Max - Getting Ready for Adoption

Last fall, we picked up Max from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as part of the Trainer Incentive Program (TIP). TIP allows approved trainers to take a horse from the BLM and work with him/her in order to make the horse more adoptable. The minimum requirements for Mustangs in TIP before they can be advertised as adoptable are that they can be haltered, loaded on a trailer, and they allow all four hooves to be picked up.

We have had several TIP horses in the past, and Max is one of our current projects. This little three year old has come a long way since we brought him home, and over the past few weeks, several of our veterans have been working with him to continue preparing him for adoption.

In the above pictures, Dr. Laurie and Ramona work together to give Max his first bath. While he wasn't too sure about it at first, he quickly adapted to the spray of water and the noises made by the hose attachment and he was soon back to munching on the lawn.

Shane, another one of our veterans, helped Max work on trailering this past week. After some strategic hay placement and treat encouragement, Max got in several times!

These photos show Max in both an English and Western saddle. Rachel (one of our interns) worked with him in the round pen to help him adjust to the feel of moving under saddle, and Dr. Laurie worked on some basic lungeing. In the first picture, he's also demonstrating how he can stand tied to a trailer, and he has a bridle on in the last picture!

This last set of pictures shows Brent and Ronnie working together to help Max learn to ground drive. Ground driving involves two long lines attached to the sides of the halter that are then run through rings on the sides of the surcingle (the strap around Max's belly). The ground driving allows Max to grow accustomed to pressure and direction on the side of his face, which will eventually translate to being directed with a bit and bridle.

This was also a good exercise for the two veterans because they had to work on communication, patience, team work, and accepting that success does not necessarily have to be defined as perfection.

So far, we are incredibly pleased with how well Max has been doing. He's a sweet-tempered, curious little horse and he learns quickly - we are excited to see how he continues to progress!