| Cindy Branham One of 13 trainers selected for Mustang Magic |
October 17, 2008
It is already three weeks into this competition and I am just now finding time to blog about the amazing horse God selected
for me this time. It has been hard for me to keep up this grueling schedule, so working with Jabez, has not been top on my
priority list. We are remodeling a house, moving from our old place, running our equine business and being parents to three
beautiful children. I am tired, but enjoying every important moment I spend with Jabez. If you followed my adventure with
Moses the Mustang you know how very fearful he was the first month and how hard it was to get that all important heart
change of trust. Jabez has been a breath of fresh air as he is brave and quiet. He reminds me of Joshua so much and even
seems to be more athletic. Jabez is very smart and willing to learn. I got home from the Mustang Makeover with Jabez on
Monday, taught him how to load back up into the trailer with my roundpening techniques and then hauled him to Iowa on
Wednesday for a training and demo tour out there. He handled it great and took everything in with a air of confidence and
strength. Yesterday he decided I was his friend and we took a walk all over the ranch. He greeted everyone we met,
crossed obstacles with confidence and just seemed to be comfortable and enjoying life. It is good to see his mind relax and
realize we can be partners. I will start my bridle work today and I hope to introduce the saddle this weekend or early next
week. I have no doubt this horse is going to be incredible, I just have to get my butt in gear and get his foundation
established. So far two out of three mustangs have been an easy start. It may surprise you to hear, but these mustangs are
so smart, once you teach them that they can trust you, they become an easy train and bond so clearly and strongly to you. I
already dred adopting him out, as I can not help but get attached. This is a great experience, hard work, but worth it.
November 1, 2008,
So the last couple of weeks have gone by so fast. Ryan keeps reminding me how much time has passed and that I only have
a little time with this horse left. I am trying not to panic, and trusting that this horse is going to allow me some slack. I have
started to pick up the training pace in the last week and Jabez is coming along good. He is under saddle and doing great.
He still has not had that all important first major heart change and is a little distant still with his heart and trust. However,
every day he gets closer to the change and will come around to it soon. He came along with me to Sedalia, Mo to the Horse
and Women expo and was a great demo horse for me. He again handled the trip with confidence and control. He seems to
accept his world with a wise mind and reasons through his decisions. His mind is full of try, so when he hands over his
heart the sky will be the limit! Many years ago I read the Prayer of Jabez book, and a friend of mine just brought me her
copy, so I am reading it again. It speaks of great faith and asking the Lord for blessings in our life and believing He will give
them to us. Blessings of joy and peace speak so clearly in this book. Many of us think that money will solve all of our
problems, but real trust comes from first having to depend on something, and then believing we will be taken care of. Then
comes peace in our souls, which then allows us to have joy. Jabez is going through this cycle, he still is realizing that he
needs to depend on me and starting to trust. I need to depend on God and trust him, and then believe that he does have
blessings in store for me to give me peace and joy.
In Mo. I worked with Jabez on ground work and obstacles. He learned how to get up on the pedestal and work with the ball.
He did great! Back home Jabez handled the saddle pretty good and the first ride was easy, yes easy. He has so much try
and wants to understand. I look forward to the possibilities with this horse. All things are possible.....
It is already three weeks into this competition and I am just now finding time to blog about the amazing horse God selected
for me this time. It has been hard for me to keep up this grueling schedule, so working with Jabez, has not been top on my
priority list. We are remodeling a house, moving from our old place, running our equine business and being parents to three
beautiful children. I am tired, but enjoying every important moment I spend with Jabez. If you followed my adventure with
Moses the Mustang you know how very fearful he was the first month and how hard it was to get that all important heart
change of trust. Jabez has been a breath of fresh air as he is brave and quiet. He reminds me of Joshua so much and even
seems to be more athletic. Jabez is very smart and willing to learn. I got home from the Mustang Makeover with Jabez on
Monday, taught him how to load back up into the trailer with my roundpening techniques and then hauled him to Iowa on
Wednesday for a training and demo tour out there. He handled it great and took everything in with a air of confidence and
strength. Yesterday he decided I was his friend and we took a walk all over the ranch. He greeted everyone we met,
crossed obstacles with confidence and just seemed to be comfortable and enjoying life. It is good to see his mind relax and
realize we can be partners. I will start my bridle work today and I hope to introduce the saddle this weekend or early next
week. I have no doubt this horse is going to be incredible, I just have to get my butt in gear and get his foundation
established. So far two out of three mustangs have been an easy start. It may surprise you to hear, but these mustangs are
so smart, once you teach them that they can trust you, they become an easy train and bond so clearly and strongly to you. I
already dred adopting him out, as I can not help but get attached. This is a great experience, hard work, but worth it.
