Pancho and Terry,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,a story

[Tripledeuce]

I've told this story,on the old board,as "A Tail of two Mustangs",so if you want to skip this,it won't hurt my feellings!!!!!!!!!!LOL!!!!

It was Dec.2002,,,,,,,,,and Jan and my training business was starting to "take off".....and ,,,I had the urge for a horse................

A horse of "my" owne....... Now,Jan and "I", had @8 horses ,on the property,,,,but not one of which I considered "mine"..............

I'm kind of pecular,that way,,,,,,,,,I'd given my heart to one horse,Mandy,,,,,,,and after that,,while I loved horses,,,all kinds of horses,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I'd never gotten another of "my owne"............

I like big horses!!!!!!!! Clydes,belgiums,,,,that kind of horse.....I like mini-horses!!!!!!!!!!! I like a good quarter,,,,and I love Arabians!!!!!!!!!

I like horses.....

So,,While I didn't do much with "the computer",,,,,I sat down,late one night,and looked up "mustangs".........and found the BLM web sight,,,,and learned that an "on line" adoption was starting in Jan,'03!!!!!!!!

Yea,,,,,,a mustang.......the "mongral" of the plaines,,,,,,,,,little bit of everything,,,,,,,,not much of anything.............You either love them,of hate them...................

I love them.............

So,I talked to Jan,and she said I needed to get a number,and get qualified to bid...........

Now,,,,,,,,my only criteria,,,,,,it had to be at least 3 years old,and not more than 6 years old,,,,mare,stallion,gelding,that didn't matter.........preferably @14hands to 14.2 hands..I like short horses!!!!!! For me to ride,that is..... I wanted something "ready to start" not a yearling,or two year old....

So,,I found two,,on the addoption,,,,,,,,a 4 yr old gray mare,a little tall ,at 15.1, and a 14 hand,,,7 yr old grullo stud.....

Well,at the time,ther was no "proxy" bidding...You couldn't decide what you wanted to pay,and enter that bid,It was strictly "last bid takes it"........

You could bid $10,$20,,,,,,,$50, $100 , or $500.....increments.........and,if you bid $10 ,a half second after someone else bid $500,you won,,,,,for $510....

Now,not being new to auctions,Jan set up two sbidding screans,,,,,,,,,,one for the mare,and one for the stud..... At 1 minute,th mare was at $250,I bid $10,,,,,,,and "owned" her for $260..........

Then,the other screen,,,,,,Stud was at
$300,I bid $10.and at 30 seconds,owned him for $310..............

Ar 10 seconds,,,someone ellse bid $10,,,,,,and they owned him,,,,,not enough time to enter another bid,,,,,we tried............. The fastest connection wins...........

Now,this auction was being "held" at Canyon City,Colo.and ended on thur. morning.Canyon City,being IN a prison facility,is only open two days a month,for adoptions,and the next day was one of those fridays..........

So,I had already called Canyon City,and made an appointment to "visit",and pick up a horse,the next day..... List of everyone in your party,,,,,,vechiclle,trailor,,,,no knives,guns,or cameras allowed.....

You HAD to have a "stock" type trailer,so I made arrangments,with a friend,to use his trailer,and he decided he wanted to go with us,,not a problem,as I had had a hunch,and put his name on the list....

Not wantinng to get up early,I decided to leave Thursday night,and then get a motel room in Canyon City...so..at 5:30,Jan,Steve,and I left Durango for Canyon City!!!!!!!

[LarknMe]

OHHH sounds like so much fun and excitement!! :D Aren't you going to tell us what you thought when you first saw her? :)

[Devo]

Oooh! I can't wait for more!

[Mary~F]

o.K. When is the rest of the story?
Shall we call you "Paul Harvey"? :p

[Tripledeuce]

We got to Canyon City @12:30................got a motel,and slept like the dead.......

Me,Mr. not a morning person,was wide awake,at 6AM!!!!!LOL!!!!!

