November 2009 update

As many of you know, Artista is now in Texas! Last month some good friends of ours from Holland came to visit and Arty got to teach Jessica a little something about single action .45's and horses!

Artista Photo Update

Update

Hello everyone,
It has been a very long time since I've updated the blog. We spent two months this winter in Holland and just got back in time for the Holidays. The trip was excellent and to hear more about it check out our new website www.westernclinics.com
Anyway, Artista got 2 months off in green pastures while we were gone (his job was to make sure the two colts stayed in line) and when we got back it took me about an hour to catch him! The first day after I caught him and worked with him I was pretty worried about how much he had regressed. However when I tacked him up and rode him it was like he had hardly had a day off.
Now he is back to coming right up to me in the pasture as friendly as can be.
Madi started a new blog site dedicated to Mustangs so go and check it out and share some pictures and stories with her. The url is www.ourlandourhorses.blogspot.com
Talk more later
Robert

Hilarious Mustang movie

Why the American Wild Mustang is still better than a Ford.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPnVlIaFx-4

Mustang Makeover 2008 results!!

Hello all,
Sorry that I've kept you all in suspense the last week. I just got home from Texas and the event was a huge success! The pictures above are of the Horse Course and of the First place winner Mark Lyon.
Our first day was the in-hand portion of the event and we came in 9th place! (we even beat Martin Black :) We also scored almost perfect in the body conditioning! We only missed 2 points for several small nicks from the long trailer ride. So THANK YOU RBO Gold!! Also thank you Dan Chapman for making sure that Arty was always in tip-top health. On Saturday we competed in our under-saddle "horse course" and did great. For the course we were required to trot in, stop, and then lope two circles left, lead change, and two circles right. Arty was doing great until the right lead lope and due to my horrible nerves we ended up loping two circles to the right while on the left lead. oops! Next we had to lope into a chute (which he did great! most of the other horses spooked and had to trot or walk in), back through an L, go through a rope gate, cross a bridge, and jump a small cavaletti. The rest of our course was flawless and I couldn't have asked for more. We didn't hit a single pole, and he couldn't have cared less about the screaming crowds. For our 2 minute freestyle I loped him out of the course area and he gave me a nice sliding stop, did a few turn-arounds, and then marched back up on top of the bridge where he stood still and let me sit backwards and stand up in the saddle cracking a bull whip and shooting off guns. Then in the last 30 seconds we completed an imaginary mounted shooting pattern (we weren't allowed any props that couldn't be carried in on the saddle). The crowd loved it and we had a total blast! We ended up placing 16th overall and against some very tough competition! I encourage you all to keep your eyes on www.extrememustangmakeover.com to see when it will run on RFD (it isn't posted yet) and see the great jobs that the top 10 did with their horses.
The next day we prepped Arty for the sale. As we were getting ready, the trainers who went before us started trickling back in. Up until this point, we had just assumed that the horses would go for quite a bit of money and that it wouldn't be an option to buy Arty back ourselves. However, these trainers told us that the horses were selling for next to nothing due to the poor horse market (and probably the fact that it was located in Texas) and most of them were able to buy their horses back for under $1,000! We immediately ran to the BLM office and got our bidder number. The horse that went through the ring before Art sold for under $500 (while doing slide stops and turn arounds!) and so we were very hopeful that we could buy him for our budget of under $2,000. I rode him into the sale arena on a loose rein at a walk and didn't show him off in the slightest. And of course, the bidding started going crazy! Before I could even think to raise my hand the bidding was at $1500! I put in my first bid at $1600 and the MHF founder Patti Colbert stopped the bidding and sold him to me quickly before it could go any higher (thanks Patti!)
So now Arty is having a nice little vacation out in an irrigated pasture making sure our 2 year olds mind their manners. Madi will ride him at our next Cowboy Mounted Shooting match in Ladies Division 1. He is truly a wonderful addition to our barn and we feel so lucky to have him back with us.
We have also been given some great opportunities to help others adopt a mustang as well, so if you are interested in bringing home your own Mustang let us know and we can help you out.

Arty and I doing an exhibition in ceres ca for a CMSA (cowboy mounted shooting match)

Arty

Here is a picture of Arty taken by MHF or BLM before the competition ever even started. What a transformation!