November 1, 2008,
So the last couple of weeks have gone by so fast. Ryan keeps reminding me how much time has passed and that I only have
a little time with this horse left. I am trying not to panic, and trusting that this horse is going to allow me some slack. I have
started to pick up the training pace in the last week and Jabez is coming along good. He is under saddle and doing great.
He still has not had that all important first major heart change and is a little distant still with his heart and trust. However,
every day he gets closer to the change and will come around to it soon. He came along with me to Sedalia, Mo to the Horse
and Women expo and was a great demo horse for me. He again handled the trip with confidence and control. He seems to
accept his world with a wise mind and reasons through his decisions. His mind is full of try, so when he hands over his
heart the sky will be the limit! Many years ago I read the Prayer of Jabez book, and a friend of mine just brought me her
copy, so I am reading it again. It speaks of great faith and asking the Lord for blessings in our life and believing He will give
them to us. Blessings of joy and peace speak so clearly in this book. Many of us think that money will solve all of our
problems, but real trust comes from first having to depend on something, and then believing we will be taken care of. Then
comes peace in our souls, which then allows us to have joy. Jabez is going through this cycle, he still is realizing that he
needs to depend on me and starting to trust. I need to depend on God and trust him, and then believe that he does have
blessings in store for me to give me peace and joy.
In Mo. I worked with Jabez on ground work and obstacles. He learned how to get up on the pedestal and work with the ball.
He did great! Back home Jabez handled the saddle pretty good and the first ride was easy, yes easy. He has so much try
and wants to understand. I look forward to the possibilities with this horse. All things are possible.....
November 7, 2008,
Jabez is doing great! He is learning at a fast pace and giving me more and more of his heart. He still has some spook
issues with things coming from behind him. He will face and approach many scary things, but then the same things coming
from behind he struggles with. This is the first mustang I have encountered with this problem, but I have heard it is common.
As he has come to trust me, he is comfortable with me behind him, but other things he has more work to do. I know he will
get there, as I continue to work him with different scary things from behind, I am patient to wait until he is relaxed before
releasing the scary movement or sound behind. His conditioned response to be afraid and flee away and then turn and face
his could be opponent is very strong, and so, I have to re-program and make a knew conditioned response to first trust me
and then think through his emotions and control his feet. Each lesson is getting better and he will get this.
I have continued working on his pedestal training and teaching him more advanced maneuvers. I am experimenting with
new training techniques and they seem to be really opening up his mind to me.
Riding him is allot of fun. He has allot of elevation in his trot. So far he has not gotten mad and tried to rare or buck. That
could come, but so far he is a very willing student, who seems to be excelling with my training method. He is a really
athletic and a smart horse. He has three gates right now, walk, trot, and RUN! Speed control will come soon!
I have been enjoying my book "The prayer of Jabez". The biggest profound statement to me was. To understand truly being
blessed by the Lord we have to first understand, or come to our own understanding that we need God. If we are walking
through life thinking we can do this on our own power and strength, we will fail ourselves miserly when trials come into our
life. It isn't until we realize our dependence upon God that we truly seek and understand Gods blessings when they come to
us. Wow, Jabez is having to realize that he needs me. He has been such a confident horse that I have had to put things in
his life to show him that facing these scary trails alone is not easy, but if he depends on me for safety, he finds peace. First
he has to trust me and then obey me. But truly, he has had to realize that he needs me before he could trust me. I need God.
I need God. Thank you God for blessing me.
