Freedom - Mustang Mastery
This blog will go in reverse order from the beginning, through Freedom's progress: Current information on top. Scroll to the bottom to start from the beginning.
Freedom the mustang trots with the smiley face balloon attached.
Freedom the mustang decides, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. Don Jessop sets him up for success.👍
Don rewards Freedom the Mustang for every try he makes. He is getting braver.👍
Freedom the mustang says, I can't look at it/too hard. Don just brings him back into position and asks him to look at it again. Nicely done. 👍
Now we move to the bridge, looks similar but very different. Freedom the mustang is prepared to look at the bridge because Don asked him too.
Don Jessop gives Freedom the mustang a huge reward by squatting down and rewarding him.
Freedom the mustang makes it up on the teeter-totter with all four feet. 👍
Freedom the mustang stands on his tiptoes, I'm not wanting to put my back feet up there.
Freedom the mustang thinks this teeter-totter is really not a good idea. Don stays clear and repositions him until he says, ok I think I can do this.💖
Freedom the mustang is now looking at the bridge and decides to check it out. He starts pawing. Don gives him the time to check it out.👍
Don Jessop gives Freedom the mustang a big reward for his position and try. Nice job 👍
Freedom the mustang trying to go around the bridge the other way. Don Jessop brings him back to alignment.👍
Don Jessop asks Freedom the mustang to stand on the teeter-totter. He puts his foot to the side, so Don puts him back in position. Nice job.👍
Pauli checking on Don Jessop as he picks out Freedom the mustangs feet.
Freedom the mustang is never far away from his new love Pauli. It is very sweet. 💖
Don Jessop swings the swing to see Freedom the mustang's reaction. Freedom is not sure about it but hangs in there.👍
Freedom the mustang does not know what treats are, so grass or hay is his reward after a big day. Don Jessop hangs out and lets him relax. This is important bonding time.💖
Don Jessop pops the ball up on Freedom the mustang's back. 👍
Don Jessop approaches Freedom the mustang with the ball.
Don Jessop bounces the ball for Freedom the mustang to get used to it moving. Big steps.
Freedom the mustang says, these crazy humans, well I lived. Ha ha.😁
Freedom makes contact with the ball with Don Jessop's guidance. Very nice 👍
Don Jessop says 'come look at the ball'. Freedom the Mustang says, 'that thing, I can't see, I don't want to. O.K. maybe'. Nice job👍
Don Jessop helps Freedom the mustang to get used to being hugged. 💖😊
Don Jessop repeating approach and touch with Freedom the mustang.😁
Don Jessop approaches Freedom the mustang from the front with outstretched hands this is not a friendly thing for a wild horse and still takes some getting used to for any horse.👍👍👍👍
Don Jessop trims Freedom the mustangs back. Just kidding! How to make sure your horse is really ok with the hoof stand.👍💖😁
Don Jessop cleaning/picking out Freedom's feet. 👍
Don Jessop trims up Freedom the mustangs back feet. Pretty cool that they can do it while ground tied.👍😃
Don Jessop gives Freedom the mustang a nice rasp while he keeps his foot on the hoof stand. Progress👍
Don Jessop helping Freedom the mustang to bring his foot forward onto the stand. Nicely done.👍😃
Don Jessop asks Freedom the mustang to stay in position in front of the hoof stand. One step at a time.
Don Jessop asks Freedom the mustang to stand in position for feet prep. This is a game that takes a lot of repetition. 👍
Don Jessop cracks the stockwhip to help Freedom the mustang to become better with noises. Looking good 😃
Don Jessop hugs Freedom the mustang with the stock whip. Helping him to get used to different feel and sensations. 👍😃
Freedom the mustang gets curious with the mounting block. I love the transformation he is going through.💖
Freedom the mustang did not like his first introduction to the mounting block. But then he decided to try to look at it. Nice job! 😊
Freedom the mustang showing how you can have all your weight on one foot then shift it to lift it. Nice job 👍
Asking Freedom the mustang to place his feet in different directions. Doing good.👍
Asking Freedom the mustang to pick his leg up, let me hold it and place it down gently. He did really well. 👍
Playing with the ropes around Freedom the mustangs leg. He is getting more and more relaxed. 👍
Freedom the mustang letting go and starting to enjoy his human time. 👍
Freedom the mustang and I crossing our legs. This was just funny. 😁
Freedom the mustang did not like the sound or feel of a hairbrush. He took some convincing to let me brush him. But, he is getting more and more used to it.👍😉
Don Jessop always bonding during a training session.👍😃💖
Freedom the mustang gets his dreadlocks taken care of. Lots of brushing, but we did it.👍💖😃
Freedom the mustang has his first barn walkthrough experience. He does well, takes a bite to eat on the way through. Getting educated.👍
Don Jessop helps Freedom the mustang to see that the green hoof stand is not going to eat him. He starts to get the idea. 👍
I can sniff it, Freedom the mustang is apprehensive about this hoof stand.