Pictures from the Trail Obstacle Clinic

Hello all,
I know that it has been a long time since I've posted, but we've been so busy getting ready for Texas, etc. We've been working quite a bit on the requirements for the in-hand and riding course at the competition as well as turn arounds, side passing, backing, loping off from the walk, speed control at the lope, simple changes (we nixed the flying changes- too much too soon), neck reining, and guiding. Arty has been doing very well and I am very proud of the progress that we've made together. We are leaving for Texas the day after tomorrow (thursday) so we will see you all there!
Below are some pictures from our Trail Obstacle clinic on Saturday. For a full run of pics check back later on our website www.extremetrailhorse.com and click on Extreme Trail horse Pictures.

Extreme Mustang Makeover 08 trail obstacle clinic and gun acclimation!

Hello everyone. Artista and I will be conducting a Trail Obstacle clinic on saturday the 6th of sept.Starts at 8:30am but be here by 8am.The cost is $100 per horse and rider and proceeds will go to helping artista and I get to Texas for the Extreme Mustang Makeover, as it is 4400 miles round trip.
On the following day we will also be conducting a gun acclimation clinic to safely and effectively get your horses introduced to guns and gunfire as well as talk about gun safety around your horse.
There will be an additional cost of $50 for those that paid the initial $100 for saturday. If you are only interested in the gun acclimation then the cost for the single day on the 7th of sept will be $75.

Please RSVP ($25 deposit)as there is limited space.
This is another way you too can help artista and I to get to Texas.
Thanks For your support.

Trailer Trouble

On our way home from Dunnigan on Sunday our Trailer came up with a very flat tire. We were able to safely pull over in Williams and a wonderful mechanic from Colusa saved the day by coming out on a Sunday evening to fix it.
The event solidified a sneaking suspicion that we have had for some time now... our trailer is not in good enough shape to make the drive to Texas. If anyone has a horse trailer that you wouldn't mind lending out (or trading us) from September 10-25 let us know! We would prefer one with living quarters so that we could save on some hotel costs, but let us know what you have.
Any ideas would be appreciated.

Cowboy Mounted Shooting,Gymkana, and the Extreme Trail course at the Runnin I ranch

Hey everyone,
We've been super busy the last few weeks so my posts have been pretty sparse. The weekend before last we took Artista to a Gymkhana held by Happy Trails Horse Club at the Redding Rodeo Grounds to get used to all the action. It went really well and by the end of the evening Arty was thoroughly introduced to running children, galloping horses, loud speakers, etc.
This weekend we took him to another Gymkhana held by the Desperado's Horse club in Orland. We won a couple of thirds and a fourth place ribbon. Arty was a big hit and has decided that he loves little girls. The following day we trailered down to Dunnigan CA to the Running I ranch for a California Range Riders Cowboy Mounted Shooting practice. Artista did great and I couldn't have asked for more. After the practice Arty and I gave a demonstration and everyone had a chance to come up and pet on him (which Art loved of course). The Running I has an awesome extreme trail course and so I also used the opportunity to introduce Art to some of the obstacles, including the teetering bridge.

Chico News and Review

Chico News and Review . http://www.newsreview.com/chico/Content?oid=699963 is a link to the story.

It is really important that everyone take it upon themselves to act on behalf of the Mustangs. please go to http://www.mustangheritagefoundation.org/join.php to donate directly to the Mustang Heritage foundation. Please do your part! If you make a donation please let me know and I would love to put a shout out up on the blog.

RBO Gold

Hey everyone,
I want you all to take a minute to check out the transformation in Artista's coat and body condition. The first picture was taken within the first few days and this last picture was taken yesterday (scroll down and check out what he looked like in the first few posts and then in the most recent posts). Artista has been receiving RBO Gold Rice Bran Oil for horses for the last 4 weeks (we couldn't get him to eat grain for the first week :) and already you can see a huge difference. We first noticed it when a few bald spots from the range started growing back in. The new hair that was coming in was almost a different color than the old hair. It was deeper hued, shinier, and overall healthier. Now his whole body is shiny, soft, and looks great. When we first got him he was also hollow through the belly and hip areas (he had been in the care of BLM and getting regular feed since October, so it wasn't lack of hay), which you can see a little better in the first couple blog posts at the bottom of the page, and now his body has transformed amazingly in just this short time.
I really believe that this is an amazing product! I couldn't be more pleased with the results I see, plus my horse is not hot and it is extremely affordable!
If you are interested in trying out a bottle for yourself go check out www.rbogold.com or call me at 530-356-6073
The best part is this company is local (Arbuckle) and by using their product you are supporting a small local business as well as helping to boost our local economy instead of sending your money out to some huge corporation where the money disappears altogether.