December 26, 2008,
Well, I am so busy it seems I am chasing my tail. Blogging has not been a priority this busy season. Sorry, for not updating in a while. Jabez and I have been through trials
and tribulations this month, but I think we are coming out on the top of things. He has gone through a fast paced learning process and is just about where i need him to be
to put the finishing touches on his training for the competition. He has spent allot of time with his feet in the air, raring, yes, raring, and charging through the bit in rebellion
against my reins and legs. Last week he seemed to have a really good heart change and is really coming along, listening better and keeping all four feet on the ground,
most of the time. My wow factor for the finals is coming along good and he is understanding the trick training well. He is either hot or cold, listening intensely or
completely shut off to my training aids. He is not near as spooky as before, but still has a trust factor problem at times. It is nice that he finally seems to have decided he
loves me, or at least likes me and might even need me. He is independent and strong, but with an intense work ethic and focus' intently on his desired goals. When he has
decided to listen he is truly amazing. Athletic and smart and willing to perform on an intense performance level. I do think he would of done better in this process with
more time to teach instead of pushing him so fast. He does not like to be pushed hard and blows quicker than Josh and Moses did. However, he is making good progress
and He will be an awesome performance horse as he grows and matures. His future is bright and I know he will decide to give more of himself as time goes by.
Remember, I want my horses to want to win, want to please me and find the right answer. I have to earn his respect, so that he desires to follow my leadership and
willingly bend his will to mine. I have to know how much pressure is enough to cause him to make a change in his behavior or performance and then be consistent to
release that pressure when he gives me the right answer. To much pressure will make him blow, and i will loose his try and have to start over. This becomes difficult
when I am crunched with this time frame. Bitter cold, ice, and snow does not help either. As a trainer, it is my responsibility to ensure that this horse is learning with
success and willingness, not make his life miserable for my benefit. So, if he is not as far along as i want him in four weeks, then i have to be willing to accept what he can
give me and show what he can do, not what i want him to do if he is not ready. I guess I am speaking to myself out loud as to help those of you who train and myself to
remember why we are doing this. To promote Gods amazing creation the horse and find a venue to expose more places for these horses to find a place of permanent
placement. Good and loving homes. Good thing God never pushes us to hard, even though it sometimes seems like he does. He is 100% consistent in his love for us and
teaches us to depend on him. Sometimes I am much like Jabez. I need to work on it.
January 13, 2009
Well, we are down to the wire and Jabez is quite the horse. Unfortunately he is not very consistent in what he knows and has learned. Discouragement has plagued my
mustang and I until yesterday. Try to understand that Jabez has learned at least 2 years of training in about three and a half months. This intense learning regimen is very
difficult and yet every mustang I have worked with has handled it all in stride and performed really well for me at the competition. My hat goes out to all of the other trainers
that have committed there time and finances for this program. It is a gruelling commitment and yet worth it to help preserve and save these horses. I talk so much about a
heart change that these horses need to really start to become a willing partner and perform out of trust and heart. Many, many rides, hard intense rides with Jabez and I
have put him away convinced that he had that important heart change, however the next ride would be the same or worse. His heart is good, his mind is smart, but his
willingness to completely trust and obey has not been exposed yet, or so I think. I know that a slower training process would of been much better for Jabez as his
personality requires slower steps in training. However, this time constraint has pushed him faster than either one of us has liked. You know my faith means the world to
me. It is the heart of my training program and why I love horses. When a person realizes for the first time that we need God to survive this life and we give our trust and life
to him we have the most important heart change we will ever have. From that point on in our life we will never be alone. We will always have a stronger power to lean on, a
friend who will always be there for us through the good and the bad times. This doesn't mean that life will be easy or that we will not fight and struggle between right and
wrong, but the assurance of my salvation and my entrance into heaven will always be there. It takes a small step of faith to give my life to God and accept his gift of
salvation, then my faith will grow as I learn more about God and become a willing partner with him, allowing him to take the reins and lead my life. Jabez has to have that
first heart change. Two nights ago we spent doing allot of raring and allot of bucking. Even though he has learned tricks to flying lead changes he decided he did not want
to trust, did not want to obey, and did not want to have faith in me that I can lead him better than he can lead me. We worked along time. I tried to be consistent with the
pressure, working and then waiting for him to give in and obey. I ended the night on a good note. Later that evening I went up to check on him and sat in his hay as he ate
and cried and prayed. Yes, even I as a professional trainer get discouraged with my horses. Jabez has so much potential to be a living example of an amazing athlete and
representative of his breed. He knows his job, he has learned the game, and can excel at it, and yet he is held back by self preservation and needing to be in control. But to
trust, to have faith to give up yourself, so that you may not be alone in this world. To know that you don't have to worry, but have a peace in your soul and a relationship of
unconditional love. I wish I was a horse whisperer and could tell Jabez how much I love him and want him to understand. I wonder if our heavenly father feels that way
sometimes.
