Kudos to all those that supported Colorado Foster to Adopt program! I learned so much about the advocacy groups, the BLM, and just how much dedication goes into protecting wild horses. I also learned a lot about myself—especially how I like to work with mustangs.

My training style is slow. Not exactly ideal for a “challenge,” but it felt right for my foster, Boston—now officially Rey. And yes, she’s a proud foster failure. The moment adoption was an option, I jumped on it, returned the stipend, paid the BLM fee, and welcomed the most beautiful mustang into our barn. That’s why she wasn’t at the event—she already had a home.

One big lesson learned: if I ever do a challenge like this again, it should be one where you don’t get to choose your horse. You draw a tag number, and that’s your partner. Because when I did get to choose, I chose exactly the kind of horse I’m drawn to—athletic, bright-eyed, intensely alert, always watching, always thinking. Basically, the horse I would want forever.

Maybe not the ideal “challenge horse.” She’s high-headed, questions everything, and keeps me on my toes—but that’s exactly my type. She reminds me so much of the off-track Thoroughbreds that make up her new herd. I love the intense ones. They demand more from you. They make you better. And honestly? They make you a better human.

Rey loves being brushed, picks up her feet, follows me everywhere, and even mirrors my movement (trot, canter, stop—she’s right there). The halter? That was a firm “not today”… until yesterday, the day of the foster‑to‑adopt event, when she finally let me slide it on. That told me everything I needed to know—she was meant to stay.

Dressage? Eventing? Trail? Maybe all as time will tell.

Big thanks to the advocacy groups and the BLM. I truly hope this program continues. 🐎✨

Rey has been doing well with the basics. She’s totally fine with brushing… as long as it’s the soft brush and only on the “safe zones” — neck and back. Anything more vulnerable, like her chest, belly, or butt? Hard pass. Try again later, human.

But spring is creeping in, the winter was mild, and all the horses are shedding. So it was time to introduce Rey to the shedding curry.

And honestly? She figured it out fast. After a few swipes, she realized this weird new brush is basically a full‑body scratcher. Even better, she discovered that letting the human reach those itchy spots — yes, even the chest — is actually amazing.

Every day she trusts a little more. Every day she lets me in a little further. These tiny wins are the real magic of gentling — the quiet, steady “yes” that grows out of patience, curiosity, and a whole lot of itchy mustang hair.

I’ve been introducing my mustang to the idea that ropes are not, in fact, horse‑eating snakes. She’s totally fine with me brushing her, scratching her, and touching, but the moment the halter appears, she suddenly remembers she has very strong opinions and it is game over.

So, we’ve compromised. I’m using a training stick with a rope attached — basically the equine equivalent of “I’m not touching you, I’m not touching you,” but in a helpful way. It lets me get the rope near her without triggering her dramatic “absolutely not” routine.

Each day she gets a little braver, a little calmer, and slightly less convinced that the rope is bad. Progress is progress, even if it comes in tiny, suspicious sniffs. With enough patience (and maybe a few bribes), I am sure she will accept the halter!

Got the tag OFF! Took a lot of patience, 3 days of slowly working the frayed rope through the metal thing, and me finding my inner Budda... and 1 hr  later, I got it off! Now we are hanging out eating. I like to end our training session with a good relaxation event, particularly if she may have felt like there was more 'pressure'. Since getting the rope through the last hole was challenging, as the end was frayed thus had to work it carefully through the other 2 holes, Rey was getting a little tired of this game. But by the time we were onto the 3rd hole, it was pretty loose and flopping around, thus it had to come off.  I may have pushed the pressure a bit more than usual so to end our session, I grabbed some hay and we hung out together. No ask, no pressure.