So,we get up,shower,get some breakfast,,,,,,,,,,which I don't usually eat,but Steve does.and head out to find "the right" prison,,,,,,,,There are 5 prisons,in Canyon city,as it turns out,and none well marked as "mustang Adoption"...........

Find the correct facility,,,,,and as its only 8:30,,,,and we can't get in untill 9AM,we park,and wait................ I'm a wreck!!!!!!!!

Jan finally says,,,,,,,,"Take another prozac,your a mess.".so I do,,and it helps,,,,a very little!!!!!!!

Finally,,,9AM rrives,and a BLM person arrives at the gate to guide us in............we wind around ,passing several different penal facilities,and finally arrive on a small bluff,overlooking the holding facility..............

Whoever set up this facility really knew "rough stock"!!!!!! Pens,full of horses,connected together by corraders,,,and small holding pens,and sorting pens,,,,,,everything from 45' round pens,to pens covering 3-5 acres...... All connected.

We park,and "Lona",the woman in charge says,,,,those of you that have adopted over the internet,wait here,,,,and we split into several groups,,,,,,,,another,like me,who had internet adopted,a party "looking" at yearlings,,,,and severl others.............

I waited untill they brought out the "Gray Mare"..........and I knew in advance that she had had an old injury to her right hind leg....It had been noted in her adoption description,and also that she was "vet certified" sound.....

So,I looke dher over,and she looked ok,I said,"I'll take her." but ,something wasn't quite right.............The more I looked,the more "something" didn't feel right..............

I finally asked her "handler",,,,,She had been "halter" trained,by an inmate,,,,,,,,,,, to ask her to step forward...............

Her right front leg twisted between the knee,and the ankel........

I can't take her.

Why not?

Het front is twisted.

Oh,thats just a poor trimming job.

No,it's not.

OK,we want you to be happy.

Can I look arround?

Yes,but any other horse you choose will cost you $240.... What you bid on this horse.

At the time,starting price on a "non-competiive bid" was $125.........I guess that they had had a number of people come in for an internet addoption,then want a different ,"cheaper" horse.

Its not the money,,,,,,it that I don't think she will stay sound.............

So,off we go,to look at horses!!!!!!!

We look at 2 year olds,we lok at mares,we look at geldings,we look at horses just rounded up ,and brought in.we look at weenlings............At each pen,I would look over the herd,and if I saw somethingI liked,I would point it out,Lona would look through her binoculars,at the neck tag,get the numbers,,,,and I was off..It was my intention of looking them all over,then going back for a "closer" look..............

I'm chugging on along,,,look,onward,look,onward,look,,,,,,give Lorna a description,check the number,and off,again!!!!

What the heck is he looking for? Lona asked jan..

He'll know it when he see's it,,Jan laughs....................

We have gone almost completly around the facility,and Jan askes if we can see the stud I missed out on.........

" He's in the next pen,"says Lona...

Man!!!!!!!!!!! Was he nice!!!!!! A little older than I wanted,,,,,,,but buillt!!!!!!!!!! Just the right height!!!!! And,beloning to someone else.....

Now,there are only two pens left!!!!! A pen with 3-4 yr old stud colts,and the pen with mares with foals.....

As we're looking t the gurllo,I notice a "flash" of whire ,in the next pen.........

Can we go in there?

Yea,,,,,,,,stay close to the sides.

So,,,,,,the four of us enter the next to last pen,the last pen,as far as I an concerned,as I have NO wish for a mare and foal!!!!!!LOL!!!!!

As we entered the pen,Jan spots a zebra dunn,,,,,,,,,light tan,dorsal stripe,,zebra leg markings......

She and Lona stop,to discuss theis horse,and Steve and I work our way further into the herd.....

I spot the bay pinto I had seen ,from the other pen,,,,,,,,,and as I approach him,he slowly approaches me,,I reach out my hand,and he streaches out his neck............As his nose touches my hand,I look in his eyes,and ,I swear to God,,,,,He was smiling back at me!!!!!!!!!

