Magic" as a mane detangler and it is awesome!! It gave her mane a beautiful sheen and made it so easy to comb. I'm going to try it on Dixie who is part chow and forever tangled.
I also picked up some natural fly repellent. I thought it smelled nice but when Topaz smelled it she raised up her head and drew back her lips. She did let me take a rag and apply it on her and it really helped.
We got on line to find out how to estimate her weight and came up with 668 lbs.We needed to know her weight to know how much feed she should get. If you were to ask her it would be much more, she is such a chow hound and eats everything! She is 14.2 hands. Not a small yearling at all. I don't know if she will get taller but if not she is ok as is.

At last a name

It was one week ago when we adopted a wild mustang and have now, after much consideration we have a name for her. Topaz. Dean thinks some people take less time naming their baby than we did naming our horse!
Her training is going well. I have put a rope around her girth, neck, and legs. She doesn't seem to mind any of that so the halter is next. She still doesn't like to trot around the corral but I don't see that changing. She's fine if it's just a walk but more than that is too much like work! She is very inquisitive and follows me around the corral when I'm cleaning it up. She also calls to us when we step out of the house. At 6:30 she believes everyone should get up and she calls to us to let us know. Who needs a rooster I have Topaz!!

The last two days have been a little "off" as Tuesday I had to report for jury duty (it was cancelled) and Wednesday I had a Dr. appointment. That meant the last two mornings I couldn't work with her. On Tues. I did get her to trot around the corral for a while and as you can see she needed to "rest" afterward. She is just not into this exercise thing!
The high lights of the past two days are that I am able to brush down all four legs. I can brush her forelock, and have been able to put a rope all around her body. I tossed the rope over her neck, withers, and hind quarters. Also around her front legs. I am introducing the halter in stages. She has tasted it and it has been over her neck. I still need to work on her face.
Dean is also able to pet her including her forehead which is the most difficult spot. She is coming along faster and better than I had ever hoped! Very soon I hope to be able to let her out during the day to graze in the 5 acres that are fenced around the house, but first comes the halter & lead.

Day 2 on the training we worked on brushing. I have combed out her mane and can brush her front legs down to her knees, half way around her belly, down her back and flanks. I haven't combed out her forelock but I am able to touch her forehead.
Dean ran the compressor putting the last 3 roof panels up. The noise startled her but didn't scare her. She came out of the stable to see what was causing the noise. When Dean was using the palm nailer she flinched but didn't bolt. Then she came out of the stable and looked up at the roof to see what was going on. So far nothing has been so bad that she didn't want to check it out.
When I get in the corral with her it's really hard to remember she's wild! She is very mellow but extremely curious about everything!