Well, the good news is last night he seemed to be a different horse. He performed amazingly well and maybe, just maybe, has had a heart change. Only time will tell. We
leave next Wednesday and I will trust God for a miracle. I will keep looking up and hopefully Jabez will too!
January 16, 2009
God is good. Jabez is doing great we have had four consistent and awesome rides in a row. I think it has finally happened, that quiet and smart and very independent
horse has finally decided to let me have the reins. At least here at home. He is a new horse!!! Listening to my commands and happily complying to what he has learned. I
am feeling much better about the upcoming competition. This very time next week, it will all be over. The preliminaries, the finals, and the adoption. The first two I look
forward to , the last is very hard for me. I am not very good at the giving them up part, even though I believe so strongly in this program and finding these horses a great
home. I spend months on other peoples horses and build a good working partnership, but somehow I am able to separate my emotions from them better than I do these
mustangs. There is something truly magical about what happens between me and these mustangs as they go through the starting process. A different bond is formed. A
strong survival instinct to survive at no cost is destroyed by an inner peace and unconditional love. These wild horses have different kinds of souls that ultimately become
dedicated to you and desire to be with you. This experience with these mustangs over the last two years has changed me. Not only as a trainer; but as a person. It has
helped me look for a better way to communicate what trust and faith really means. To horses and to humans. I am proud to have been a part of these mustang
makeovers. They have made me want to be a better trainer and person. I have committed to myself and to God to do anything he asks of me to help him save his horses,
his wild mustangs. They will be in my heart forever. See you in Texas! Cindy Branham and Jabez the Mustang.
Well, I am so busy it seems I am chasing my tail. Blogging has not been a priority this busy season. Sorry, for not updating in a while. Jabez and I have been through trials
and tribulations this month, but I think we are coming out on the top of things. He has gone through a fast paced learning process and is just about where i need him to be
to put the finishing touches on his training for the competition. He has spent allot of time with his feet in the air, raring, yes, raring, and charging through the bit in rebellion
against my reins and legs. Last week he seemed to have a really good heart change and is really coming along, listening better and keeping all four feet on the ground,
most of the time. My wow factor for the finals is coming along good and he is understanding the trick training well. He is either hot or cold, listening intensely or
completely shut off to my training aids. He is not near as spooky as before, but still has a trust factor problem at times. It is nice that he finally seems to have decided he
loves me, or at least likes me and might even need me. He is independent and strong, but with an intense work ethic and focus' intently on his desired goals. When he has
decided to listen he is truly amazing. Athletic and smart and willing to perform on an intense performance level. I do think he would of done better in this process with
more time to teach instead of pushing him so fast. He does not like to be pushed hard and blows quicker than Josh and Moses did. However, he is making good progress
and He will be an awesome performance horse as he grows and matures. His future is bright and I know he will decide to give more of himself as time goes by.
Remember, I want my horses to want to win, want to please me and find the right answer. I have to earn his respect, so that he desires to follow my leadership and
willingly bend his will to mine. I have to know how much pressure is enough to cause him to make a change in his behavior or performance and then be consistent to
release that pressure when he gives me the right answer. To much pressure will make him blow, and i will loose his try and have to start over. This becomes difficult
when I am crunched with this time frame. Bitter cold, ice, and snow does not help either. As a trainer, it is my responsibility to ensure that this horse is learning with
success and willingness, not make his life miserable for my benefit. So, if he is not as far along as i want him in four weeks, then i have to be willing to accept what he can
give me and show what he can do, not what i want him to do if he is not ready. I guess I am speaking to myself out loud as to help those of you who train and myself to
remember why we are doing this. To promote Gods amazing creation the horse and find a venue to expose more places for these horses to find a place of permanent
placement. Good and loving homes. Good thing God never pushes us to hard, even though it sometimes seems like he does. He is 100% consistent in his love for us and
teaches us to depend on him. Sometimes I am much like Jabez. I need to work on it.