Artista follows me wherever i go. He knows my voice and rather stay next to me than a horse!

Extreme Mustang Makeover 08 Day 2 at Growneys

Hey guys, check out the new noseband! Kit from Reynolds Ranch and Supply gave us a great deal on it. She has been a great help and supporter to Artista and I, please stop by and let her know how much we appreciate her!

Hi everyone.This horse is a little bad ass! I love this guy!

Pictures from the Mustang Viewing Day

Jump donated by Joe's Jumps, won in the raffle by Les Caldwell

Raffle Table

Artista's sponsors Jaqueline Kitchell and Dan Chapman DVM.

Local Artist Josefa Casey with her oil pastel "Robert's Artista"

Sponsors Pat Fredrickson (halterlady.com) and Barbara Benfield

We were worried that Artista would be upset by all the strangers... he was a total flirt!

Robert acclimated Artista to the BB gun during one of the training demos.

By the end of the night everyone was pooped and ready for bed

Artista and I went over to the Growney ranch!

We took our second trailer trip out today and went over to the Growney Ranch. John Growney owned the famous bucking bull Red Rock that Lane Frost rode. Funny thing is, Growney Motors sponsors the truck that we are using for the makeover and when we went to pick up Artista from the BLM facility just outside Red Rock NV, Carey Frost (Lane Frost's cousin) helped us load him up into our trailer pulled by the Growney truck. Funny huh? Growney Motors has supported us in EMM 08 and is a great sponsor.

Extreme Mustang Makeover 08 After a hard ride!

This is Artista after 1 1/2 hrs of training, Pooped out!

Extreme Mustang Makeover 2008

Mustangs Rock!

7/29/08

Yesterday a reporter from Chico News and Review came out and interviewed Artista and I. Make sure to pick up a copy on Thursday to read about us!
While she was here we practiced loping out in the arena and Artista did great. towards the end I switched directions just to see what he would do and he gave me a flying change! I also put him over a crossrail that Madi had set up and he trotted over it several times without even the slightest hesitation. Over the next few weeks we are going to work on refining the things that I have already taught him, turn arounds, backing, whoa, bending, loping off out of the trot, and backing through the L box. I am also going to work with him on a few new things, walking over the bridge, walk-lope transitions, and flying changes. We've got a lot to accomplish, but he is incredibly smart and fun to work with so I feel pretty confident in his ability. We are also going to start trailering him out a bit more, so stay tuned if you would like to come watch him.

We have also decided to keep the silent auction for the original artwork "Robert's Artista" by Josefa Casey going a while longer. The current bid is $300. If you would like to raise it, please e-mail Madi at madeleine@extremetrailhorse.com with your name, phone number, mailing address, and bid ammount. Josefa's work usually sells for anywhere from $900 to $2,000 so this is a great way to support Artista, a local artist, and bring home a beautiful oil pastel painting to boot.

Also don't overlook our "donate" button on the upper left-hand corner of the site. you can pick any amount that you wish to donate and you don't have to have a paypal account to do it (when it prompts login just look near the bottom of the page for the text that says "don't have a paypal account". With every $10 or more donation you receive one of the greeting cards with Josefa's painting, with every $20 or more donation you receive a "team Artista" rubber wristband (like the Livestrong bracelets), and with $100 or more donation you receive a print of the painting "Robert's Artista". Make sure that you send us an e-mail with your mailing address at madeleine@extremetrailhorse.com

Extreme Mustang Makeover 08 Artista viewing day!

Extreme Mustang Makeover Artista's Fundraiser day. We had a lot of people show up saturday the 26th to support Artista and I. We raffled off lots of stuff donated by some of our sponsors.I'll try to name all of them. Jaquelin Kitchell equine and human massage, Reynolds feed red bluff ca,frontier feed anderson ca,Dan Chapman Mobile Equine redding ca, the halter lady red bluff ca,Art of Skincare redding ca, Sunset hills cottonwood ca,Joe's jumps, Daves Boots red bluff ca,avon lady from red bluff ca,country kitchen red bluff ca, The Big Picture Custom Framing, Blue Oaks Arts and cant forget Josifa Casey of Red Bluff Ca the Artist that made a beautiful portrait of Artista!

