05.27.10
Posted in Tuckers Trails of Training at 4:43 pm by Administrator
Tucker Standing Tall
Well, it has been good and bad the last few days! Tucker is an amazing horse and I so look forward to his and my future together. He is the most brave mustang I have ever worked with. He looks at new things with an open mind. He decides if he should accept the new object in his life or fight the object if need be. This does make him more of a fighter than a flight horse, which means getting him to really move out takes him to completely give up his instinct to survive. So the good news is things like tarps, bridges, scary objects are easy for him to accept, he investigates and realizes that they will not hurt him and accepts them! Makes it easier for me! He seems to have really taken to the pedestal work. He has really bonded with me, but still has not given up his instinct to be ready to survive. He will, but it is a choice he has to make.
The bad news is the one and only thing that really has scared him was the saddle. Which is very normal with starting horses of any age or breed. He is getting over his fear, but still hasn’t decided to trust me enough to like the saddle yet. As for me the rider, well he is doing great under saddle, however he has a strong will to do what he wants to do and is not ready to give up his survival instict and move out with out resistance at times. He wants to control the situation and not move out so he can fight if need be. He is a older, quiet, and wise leader, who knows he needs to trust, needs to lean on and depend on someone other than himself; but he battles his natural instinct to survive. He has an inner argument that keeps him from completely trusting. This resistance to the pressure under saddle is resulting in bucking, so I have been really cowgirl-ing it up the last couple of days! Staying on today was the highlight of the day as Tucker and I rodeo-ed a little. He came around in the end and will get over this, it just will take a consistent lesson plan and patience from me.
I know what it is like to have an inner battle. I am a control freek myself. Always wanting to be in control so my world doesn’t fall apart around me. Ya, I know it falls anyway so why fight? God tells me every day to trust and lean on Him. When I do, my life is filled with an inner peace. I seek that peace. I need that peace. Tucker is on a rocky trail right now coming to a fork in the road. He can either keep going down the trail with bumps and rocks, or choose to take the trail that is smooth and peaceful. It is a choice he will have to make; it is a choice that I have to make every day.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understandings; in all your ways ackowledge Him and He will direct your trails.”
Don’t forget to go to www.tuckersaddles.com and check out there new saddle line! Find a perfect saddle for you and your horses trails of life!
Go to www.cindybranham.com for more clinic and training information!
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05.23.10
Posted in Video blogs at 2:39 pm by Administrator
Brothers Stick Together!
Check out Tucker the Mustangs Second Week in Training with Cindy Branham for the Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover! 100 days of training with the goal of winning $50,000.00!
Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TowMwuXJ4Jc to see Tuckers Second Week!
Go to www.cindybranham.com for more info on Tucker the Mustang!
Go to www.tuckersaddles.com to shop for your perfect saddle! Check out the new Black Mountain Trail Saddle! It is close contact!
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Posted in Tuckers Trails of Training at 2:11 pm by Administrator
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“Brothers stick together!”
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Hair, Hair, and more Hair!
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Thats my Boy!
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Look at that!
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Please!
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“You can’t catch me!”
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First Bit! Good Job Tucker!
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Tucker in his new Pegasus Boots!
My life feels like it is in fastforward and I am only two weeks into training Tucker. Trying to balance my home, family, business, blogging and Tucker is exhausting! Yet it is so fulfilling to. I will never be able to truly put into words the feeling of when a wild and frightful and so powerful being decides to put away their fears and trust. It is an overwhelming experience! The first two weeks are probably the most important in training a wild mustang. It is the most imprint-able time in a mustang’s transition from wild to domesticated. I cannot stress enough how important it is to earn the horses trust and not get in a hurry in training.
Now, you might say, “Cindy you only have 100 days! You don’t have time to go slow!” I would say that by going slow and taking my time to work out all of the resistance from my mustang then in the long run I will be ahead of someone who might rush it. By earning the mustangs trust and desensitizing all of the resistance out I begin to open up not only the horses desire to obey, but a willingness to begin a working partnership. Both parties of the partnership working together to reach a goal. Tucker is already looking for the right answers and has given me his heart to try and understand what it is I truly want from him. He has made it clear to me that he wants someone he can depend on when he is afraid so that he will not have to worry any more or be alone. His heart is searching to be relieved of fear!
You know God wants us to trust him for the same reason Tucker needs to trust me. Check out this verse: (2 Sam 22:3 KJV) The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; thou savest me from violence.
Tucker learned so much this week! He went from a raring and striking wild horse to a soft eyed and trusting partner. He still has many fears to work through, but I truly believe that Tucker knows and understands that he doesn’t have to face his fears alone anymore! He has me! I will try to be worthy of his trust! It is my responsibility as his trainer to be consistent and fair 100% of the time. I have to step back from human emotions and look at Tucker as a partner that I have to work with, not against. I have to put enough pressure on Tucker to show him the easiest path for him to follow; he has to make a choice to take that path.
Go to www.cindybranham.com for more info on Tucker the Mustang!
Go to www.tuckersaddles.com to shop for your perfect saddle! Check out the new Black Mountain Trail Saddle! It is close contact!
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05.18.10
Posted in Video blogs at 1:14 am by Administrator
Week one was so exciting! I am so blessed to have a mustang with a heart that is brave and wanting to learn.
Check out my video blogs and see Day 1, Day 2, and an
Overview of Week One with me teaching you about all Tucker learned his first week in training!
Go to links below:
Week One: Learning To Trust!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA10ZlGMgSw
Day 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKhGhmFcwb8&feature=channel
Day 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjjxkjh3FlQ&feature=channel
Go to www.cindybranham.com for more info on Tucker the Mustang!
Go to www.tuckersaddles.com to shop for your perfect saddle! Check out the new Black Mountain Trail Saddle! It is close contact!