January 13, 2009
Well, we are down to the wire and Jabez is quite the horse. Unfortunately he is not very consistent in what he knows and has learned. Discouragement has plagued my
mustang and I until yesterday. Try to understand that Jabez has learned at least 2 years of training in about three and a half months. This intense learning regimen is very
difficult and yet every mustang I have worked with has handled it all in stride and performed really well for me at the competition. My hat goes out to all of the other trainers
that have committed there time and finances for this program. It is a gruelling commitment and yet worth it to help preserve and save these horses. I talk so much about a
heart change that these horses need to really start to become a willing partner and perform out of trust and heart. Many, many rides, hard intense rides with Jabez and I
have put him away convinced that he had that important heart change, however the next ride would be the same or worse. His heart is good, his mind is smart, but his
willingness to completely trust and obey has not been exposed yet, or so I think. I know that a slower training process would of been much better for Jabez as his
personality requires slower steps in training. However, this time constraint has pushed him faster than either one of us has liked. You know my faith means the world to
me. It is the heart of my training program and why I love horses. When a person realizes for the first time that we need God to survive this life and we give our trust and life
to him we have the most important heart change we will ever have. From that point on in our life we will never be alone. We will always have a stronger power to lean on, a
friend who will always be there for us through the good and the bad times. This doesn't mean that life will be easy or that we will not fight and struggle between right and
wrong, but the assurance of my salvation and my entrance into heaven will always be there. It takes a small step of faith to give my life to God and accept his gift of
salvation, then my faith will grow as I learn more about God and become a willing partner with him, allowing him to take the reins and lead my life. Jabez has to have that
first heart change. Two nights ago we spent doing allot of raring and allot of bucking. Even though he has learned tricks to flying lead changes he decided he did not want
to trust, did not want to obey, and did not want to have faith in me that I can lead him better than he can lead me. We worked along time. I tried to be consistent with the
pressure, working and then waiting for him to give in and obey. I ended the night on a good note. Later that evening I went up to check on him and sat in his hay as he ate
and cried and prayed. Yes, even I as a professional trainer get discouraged with my horses. Jabez has so much potential to be a living example of an amazing athlete and
representative of his breed. He knows his job, he has learned the game, and can excel at it, and yet he is held back by self preservation and needing to be in control. But to
trust, to have faith to give up yourself, so that you may not be alone in this world. To know that you don't have to worry, but have a peace in your soul and a relationship of
unconditional love. I wish I was a horse whisperer and could tell Jabez how much I love him and want him to understand. I wonder if our heavenly father feels that way
sometimes.
Well, the good news is last night he seemed to be a different horse. He performed amazingly well and maybe, just maybe, has had a heart change. Only time will tell. We
leave next Wednesday and I will trust God for a miracle. I will keep looking up and hopefully Jabez will too!
January 16, 2009
God is good. Jabez is doing great we have had four consistent and awesome rides in a row. I think it has finally happened, that quiet and smart and very independent
horse has finally decided to let me have the reins. At least here at home. He is a new horse!!! Listening to my commands and happily complying to what he has learned. I
am feeling much better about the upcoming competition. This very time next week, it will all be over. The preliminaries, the finals, and the adoption. The first two I look
forward to , the last is very hard for me. I am not very good at the giving them up part, even though I believe so strongly in this program and finding these horses a great
home. I spend months on other peoples horses and build a good working partnership, but somehow I am able to separate my emotions from them better than I do these
mustangs. There is something truly magical about what happens between me and these mustangs as they go through the starting process. A different bond is formed. A
strong survival instinct to survive at no cost is destroyed by an inner peace and unconditional love. These wild horses have different kinds of souls that ultimately become
dedicated to you and desire to be with you. This experience with these mustangs over the last two years has changed me. Not only as a trainer; but as a person. It has
helped me look for a better way to communicate what trust and faith really means. To horses and to humans. I am proud to have been a part of these mustang
makeovers. They have made me want to be a better trainer and person. I have committed to myself and to God to do anything he asks of me to help him save his horses,
his wild mustangs. They will be in my heart forever. See you in Texas! Cindy Branham and Jabez the Mustang.
| HAPPY HOLIDAYS! |
| I Chronicles 4:9a-10 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers....Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his requests. |
| Click here to keep reading about how Cindy and Jabez did! |
| click here to see Jabez where he started wild and untamed! |