This BCHA Share Your Story is by Liz French
Liz French was awarded the BCHA Teen Scholarship in 2018. In her scholarship application she wrote about using the $250 award to further her dream of adopting a wild mustang.
Fast forward several years and now Liz is a senior at Silver Creek High School in Longmont with applications out to numerous Universities. Before attending college, she plans to take a gap year to enjoy time with her adopted mustang and to travel abroad. BCHA is delighted to share this Here is an update from Liz on her experience adopting her wild mustang, Stitch.
After attending a mustang makeover competition about five years ago, I started learning everything I could about the process of training a horse from scratch. I attended clinics, read books, watched videos, and generally furthered my horsemanship by riding and working with as many horses as possible. When the pandemic hit, I knew I wanted a project to keep me occupied during my senior year in high school and so I took to upgrading my facility to contain a wild horse (when I say “I,” I really mean that I oversaw my ever-supportive father as he built an overhang off our barn and extended the panels to reach the 6 foot minimum required by the BLM… thanks, dad!). Purchasing such building supplies is where my BCHA Youth Scholarship funds were allocated.
Once the adoptions started opening back up was when the real work began. The process to adopt a mustang is a lengthy one, especially as many sites were still closed due to the pandemic. I got in touch with Steve Mantle from the Mantle Adoption and Training facility and planned to make the drive to Wyoming in two weeks. After years of waiting and the prospect of a mustang in my grasp, two weeks felt like forever.
One morning in early December, my mom, my sister, and I made our way to pick out a mustang. We were greeted at the Mantle facility with hundreds of curious eyes and equally as many suspicious glances from wary mustangs. Most of our time there was spent talking to a long-time mustang trainer and owner of the property, Mr. Steve Mantle. It must be said that one of my favorite parts of this entire experience has been learning so much about the history of the mustang and talking to such experienced horse-people, many of whom have been training mustangs since long before I was born and are more than willing to share their stories and offer their expertise.
Choosing my mustang was unlike any purchase of a horse I have ever done. My fellow horse people can appreciate the rigorous process purchasing a horse often presents, including multiple visits to ride and get to know the horse, a thorough vet check to ensure the horse’s soundness, and pages full of questions for the owner. Whereas when picking out my new project, I looked out over the 100-some head of horses as they meandered about and pointed out at one chestnut gelding. Yup, he’s the one.
As I am writing this I have had “Stitch” for about 2 ½ months and he has been the most charming, playful, and exceptionally intelligent horse I have ever met. He has been so patient as I learn and has taken everything in stride. We are now preparing for our first ride and taking things slowly, mainly focusing on groundwork, showmanship maneuvers, and learning how to play at liberty. I often find myself forgetting that this horse who now trots up from the pasture to greet people and takes a saddle and bridle was wild just months ago. I am honored to have this symbiotic partnership with a symbol of the American West; allowing me to teach Stitch about the crazy, noisy, energetic human world that consists of tarps and saddles, all the while being taught about the noble and curious nature of the wild horse which consists of slowing down and being present, in which the American Mustang is the greatest teacher.
Click here to check out Liz and Stitch on FaceBook