Everything Horses and Livestock® Magazine Feb 2019 Vol 4 Issue 1

Everything Horses and Livestock Magazine ®

My Summer With

C h e s t e r By Alyssa Hogelin

O n May 12, 2018, I had the pleasure of going with Mustang specialist, professional trainer and horse friend, Cindy Branham, to the Hutchison Correctional Facility. There we picked up a BLM Mustang that was randomly picked for me to begin my journey as a competitor for the first ever, Mustang Beginnings Challenge for youth in the State of Kansas. I was one of twenty- two contestants and among the oldest in my division for ages 8-13. Ten of the twenty-two were in my division. The senior division was for ages 14-18. My Mustang draw was a 14-month-

old sorrel gelding, that stood nearly fourteen hands tall with a white star, strip and snip, setting off his kind, gentle eyes. I loved the curl in his forelock right away. They told us to bring a halter for our yearlings and they would put them on our horses while they were in the squeeze chutes to be loaded. However, my yearling halter was far too small for the large project that I would eventually name Chester. Ten days after having brought him home, I finally got a halter on him. It required a lot of work in the round pen which was his home for most of the

four months I had him. He was curious, but not trusting. He was gentle, but not willing to get too close. He was most fearful of turning loose of his feet, letting me guide his steps and direction. Three weeks in, I had him giving his hip, leading and loading into our two- horse trailer by throwing the rope over his neck and sending him in. I spent the first two months. exposing him to all the things I could think of: obstacles, ditches, hills, mud puddles, brush, logs, ropes and tarps. I helped him understand when I wanted him to walk over something, verses climb

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