Freedom the mustang is afraid of the hoof stand, Don Jessop reminds him to come forward off the pressure on the lead rope. In fact,
coming off the pressure is more important than a scary object.
I don't know about this says Freedom the mustang. I think it is going to eat me.
Here are some comparison shots of Freedom the mustangs feet. He almost looked like a duck. So happy his feet are trimmed up.😃
We did it, all trimmed up Freedom the mustang. What a lot of hoof. What a relief 😌
Don Jessop helps Freedom the mustang to stand in position. when he gets out of position, he asks him back into position and starts again. Freedom picks this up really fast. Well done team 👍
Don Jessop helps Freedom the mustang to place his foot gently back down on the ground. Nicely done 👍👍
Freedom the mustang is watching, what are you doing? Don tackles the hind feet too. Looking good, Freedom is going to feel so much better with some of this long hoof taken off.👍
There is a lot of growth on Freedom the mustangs feet, Don Jessop takes off a lot of foot.👍
Notice how Freedom the Mustang is ground tying. Don Jessop set up clear boundaries so Freedom feels comfortable to just stand there. Nice job!😊
It is way past time to tackle those feet. Don Jessop asks Freedom the mustang to sniff the hoof stand. 👍
Freedom the mustang is in love with Pauli. It is nice for him to have friends.😊😍
Freedom the mustang passed his tests and is out in a larger field with grass. He did not really run around, just started eating and loving it. 💖👍 So nice to see.😍
Don teaching a workshop: Shows how to approach and pat Freedom the mustang. Everyone has a turn and gets to pat Freedom. Such a special opportunity and really good for Freedom and each person.
Don Jessop is repeating catching, leading, and grazing every day to help Freedom the mustang to get to his next step, some Freedom.😃
Don Jessop leading Freedom the mustang back into the pen. Watch him as he tries to decide what to do and if he should follow the lead. He does. Well done. We have to get a little better with catching before we can let him live in a bigger space permanently, soon.
Don gives Freedom the mustang a rope hug out in the field. Checking he is o.k. with this in an open space. Looking good👍
Freedom the mustang relaxes enough to eat grass with Don Jessop holding onto the line. Notice how he keeps the line fairly taunt. 👍
Freedom the Mustang stepping outside the pen and up onto some fresh green grass, which he has not seen for nearly a year in captivity. Don Jessop gives him a nice rub. Yahoo!😃💖👍
Don Jessop opens the gate to give Freedom his first step out of the pen into more freedom and grass. Very Exciting!👍😃😉
Don Jessop helping Freedom the mustang to handle having ropes around his legs. Good progress!😃
Freedom the mustang saying, I don't like to be touched there. Don Jessop stayed with him until Freedom could say, OK, I can stop my feet now while you touch me there. Nicely done.😃👌
Don Jessop asking Freedom the mustang to back up from the halter. He says yes. 👍
Freedom the mustang says, No, I can't move forward over the log with that scary flag in your hand. Don Jessop stays steady and clear to ask Freedom the please follow the pressure. O.K I guess I can do it. 👍😃
Freedom the mustang following Don Jessop and the flag. Following the flag is really helping Freedom mentally to see that it is not a threat. Super transition.😃👌
Freedom the mustang does not want to walk forward from Don's feel on the line, especially while Don is holding the scary flag. So Don angles to the side to help unstick the feet. Freedom then gets the idea and he is rewarded for moving forward. 👍😃
Freedom the mustang is skeptical of the flag, see his stance in the first picture, then he needs to move his feet. Don Jessop keeps up the rhythm and shows him that the flag means no harm even though it is very scary. Freedom's trust grows through these experiences. 😊👍
Don Jessop presents Freedom the mustang with the flag. He does not like the look of it but lets Don touch his nose with it.
Freedom the mustang finding out he is able to walk over the log with Don Jessop's guidance.