We had a wonderful turn out and thank all that came to show their support.
We will be having another one in August before we leave for Texas.
Also we have Cards made from the Portrait of Artista and Prints as well.
The cards are $10 and the Prints Are $100.

more pics

updates

Hello all, It's been a while since I've given you a real good rundown on exactly how Arty is doing. On Monday he received his first vet checkup and passed with flying colors. He let Dr. Chapman pick up his feet (fronts anyway), stick his fingers up his nose, grab his tongue, inspect his eyes and ears, etc. After the checkup I wanted to ride him for Dr. Chapman so we took him out to the roundpen and saddled him up. Up until now I haven't loped him under saddle but he felt so good at the walk and trot that I added a little smooch smooch and squeeze and he picked up the lope like he'd been a saddle horse for years. We made a few nice slow laps around, switched directions, and did the same the other way. I am very excited about his progress. That evening our friends and riding buddys from down the road came over to see how Artista was doing and so I pulled him out to ride again. This time he was a little less willing. He was still tired from our morning ride and let me know. I just took it easy with him and when he walked some nice circles in both directions without resisting I let him quit.
The next morning our friends came over again to go out on a trail ride and I pulled Artista out again before we left. Instead of the Bosal I normally ride him in I put him in the snaffle bit and loosely bitted him up in both directions and then straight ahead. After I warmed him up in the round pen I rode him out into the arena for the first time. Not only was it his first time out, but there were 5 other horses in the arena as well. He handled it great. I was able to walk and trot him over all the ground poles, through the cones, and even over the tarp (although he did give me a squirt on that one :) I tried to ask him for lope, but it was a little much for him, and he would just trot faster and faster. We will work on that on a day when there is less excitement going on in the arena. I attached some pics from last week and as you can see he is starting to cross over nicely.

Extreme Mustang Makeover 08

extreme mustang makeover 08

Here is me put on the spot at our cowboy mounted shooting practice 2 weeks before I picked up my mustang Artista.
www.extremetrailhorse.com

Extreme Mustang Makeover 2008

Extreme Mustang Makeover Artista pt.2

Extreme Mustang Makeover 08 3rd ride

First Ride

Here are some pictures leading up to Artista's fourth ride on Saturday afternoon.
ARD German Television Station was here again to do a follow up on his progress. Artista did great! His first few rides he was a little confused with steering aids, and would pull against the pressure instead of giving to it. Today he did much better and was turning circles nice and soft in the direction that I wanted him to go. Since the beginning he hasn't even offered to buck. He can squirt a little if you catch him by surprise, but even the squirts are becoming less frequent. I'll have video up as soon as it uploads (probably by tomorrow morning *fingers crossed*)

Comments you can post

Please feel free to leave comments. At the bottom of each post there is a comment link you can just click on and then leave a comment.
Thanks
Robert ------------------- below right here

Ready to Ride

We've been working on a lot of mounting and dismounting, desensitizing his rear end, and we are going to do some ground driving later this week. We've also been working on more obstacles on the ground. We've been working on backing through the L box, turn on the haunches in the square box, walking over poles, tarps, tires, and dragging logs. So far he is doing really well with all of it. He is very rarely taking me for ski trips now, and instead of bolting will just trot a circle around me on a loose lead when he gets frightened. This is a big improvement for him and also means that he is now ready to start trailering out. Tonight we will start the trailer training process for the schooling show at Bobby Jones Arena in Cottonwood on Sunday. For anyone who would like to come and see him on his first outing, it starts at 8am.

Mustang Viewing Day

Mustang Viewing Day

On July 26th we are going to be holding our first "Mustang Viewing Day" fundraiser. All Proceeds will go towards the $3,000 that will be needed to get to Fort Worth Texas in September. The event will begin at 5:00pm and will continue until daylight fails us.
Throughout the evening Artista and I will be giving free training demonstrations and mini clinics, Jacqueline Kitchell will be giving massage for rider and/or horse (appt. time needed to bring horse) and is donating the proceeds to Artista, BBQ Dinner, and Silent Auction/Raffle of equine goodie baskets, horse and rider massage, riding lessons, and other local services. (If you have any service or items you are willing to donate please contact us!)
Each person who donates $5 or more will have their picture taken with Artista, but attendance is free!
We also have Team Artista buttons and T-shirts
Everyone is encouraged to invite friends and family. We want to make it a community affair!
Contact me for more info
530-356-6073
madeleine@extremetrailhorse.com
www.extremetrailhorse.com

Video from Artista's first trip out

This video was taken a few days ago (when I posted the pics from Artista's first trip to the arena) and just took forever to upload. Watch how fearless he is with the trot poles! This was his first time ever seeing painted "logs" and most domestic horses have to take a look before walking over!

