All about the Boy(s)

I have just spent an amazing 3 days at Spanish Mustangs UK. The main reason for my visit was to meet Dakota Wildfire aka Diesel, a 4 month old medicine hat Spanish Mustang colt and Charlie’s son.

As a stallion Charlie was a bit full on to say the least, but due to his remarkable lineage and form, and the fact that he was LWO* negative, he covered 2 mares before he was gelded . In April this year two beautiful colts arrived. Diesel and Dillion are a credit to him.

 

I had already reserved Diesel, so the pressure for us to bond was great. I need not have worried, just like his dad it was love at first sight for both of us. I even got the seal of approval from his Mum.

As he made a bee line to me and followed me around, I knew I had made the right decision. Martine kept telling me that his personality would suit me and she was not wrong, a bit cheeky, a bit comedy and a big heart! As we interacted over the three days, it was as if he knew… Diesel will be joining his Daddy as our foundation stallion.

 

I managed to take some very nice footage of Diesel and the rest of his family band. This consisted of Sunshine, medicine hat mare (Diesel’s Mum), Restless, appaloosa mare (Diesel’s Grandma), Harley, dun roan colt (Diesel’s uncle) and Buddy the very impressive buckskin band stallion (no relation). Enjoy..

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJTIxBqre_o[/embedyt]

It wasn’t all play, quite rightly Martine put me to work! Well I say work but for me it was more of  a privilege. To be able to spend some quality time, not only with Diesel but with all the herd and to be invited to do some handling of the babies, working with them on halter was amazing.

 

 

 

One of the tasks was a barefoot trim for the colts (yes four boys this year!) So while I stood with the mares Martine worked with the foals. Her manner, patience and the communication between her and the herd is wonderful to see. Martine has a way that gives all around her a sense of peace, and this alone goes a long way to ensure she has a herd that is not only healthy in body but also in mind…

 

 

 

 

At the other end of the forest is the second family band where you find Adena and her son Mickey, which is Charlie’s full brother and another medicine hat colt. Teton and her colt Dillon which is Charlie’s son and their band stallion handsome Jim.

The dynamic between the two different groups was fascinating to watch.

 

 

Spanish Mustangs UK is a truly magical place, the peace and the positive energy surrounds you. The horses are allowed to develop in a natural environment, conserved in family bands, so they do not have any of the stress factors you sadly find in other horses. This is a breeding program to protect and conserve this amazing breed and the sensitivity in which this is done can be seen in all the herd.

 

For further information on Martine’s herd follow the links to the Spanish Mustangs UK website and facebook page.

*LWO or lethal white overo is a genetic disorder that occurs when a horse inherits two copies of the mutated gene, one from both parents. Whereas horses with just one copy of the gene will live normally and exhibit the desirable overo pattern. A foal born with two copies of the mutated gene will suffer intestinal abnormalities caused by undeveloped nerves of the foal’s digestive system. These animals die within the first 72 hours of being born and are typically euthanised sooner for humane reasons.