Freedom the mustang is giving Don Jessop the side-eye, he does not think it is a good idea to cross over the log or to move forward off the pressure of the rope, but moving forward off the pressure of the rope is still progress even if Freedom did not cross the log. 👍👍
Don Jessop give Freedom the mustang a hug as he places the halter on his head. Aww😊
Don Jessop catching Freedom the Mustang, he travels with him as he still sees all this human interaction with some caution in his mind.
Don Jessop takes the time to give Freedom the mustang some loving 😍
Don Jessop asking Freedom the mustang to follow the rope forward. When he comes forward, he gets a reward, by the rope going slack.😃
Don Jessop is rubbing Freedom the mustang with the scary rope all over to help him feel more confident.😃
Don Jessop clearly asking Freedom the mustang to follow his steady pressure to the side. He thinks through it and figures it out. Well done Freedom.😃
Freedom the mustang is clearly following Don Jessop. You can see when he takes the halter off and walks away, he follows, what a good boy😃
Don Jessop casually leading Freedom the mustang with the halter on. Or is Freedom just following Don? Or does that matter?
Don Jessop with the halter on Freedom the mustang. It is tied up and ready to go. Way to go team.
Don Jessop holding the halter on Freedom the mustang. Don has not done the halter up yet if there is a problem he can let it go. Freedom is wondering what this thing is on his head.
Don Jessop helps Freedom the mustang to accept the halter going over his nose. You can see the trust and thoughts in these great shots.
Freedom the mustang is very skeptical of the halter. Don Jessop helping him to see it.😊
Don Jessop hugging Freedom the mustang with ropes around his neck. Nice progress!
Don Jessop touches Freedom the mustang while asking him to sniff the halter. Getting closer 😊
Don Jessop Mastery Horsemanship showing Freedom the Mustang the halter. Great to see some curiosity and sniffing.
Freedom the mustang gets a big reward. Balancing bonding is so important. 💖
Don Jessop Mastery Horsemanship shows freedom the mustang how to follow a feel 👍
Don Jessop hugs Freedom the mustang with a string and places it around his neck. You can let go if you need to. But he does fine, although wary.
Don Jessop preparing Freedom the mustang for haltering. Placing two hands on, under and around for a halter hug.💖
Don Jessop showing freedom the mustang the rope he is curious.
Freedom the mustang enjoying the attention, starting to get curious about humans 😀
Freedom the mustang is getting better about having humans around him and brushing him. See him keeping an eye on me 😃
Freedom the mustang, great progress! Freedom is trusting me more moving around his whole body and letting me brush his hind legs. 😉
Freedom the mustang trusting me enough that I can brush his face and neck and legs, helping to prepare him for feet trimming too.
Don Jessop shows Freedom the Mustangs tail dreads. Freedom is getting better about us being around while he is eating and Don is able to stand behind him and brush his tail. Huge progress.
Don Jessop Shows Freedom the Mustang the brush, he is not sure at first then he gives it a good sniff.
I wanted to show you Freedom the Mustangs dreadlocks. His mane looks good from a distance when you pick up the pieces, they are very matted together. This looks like quite a mission. I will be excited to brush these out.
Freedom the Mustang. "I think I am seeing a purpose for these humans."
Eating hay without stretching all the way out. I love it as the trust builds more and more.
Helping Freedom the mustang get used to me rubbing his legs, I really want to trim up those feet soon.
Freedom the mustang has very tight muscles. I rubbed along his superficial gluteal, he enjoyed it and his hip looked rounder and looser the next day.
Freedom the mustang: Me totally anthropomorphizing.
"Do I like it?
What are you doing?
I wonder if she can find the spot?
Oh, that is good.
Hmm, I really could get used to this!
Don't stop now."
Freedom the mustang says 'I can not look'. Don places his hand against his nose until he pushes back, then he starts to look. Go through the pictures really quickly, it almost looks like a video. Very cool. Can you touch your horse on the nose?
Freedom the Mustang when I drive the 4 wheeler around to muck out his pen goes to the bottom corner and tries to hide. So during mucking out, I show him the rake so he can sniff it and start some curiosity with it.
Don Jessop Mastery Horsemanship is home and getting acquainted with Freedom the Mustang. Notice Don is wearing a halter, just to have it around.
Freedom the mustang, learning to move his head back and forth slightly with a soft feel. He responded really well.
Hay time for Freedom the mustang he is getting easier. He is feeling more and more relaxed with me. Justice the Mustang is hanging out for support.