07/03/08 and 07/05/08

Bridle? No biggie. He mouthed the bit for a few minutes and then accepted it with no problem.

Artista's second trip to the arena, this time we walked out the real gate instead of going through the holding pens. We worked a little more on the poles, tarp, and other obstacles and then I worked with him some more on lunging and picking up his feet. I was able to pick up his feet without the help of the rope today!

Extreme Mustang Makeover Artista and his buddy Cash another mustang

Mustang viewing day Fund Raiser

Mustang Viewing Day

On July 26th we are going to be holding our first "Mustang Viewing Day" fundraiser. All Proceeds will go towards the $3,000 that will be needed to get to Fort Worth Texas in September. The event will begin at 5:30pm and will continue until daylight fails us.
Throughout the evening Artista and I will be giving free training demonstrations and mini clinics, Jacqueline Kitchell will be giving massage for rider and/or horse (appt. time needed to bring horse) and is donating the proceeds to Artista, BBQ Dinner, and Silent Auction/Raffle of equine goodie baskets, horse and rider massage, riding lessons, and other local services. (If you have any service or items you are willing to donate please contact us!)
Each person who donates $5 or more will have their picture taken with Artista, but attendance is free!
Everyone is encouraged to invite friends and family. We want to make it a community affair!
Contact me for more info
530-356-6073
madeleine@extremetrailhorse.com
www.extremetrailhorse.com

07/02/08 First time out of the Round pen

Artista took his first trip outside the roundpen today! He took it all in like it was no big deal at all. Robert walked him in the gate and he walked straight over a set of 3 trot poles painted with huge yellow polka dots with no hesitation! He took everything out there amazingly well and was calm as calm could be for his whole outing.

Extreme Mustang Makeover Artista first saddle 7/01/08

Artista first saddle. He did very well and let me throw it right on his back. He flinched some and then settled down. Since I took my time and worked with the pad a lot and used the other junk saddles first, this was a cinch. He walked around with it and never offered any bucking,rearing or squirting. Man, What a real nice Horse!!!
www.extremetrailhorse.com

07/01/2008 Pad falls with little to no reaction!

Artista and the whip

To get Artista used to the whip, I started playing with it in the center of the round pen. As Artista got more and more comfortable with the sound, I moved it closer and closer to him until he reached this point. Quite similar to the way I acclimated him to the rope.

Dr. Robert teaches Artista some rope tricks

Artista took to the rope right away. I worked with him for while just swinging the rope in the air in the center of the round pen and when he was comfortable with that I would move closer and closer to him until he allowed me to throw the rope all around him and then over his body. The first couple of times the rope touched his body he squirted a bit, but once he realized it wasn't hurting him he just stood as seen here:

video from 06/23/08

Taking Baby Steps

Mustang Viewing Day

On July 26th we are going to be holding our first "Mustang Viewing Day" fundraiser. All Proceeds will go towards the $3,000 that will be needed to get to Fort Worth Texas in September. The event will begin at 5:30pm and will continue until daylight fails us.
Throughout the evening Artista and I will be giving free training demonstrations and mini clinics, Jacqueline Kitchell will be giving massage for rider and/or horse (appt. time needed to bring horse) and is donating the proceeds to Artista, BBQ Dinner, and Silent Auction/Raffle of equine goodie baskets, horse and rider massage, riding lessons, and other local services. (If you have any service or items you are willing to donate please contact us!)
Each person who donates $5 or more will have their picture taken with Artista, but attendance is free!
Everyone is encouraged to invite friends and family. We want to make it a community affair!
Contact me for more info
530-356-6073
madeleine@extremetrailhorse.com
www.extremetrailhorse.com

Robert and Artista in a Charlie Chaplin Film

In this video we are trying to get Artista comfortable with human movement... only it is much more fun in high speeds :)

06/28/08

Artista got his first bath tonight! He did better with the hose than a lot of domesticated horses!
www.extremetrailhorse.com

another past due video

This video was from last week. This was how Robert was able to introduce Artista to the saddle pad.