Now,there's no need for binocs to read his number,,,,,,he and I are nose to hand,as it were....

I walk back to Jan,,,,,,,,and tell her I found "the one",,,,,,,,Jan is enamored with the Dun.............

Pick one,I say,,,as more importanly than anything,I want Jan to be happy!!!!!!

You pick,She says!!!!!

No,, We're only going home with ONE!!!!!!! And I want you to be happy..............

Steve is standing at the side and aggatiting," Go ahjead!!!!! Take them both!!!!!!"

No,,,,we are only going home with one!!!!!

Its YOUR horse!!!!

I want YOU happy!!!!!

YOU decide!!!!!

NO!!!! I told YOU to decide,FIRST!!!!!!!

Lona is laughing her a**,,er,behind,off!!!!!

OK,says Lona,I'll make you a deal.

I loook at her.

You can have one for $240,or both for $250................

Whats a guy to do????????????????????????

We took home both.............

[Tripledeuce]

Hey!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm typing as fast as my two pudgy finngers can go!!!!!!!!!!!!!LOL!!!!

Terry

[annie92499]

LOL!! Practice makes perfect, you should type for a long time. ;) I can't wait. I'll check atleast 12 times before bed, then first thing in the morning. :rolleyes: I can't take the suspense. :D :p

[Tripledeuce]

Jan,Lona,and I start back to the office,to do the paperwork,,,,Sreve goes to get the trailer,and back it to where he is told,,,and about 5 wranglers start to cut out the two studs,,,yea,,,,,they were both 3,,and both still studs......I wasn't worried about that,,I had long since decided that if I got a stud,it would be gelded.pronto..............and,,,,,I already had him named............

I grew up in the '50's ,,,,,,,,,,,,,The Lone Ranger,and Tonto,,,,,,,Red Rider,and little beaver,,,,,,,,,Zorro,and his faiful "manservent".........The Cisco Kid,and Pancho....At the end of every Cisco kid,,,,,,,,,,,Cisco would look at Pancho,and say. Ohhhhhhhh,Pancho,then Pancho would look at Cisco,and say,Ohhhhhhhhhh,Cisco.....................then they would ride off into the sunset.................... Pancho yelling,,,,,Hey!!Ceesco!!!!!! Waaaaaaaaait for meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!( mexican accent,ya know)

Which horse do you want the halter on,asks Lona,,,,,,,,,,since I was only going to adopt ONE horse I had only brought one halter,to which Jan had braided a 30' cotten lead rope onto......

Put it on the pinto, I said.

So,we do the paperwork,and go back outside,and the wranglers had the two studs in the squeeze chutes,,,,,,giving them thier last west nile shot,and wormer squirted from a garden sprayer....

And,the halter is on the dun...........Lona is ticked!!!!!! Takes out her radio,and gives orders to get the He++ off the dun,and on the pinto!!!!!!!

Its not a problem,I say.

they need to do it right!!!!

We wait,,,,,,and even from where we are,,,,about 30'-40' yards away,,Its beggining to look like a rodeo.

OK!!!!!!!!!!,leave it alone!!!!!!!!!!!!shouts Lona............

The dun has gone totally non -linar......rearing,and striking,and squeeling.

The trailer is [arked at the end of a long straight corredor.back door open........and the wranglers open the squeeze,and start yelling,and waving "flags" plastic bags on the end of whips,,,,and those two horses take off!!!!!!!!!! Manes,and tails flying in the wind!!!!!!! lead rope flying!!!!!!! Straight down the lane,and right into the trailer,and safty.....

We quietly close the doors,,,,,and leave for home...............

As we are leaving,Steve is telling us that the dun almost bit one of the wranglers arms,,really bad!!!!!!! From fear,not agressiveness,just fear....

When we get home,we decide to unload the horses right in to our rp....with Little Zip,our stallion...