Sharing moments with Freedom the Mustang. I was on his branded and trauma inflicted side touching him. He started to breathe heavily, time stood still, we started to sync our breath in unity, after some time I slowed my breathing and his breathing followed. We shared a moment of knowing the depth of the trauma he has experienced. Coming from the wild into captivity. Being brought into the stocks and branded, gelded and taken away from his family, as a stallion it was his job to protect them. I felt privileged that he shared this with me.
Look at me. Freedom the Mustang has trouble looking/being curious with me. I back up with my body, he looks at me then I can approach. This little dance gets better with time and bonding.
Freedom the Mustang was pretty nervous about me touching me near and on his tag. With patience and time, he let me touch it. Then getting it undone was tricky. He did really well until it was half undone and dangling. The other side flicked into view of his other eye, then he jumped and one part of the tag flicked over his ear. Then when he settled down I was able to get back in and gently pull the rest of the tag off. Yes! Success! There was definitely a chance in his countenance having the tag removed.
Having two hands on Freedom the Mustang was very difficult for him. He did not trust two hands, time, repetition and good scratching help.
Freedom the Mustang is still very skeptical, but starting to let me into his space.
Freedom the Mustang is starting to let me pat him in different places great to get under his neck.
Freedom the Mustang, starting to let me touch his neck and side. He is very skeptical but starting to let me in. Interesting that he wants me on the side where humans have not been before.
Freedom the Mustang letting me stroke his face.
Cava training Freedom the Mustang. He loves to run into the pen and just lie down in front of a horse. They all stop to say Hello.
Freedom the Mustang is eating Hay out of my hand without stretching out a mile in case he touches me.
First Contact: Such an honor when Freedom the Mustang felt like he could say 'hello' to me.
Feeding Hay, Freedom the Mustang is very skeptical about taking food from my hand.
Rinse and Repeat. This is where people can get into trouble. These photo's are all looking the same. Yes, because you have to repeat these things again and again until your horse gets them. Freedom is finding it very difficult to trust and look at me, face me, etc.
Freedom the Mustang following and facing me.
I can't look at you, maybe I can...
See Freedom the Mustang's nostrils flare as he sniffs me from a distance. Getting Closer.
This photo looks like Freedom wants to play hide and seek. Now you see me.
When Freedom the Mustang makes a big effort to face me and/or come towards me. I give him a big reward, by relaxing and taking a break.
Freedom the Mustang is thinking and watching, taking in his new environment and everything new that he is learning.
Arcing towards Freedom the Mustangs tail. When he stops his feet or looks at me, or turns to face, I reward by stopping my feet and energy. Nice and slow, no dust and fuss.
Making a decision is one of the trickiest things to do in life. Freedom is making a decision. What will he choose?
Freedom the Mustang, his first interaction with Rachel Jessop. I am asking Freedom to look at me. Soft no dust.
This is an incredible story. Freedom the Mustang, got in late at night, then on the first morning Paisley the black lab came into his pen and started to drink out of his water trough. Freedom watched and then tentatively walked over and had his first big, long drink. To top it all off, the kitten is watching from above.
Freedom the Mustang meeting some of the family. Not much dust. Diamond who is usually very high energy with a new horse, only did one squeal and move, then I think she felt sorry for Freedom and left him alone.
Freedom the Mustang jumps out of the trailer in his own time, into his new home. Thanks to Carolyn and Bill, Tiffany and Patrick or their help.
FREEDOM. the BLM mustang finally arrived at his new home. I'll be away for a week teaching on the east coast and Rachel Jessop will doing the first contact videos. When I return I'll be continuing on. We're super excited to see him adapt to his new home and gain some weight and learn to live in a trusting human world.
Freedom the Mustang jumps out of the trailer in his own time, into his new home. Thanks to Carolyn and Bill, Tiffany and Patrick or their help.
Picking up Freedom the Mustang from the Hamilton Fairgrounds after 12 days of quarantine. Boy was he happy to be out of there. Oh, that was me, happy he was out of there.
Went to pick up mustang 5220 today and the vet won't release any horse from the facility until two sick horses have been thoroughly evaluated. I'm sad to leave him here but supportive of the system.
An unexpected twist, Don Jessop Mastery Horsemanship choose this Mustang to bring home and train. He spoke to me, I liked his color and look as we watched via video on WhatsApp. He needs a name and will come home in a few weeks as he needs a brand inspection and vet check first.