06/26/08

Hey everyone,
we made the front page of the Red Bluff Daily News today!
check it out at http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/

06/22/08

Today a reporter from The Red Bluff Daily News came out to do a story on Artista's progress. She ended up helping us with some training and making a new friend :)
Here are some pics of Artista and Ashley

06/19/08

Its been a while since I've updated what we've been currently been working on with Artista. Since ARD was here I have been working on building back up to re-introducing the saddle pad. First I took the scary black pad and tied it onto the gate that adjoins Artista and Cash's pens. Cash went to town chewing it to bits and pretty soon Artista was over there checking it out as well. At this point he was ok with the pad on the fence or ground, but still afraid of the pad once it was in my hands, so I cut the pad into quarters and began introducing it to him in smaller packages :)
He is doing much better with the pad now, and I can toss a full size one onto his back without too much trouble. Jacqueline Kitchell donated an old broken english saddle that I am going to start introducing him to within the next few days.
I have also been desensitizing him to the lunge whip and can crack it all around his body and over his head without fear. He will also stand still for me to rope his feet, rump, and head/neck.

Woohoo! Scary flag!

2nd video from day 3

Artista day 3

Here is a video of Artista back from day 3. I'll be playing a little bit of catch up over the next few days to get these movies up and then we should be up to date :)

Video from day 1

I finally got the video from day 1 to upload!
Here it is!

06/18/08

Yesterday we had a film crew from the No.1 German Television Station ARD come out to do a story on Artista and I. This morning they came back to do some more filming.
Yesterday he was doing so well that I wanted to introduce him to the saddle pad.... aka piece of dead horse. Artista was terrified of it from the second he smelled it. I will probably have to go out and buy him a new pad that has never touched a horse before.
Since that was a little too much too soon, today we went back to a bandanna and a t-shirt. He did very well and was very accepting of both items. By the end of the session he was following me around the pen with no lead rope at all!
He has gotten to the point now where he will come up to greet you at the gate. I have also been able to take his lead rope off because he is so much easier to catch. Tonight Madi was feeding him alfalfa cubes by hand and brushing off his neck, shoulders, and back while he was just loose in the pen.

06/16/08

So far we haven't been able to upload any video (sorry guys) due to our horribly slow upload speed. Fortunately I have some stills as well.
Artista is doing extremely well. I accidentally developed a new method today for getting close to him. I was working with him in the round pen and he kept turning with his rear to me instead of turning to face me, and so I picked up a buggy whip (also works with a fiberglass stick from the inside of a lunge whip) and lightly tapped his rump when he turned it towards me. After doing that for a bit I realized that I could touch Artista with the buggy whip without him minding at all. I was able to rub the whip all over his body from head to toe. Pretty soon I was able to walk up and grab his lead rope, using the buggy whip as a desensitizer to build his trust. He is also doing very well with leading, and I have been doing some trust exercises and sacking him out with the lead rope.

06/15/08

Today we started working on giving to pressure using the rope and halter. First I acclimated him to the rope, and then using the rope around his neck I used the squeeze and release method to encourage him to move towards the pull of the rope instead of away from it. By the end of the afternoon I was able to lead him around the roundpen (although I did do some sand-skiing before all was said and done lol) and rub on his face without him running away.

06/14/08 Day 1

Last night we made the 4 hour drive to Palomino Valley NV to pick up my mustang for the 2008 Extreme Mustang Makeover. In case you have never heard of the event, here is the rundown:
200 horse trainers were selected nation-wide to compete in a competition to be held in Fort Worth Texas in September featured on RFDTV. These trainers are each given a 3-4 year old wild BLM mustang and have 100 days to prepare for the competition, which includes an in-hand course, conditioning class, and horse course (ridden obstacle course). Top ten finalists will be given the opportunity to perform a freestyle exhibition to decide the winner. Over $50,000 will be awarded in prize money and all the mustangs will be auctioned off for charity after the event.

So far Artista seems to be a very likable mustang. I was able to touch him in the trailer and by the time we got home he was eating hay out of my hand in the round pen. He is definitely scared but he really wants to trust. We stopped in Reno for dinner and he watched with interest as we passed a firetruck, cars, vans, people, buildings, and even strollers. Despite the culture shock he was very calm and stoic for the entire trip. We put him in the round pen here at the ranch and his fellow mustang Cash is helping to teach him what people are all about. This morning when I went outside to feed, Cash whinnied to me as normal and Artista also let out a nicker following his lead.

I also want to send out a big thank you to Growney Motors for sponsoring the truck we used to pick up Artista. Ironically Lane Frost's cousin Cary Frost was the BLM wrangler that helped us to load Artista into the chutes and trailer. All just a few miles out of Red Rock NV. What are the chances of that??

Stay tuned and bookmark this blog to support Robert and Artista's journey to Fort Worth.