The dun has the halter half off ,by now,,,so Iquietly reach in,befor we unload then.and cut the rope off..........I get it cut off,no problem,,and we back up to the rp,,,,,,,open a panel,and back in,and open the trailer,it takes a little,to get the two horses out.Swing the rp panel back,and drive the trailer away....

Now starts the pprocess of "feeding" these horses up........all the grss hay they want,free feeding,actually,,,,,,and start slow,with a cup of Purina senior,and a cup of 12% sweet feed....

At then end of a month,I've worked them up to 3 QUARTS of sweet feed,ans 3QUARTS of Purina senior,EACH,per day ... Thats 6 quarts of feed,each,per day.,,,,,,,,,,and they have both grown,visably!!!!!!

I got them home on April 8th,,,,,,and decided that June 14th sounded like a good day to "start" them.............. OK,so that year,June 14th was fathers day,hey!I'm a father,I can do what I want,on fathers day!!!!!!!

Now,my routine was,I would take Littlle Zip...and put him into a 12'X12" corrall that was attached to the rp....and feed him his geain,there,so he wouldn't run the other two off,and eat thier grain,too

Then I would exit the rp,and get Pancho's grain tub,and approach the pen,and holding the pan setting on the second rail,Pancho had to come up and take two bites,befor I put the pan in the pen,for him........

Well,,,about the seventh week,into the eight week "grainup" period,Pancho was getting a little agressive............One day,as I came up,Reno wanted to get some of Pancho's grain....Pancho kicked out,and the next thing I knew................a slow elevator was rising,in front of my eyes!!!!!! Those two failing front feet looked to be 20' in the air!!!!!!!!!LOL!!!!

As Pancho came down,,,,,,his right front foot landed IN the grain bucket!!!!!!! Now,,NO-ONE can tell me he didn't know extactly what he was doing!!!!!! He looked at me,with his front foot IN the bucket,,I looked at him,,I smiled,and ,again...I swear he smiled,,and he carefully took his foot OUT of the bucket,,,,,,took his two bites,and I put the bucket on the ground....

He could have very easly ripped that bucket out of my hands,,,,,,,,and he didn't...........

And,,,,I thought,,,,if I can "tame" him,,,,,,,,,,,I'm going to have a hell of a partner!!!!!!!!

[SpongeErin]

Yay, Terry!

I'm so glad you are telling this again. After the board changed I realized your stories were gone with the old board, and I was disappointed. I hope you tell the others as well when you have time. :)

And the story continues....(hint, hint) ;) :D

[Tripledeuce2]

Erin.. I have all of Terry's stories saved and am slowly working on "polishing" them.

[Mary~F]

Terry,
Just a thought here...
It would be wonderful if you could embelish some of these stories with an occasional picture, if you have any. I would love to see what some of your horses look like, and maybe they can somewhat relay your relationship with them.
I am a picture junkie :D
Can't help it...

[Tripledeuce]

OK,,so we now come to the part where I tell you about Pancho's rearing,,the reason I'm re-telling this story,in the first place!!!!!!!!LOL!!

So,,,,After Pancho takes his foot out of the bucket,and I find Jan,and tell her abot it,,,,,,,,,,,,we decide a pland of attack............

John's first rule,I can't get hurt,,,,,,,but I have told people that I'm not going to start these horses untill the 14th,,,,,as we have @25 people signed up to particapate in a "Mustang Training Day".........

So,We decide that I am only going to do enough to stay safe.......

Now,,,,,as Pancho and Reno have been getting more callories,and feeling better,,,,they,and Zip are starting to "play" more....

Stallion play.....mock battles,with a lot of time spent in the air,striking at each other,and kicking,bitting,and squeeling...........

I run Zip and Reno into the 12X12,except I've added a panel,and its 12X24........... And leave Pancho in the rp.........

I start just asking him to move,,,,,,,,,,,,,move 3-4 steps,,back off,,,,,,,,20 or 30 times,just starting to take control..then I ask for a direction change,and again,3-4 steps,20-30 times.much harder the second direction,as Pancho wants to control which way he goes.........