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05.13.10
Posted in Tuckers Trails of Training at 9:09 am by Administrator
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Tucker’s Birth Place
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Mustangs from Jackson Mountains, Nevada
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First Touch
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Tucker greets Cindy
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Good Boy
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Finding Peace
Job 6:18 “The PATHS (or TRAILS) of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.” Wild horses are the subject of many controversial subjects and opinions. I am a person that wants to look directly at a problem to find the source or root of the controversy or opinions. This brings me to the only problem I see and that is unwanted and mis-understood horses. Let’s keep the focus on these amazing creations of God! This blog segment is to give you some history of the Mustang breed and maybe help us all understand a little more about Tucker the Mustang and his family tree!
Historical evidence indicates that by 1690, the Shoshones to the north of what is now the BLM’s Winnemucca District possessed horses. Historical evidence also indicates that the American westward of explorers, settlers, and cavalry in the mid-1800’s was the source of present day wild horses. The vast number of settlers entering the Great Basin increased the numbers of lost stock, abandonment, and also intentional horse breeding operations on vast acreages of unfenced public lands over more than a century provided the diverse genetic heritage of today’s American Mustang.
Between 1870 & 1898 horse prices dropped as horse ranching increased in the west. Feral horse herds expanded as the open range filled up with unbranded and unbroken horses. By 1885, local wild horse herds were common throughout the area.
During the 1950’s, Velma B. Johnston of Nevada, who came to be know as “Wild Horse Annie”, was instrumental in getting public awareness on the wellbeing of the American Mustang. In 1971, Congress introduced and passed The Wild Free- Roaming Horses and Burros Act. This Act instilled that all unclaimed free roaming horses would become property of the federal government.
Ultimately, the spirit, beauty, sense of unbridled freedom, and romance associated with the wild horse struck an emotional chord with the American public. Hence, the reason as to why Congress proclaimed “wild free-roaming horses and burros” as “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the west.” (Segments taken from Mustang County- Wild Horses & Burros)
Tucker the Mustang was born in 2004 in the Jackson Mountains, Nevada area. This 283,000 acre range was Tuckers home for his first three years of life. The range is home to 130-217 head of mustangs. These horses are most likely descendants of farm, ranch and cavalry remount horses that either escaped or were released into the area. I can only imagine what Tuckers life was like, but I am sure it was survival of the fittest. Always looking over his shoulder for predators or even where his next meal would come from. However, I am sure there were times of peace with his mother when he was a foal learning how to survive in the wild. She taught him well as he did survive.
October 3, 2007 Tucker was three years old and on this day his life path changed forever. He was captured and brought into a whole new world. I am sure fear of the unknown overwhelmed him. However, he now did not have to worry where his next meal was going to come from. He would now be protected against disease and predators. Even though man was now part of his life, he would be brave and survive.
Three years after his capture date Tucker, because of his age, was on his way to a long term holding facility. He would once again survive. His chances of adoption were gone; his life was on a path of being provided for with physical provisions, but no chance of a trusting partnership and meaningful existence. Little did I know and Tucker know that our Creator had a plan to join our paths together. Tucker, along with 108 other six year old mustangs were selected for the Supreme Extreme Makeover Competitions.
Now, as our paths have come together Tuckers life has once again changed. He now has the chance to do more than just survive. He has a life that will ensure a loving and trusting partnership; one he can depend on forever. When he decides to trust; Tucker will find peace again.
He is on his way to finding that peace already. His brave heart and willingness to seek a partnership is already shining through! I am ahead of schedule in his training because of his pure heart and try. He wants to find peace! I always pick a Bible verse for my mustangs. Tucker’s verse is also my life verse: Proverbs 3:5&6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understandings. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths/ or as I read it, “He shall direct your Trails!”
Go to www.cindybranham.com for more info on Tucker the Mustang!
Go to www.tuckersaddles.com to shop for your perfect saddle! Check out the new Black Mountain Trail Saddle! It is close contact!
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05.10.10
Posted in Tuckers Trails of Training, Video blogs at 9:16 am by Administrator
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Wow! What an amazing weekend! I feel like I am in a whirlwind blowing me all over the place! We headed off to Colorado on Thursday, May 6, to the Canyon City Correctional Facility in Canyon City, Colorado. This is my fourth time doing the Extreme Mustang Makeover competitions and as I look back at the past there is so many overwhelming emotions! Apprehension in 2007 as I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into, not knowing that a little black Mustang named Joshua would change the direction of my career and life. He gave me a new passion for Gods wild horses; to bring them into the equine worlds eyes as a trainable and great choice for an equine partner! He also showed me the unbelievable possibilities of what an human/equine partnership really could be. In 2008 I had one of the most challenging horses I have ever faced in my life and yet Moses became an beautiful partner and companion. Giving him a life with an genuine human hero, a knight in shining armor! In 2009 Jabez taught me to understand this breed could excel above and beyond my expetations and dreams! However, heartbreak followed his adoption as I really had a hard time letting him go.
Now, I go into this new competition with a whole new outlook. This horse, Tucker the Mustang is mine. I don’t have to try and prepare myself to let him go! It is a great feeling and a little hard to believe. No holding back with this one! Tucker is here to stay! What will I learn from him?
As I saw him for the first time he was still unbelievable and beautiful! Even though he was a little smaller than I expected his quiet eye and brave soul shined through! Good and powerful things can come in small packages! Watch out! He is quiet and already coming around almost as quickly as Joshua did! Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover or Bust! Watch the video blog to get an inside look at Tuckers Prison Break! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idGXfpoQTT8
Go to www.cindybranham.com for more info on Tucker the Mustang!
Go to www.tuckersaddles.com to shop for your perfect saddle! Check out the new Black Mountain Trail Saddle! It is close contact!
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