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Vegas
by Nicole Bashaw
When I was 11 years old, I attended a BLM adoption at the Kentucky Horse Park. I remember a grey stud who was afraid of everything, but as I stood an watched, he decided
that he could trust me. Over the next hour he began to slowly approach me, until I could reach my hand out to touch him. I had always had an interest in these beautiful horses,
but on that day in July of 1997, I was hooked.
Fast forward another 11 years to 2008. The horses I had had since I was a child had been retired for about 5 years and I had decided it was time to start looking for
another horse to add to our herd. The horse I was looking for was a Quarter Horse or a Paint, dun or cream factor, around 15.3 hand high, and bomb proof enough for my
boyfriend to ride. I had been looking for a few months when my grandmother mentioned a friend of hers with a halter gentled mustang that needed a home.
Now, I have always wanted to own a mustang, I just didn't think I would be able to at 22. I didn't think I would have the chance until I had my own place, with the
facilities needed for adoption. I was concerned with the time it would take to train a horse because I was going to offer a half lease to save money. I soon realized
those ideas were about to go out the window. So, off I was on the hour and a half drive to visit Vegas.
When I got to the stable, I have to say I wasn't overly impressed, he was short, bay, and a little nervous. I did not think this was the horse I wanted so I decided to go
home and think about it. Over the next week, a feeling built up that I shouldn't give up just like that, this was my chance to have a mustang and I might not have the
opportunity again. I decided to go down and see him again.
By now he was back at my grandmother's friend's house and he seemed like a different horse. I brushed him and
walked him down to the river to see how he would take to it. He walked right in! And incidentally, so did I, fully clothed. I spent my afternoon with him in there,
just having fun. He was enjoying himself, splashing me in the shallow water, and swimming around where it was deep. This was one of the best days I had ever had with a horse.
I came home that night knowing I was sold.
When September came, our friend received title and sold him to me for $25, the same price she paid for him. I spent the fall working on our ground work, picking up his hooves,
clipping his bridle path, and just getting used to his new home. During the winter, we couldn't work much and then ended up moving to a barn closer to home so I could have more
time with him. At this point we began to have a few set back though no fault of him. I wanted to give him time to adjust to the move, then he sustained an injury and was on
stall rest. It was April when we started to work on new things again, and might I say, he was a fast learner! We picked up lunging in less than an hour!
We continued to perfect
our work on the line when we had yet another set back, I injured my ankle. I was on crutches for quite a while, but that didn't stop me, or him. I still went up to the barn
to take care of him, and he was unfazed by my crutches. He would walk slowly next to me as I hobbled around the turn out and would let me lean on him when I needed a break.
We lost the month of June do to constant rain in the north east, and finally got back on track in July.
In the last month we have perfected our lunging, gotten used to a saddle,
and has even allowed me on his back. The view from the back of a mustang has to be the best view in the world. I was terrified and overjoyed at the same time, it may sound
corny, but there really were tears welling up in my eyes. When I got off, all he could do was turn and look at me, as if to say "What was that about Momma?" It seems that
everything we do from here on out is going great.
Our training won't stop at just getting him under saddle. Vegas has shown me his love for jumping and his speed. I was looking for a trail horse, but that doesn't mean I
won't push us both to get into cross country and gaming if we can do it.
Since having Vegas, I have learned how to speak horse in a way I never knew, despite spending time with horses since I was six months old. We can look at each other and
know what the other is thinking. He has brought more joy into my life that I could have ever imagined. His quirks and goofy personality are like no horse I've ever met.
He likes to play games in his field like "If I Act Doofy, Mom Will Just Keep Laughing and Not Leave", and "You Don't Need That, Let Me Put It In The Water Trough For You".
He has even figured out how to ask our barn manager for a hose down when she is filling his trough.
Out of everything, I would say his only vice is his strawberry banana apple
sauce. His personality was more than I expected, but exactly what I wanted. He is absolutely the smartest and most personable horse I have ever worked with, and I am a far
better and happier person for having him.
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