So,we concentrate on just taking a "little" control...just direction,,,,,,,,,,,

After a "short" period of time,,,I don't wear a watch,I'm getting consistant "yes" answers,and we quit,just enough control to stay safe......

The big day arrives,,,,,and my stomach is in knots,,,,,,,,worring about making a fool out of myself............ I get up earlu,for me,7AM,,,and feed,and water everyone,and finish getting things set up.

We've had a porta-potty brought in,,a canopy set uo.I've roasted 25 turkey wings,and bbq'ed 25# of ribs,,a couple of gallons of potato salid,and cole slaw,,,,,,,,,,,,, Its going to be a party,if nothing else!!!!!!

So,,,,,10AM......I'm ready to start!!!!!!!!!,,,nobody is here......................Jan explains that no-one expects these things to start "on time".and to just wait..... About 10 min later cars start to trickle in,,and by 10:30,,most of the people have arrived,and we decide to start.........

I decide to start with Reno,as I expect with his "flight" reaction,I will be able to get him to move easier,,,,,,,,boy,was I wrong,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I'm killing myself,and can barley get him out of a walk,I decide that my 60' rp is to big,,,so ,as Jan explaines what I'm doing,I quickly remove 3 panels,and make it a 50' rp.....much easier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After 5 miles,It looks as if Reno is just getting warmed up.......and I'm done in..........I decide to change horses!!!!!

As "we" take a break,I explain to the people I want Reno to have a break,also,and a chance to "catch his breath"....Its me that needs a break!!!!!!!!!!!LOL!!!!

So,after about 15-20 min.....I go back in,and start to work Pancho,as I do,I tell the people about the elevator,and what we had done to stay safe......

Pancho responds a little more as I had expected,,,,flying around,kicking out,and displaying more "tipical" mustang /horse behavior.........

It didn't take long!!!!!! 30-40 min.and he was looking for ways to quit running!!!!!!!

I deliberatly didn't ask for inside turns,as the first few times I "let" him,,,he wanted to go up!!!!!I never gave him time to,always pushing REAL hard,if I even thought he was going to go up!!!!!!!

Now,,,,,,,I have to say,this horse is different from ANY other horse I've ever started............. he started looking for answers a lot sooner than any other I've ever started...........

Jan was the first to notice that If I turned away,to take off the pressure,His head would go up,and he would assume a more "aggressive" posture... Jan caalled me to the side of the pen,,,,and gave me some gatoraid,and told me that,we discussed it,and Pancho and I went to work,,,,,I never again turned my back to him.at least at this session!!!!!LOL!!!!

Another 10 or 15 min,and I noticed a change in his body language,and I decided to let him turn in...as he did,he slowed,and took a couple of stepe to me,,,,,,,,and stopped,,,I walked to him,and reached out my hand,,,,,,Hand met nose,,,,,and we both stood there ,with sides heaving,and smiled.......

Another couple of half laps,,,as when he decide dto leave,I would push him,,,and he would let me run my hand from his nose over his ears,and down his neck.......

I decided to sit down,and Jan came in,and made a game of getting the halter on.........didn't take long........Then I came back,and put the halter on,,,,,,,and then we had several of our clients come in and do the same thing,,,,as Jan and I have worked a number of mustangs ( something over 50,,I lost the box with my records when we moved) and we knew that many mustangs became "one person" horses.............

As my plans were to use Pancho in my training business,I "needed" to be able to have others use him...........

So,Pancho had a dozen people halter him,,,,and though he didn't like it,as long as Jan or I were standing there,he put up with it...........

Long distance phone!!!!!!!!back soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tripledeuce]

Up untill now,,Pancho hasn't been "restrained" in any way,,all haltering is done "loose" in the rp............

So,its time for me to put a rope on the halter,and do a "leading' lesson.

I take a 30' cotten rope,and a 4' whip,and enter the rp...clip the rope to the halter,and stand back,Pancho didn't mind until I put pressure on the line,then he went UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Expecting this,I used the 3 second kill.....on the forlegs below the knees...He came down,in a hurry........ Presssuer ,Start up...one "whack" ,down,,,pressure,,,,,,,,head turns with pressure!!!!!!

Now,this is definatly NOT a techniue I would reccomend for begginers!!!!!!!! It takes a lot of practice,,,and experience to get close enough to use this!!!!!!!!!!!!

DO NOT TRY THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! unless you are very experienced!!!!! The sight of those front legs,in the air will make many people "freeze",at just the wrong time!!!!!!!!!!!

As I led him around the rp...........I only had to use the 3 second kill,one last time,,,,,and,I never really "used" it....He made the "pre-motions to go up..I drew back my arm,he "settles" back on his front...

I have only used the 3 second kill one other time,with him.......We started to teach him to trailler load,and I was standing in the "left" side,loading him in the right,,,,and the 3rd or 4 thime we went to load him he said "NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"........

I got in 2 seconds/hits befor his feet were on the ground.

He and I have an understanding,,,,,,I only use the 3 secind while his feet are off the ground,,,,,to m ,,anything else would be abuse,,,,,,,,,,and I don't abuse my friends..................

So,,,thats the story of Pancho,,,and some of my limited experience with rearing horses,,,,,,,,,,,I used the 3 second kill with the others,,,,,,,,,,,and It worked for me,,,,,,,,,,but ,I've seen a lot of people "fereeze",as I said,so,its NOT for everyone...............

I'll try to get Jan to post some pics,tomorrow.

Terry

[Devo]

Great story Terry! Boy, I'm glad JJ doesn't rear :o :p

D.

[Mary~F]

I'll try to get Jan to post some pics,tomorrow.

Terry
ohhh, I can't wait... :D

[barngirl]

I loved this story the first time, and enjoyed it even more the second time around!!! I love how you tell exactly how you did everything, even if it's how you messed up :) And ya, where are my pictures??

[Rockies4me]

I loved it on the old board and I love it again. Another story and pictures, pleeeze :)

[PonyDriver]

Thanks for the great story!

More more!

:)

PD
Jane

[applewood]

Terry,

Thank you for pointing me in the direction of this thread/story. What a story it is!!! :D I can now say with absolute certainty, I am in NO way ready to adopt a mustang and doubt I will for a long time. Too much horse for me :eek:

[DreamRider]

Still no pics :mad:

[Tripledeuce]

Jan just uploaded a couple of pics on the "other" mustang thread.............

One of Mandy,and one of Pancho.

Hopefully,I'll get her to post a couple more,tommorow.

Terry

[DreamRider]

I just saw them, Nice horses.

[denise]

Terry, great story. Sorry I missed it on the other board. I asked about going in when we got Boomer, but it's against their rules.

The reason Matt picked Boomer was he was the only one of the horses to come up and touch his nose to Matts outstretched hand. The two boys, Matt and my friends son, broke off and went to the other side of the holding pen, where 4 or 5 horses went to get away from us adults. (the other 100 never came anywhere near our end) When Matt stretched out his hand the others left Boomer standing there and returned to the herd. Matt and Boomer had that connection. Funny thing is that Matt was sure he wanted a Sorrel, and the other 4 or 5 horses that left Boomer were all sorrels.

[Tripledeuce]

Steterlover wanted to hear about Pancho,,,,,,,,,,so,,,,,,,,,,here it is.

Thats Pancho and I in my avarar.

Terry

[setterlover]

Thanks, Terry...that's quite a story you told..no wonder that folks were comparing Khayels mom's story-telling (aobut Black Jack the crow) to yours. It's great!...you really brought the story to life and I could just see those two running he!!-bent for leather into the trailer, and the gleam in Pancho's eye as he came down with his foot in that bucket. Now I know how Pancho got his name! :D