Wild horses finding their way into Texas hearts

By MINDY POEHL | Central Texas Edition

Dallas Moore, an army officer at Fort Hood, and his wife, Young Hee, have adopted two wild mustangs from the Wild Horse Foundation. Nevada, left, is already people friendly, while young Dakota, right, is still quite shy. Photo by Mindy Poehl

May 26, 2005 - Breathtaking wild horses and burros still traipse across the Western rangelands. Only about 40,000 wild horses and burros remain and one man deeply wants to keep these wild legends alive.

That man is Ray Field. Known as the "Mustang Man," Field, along with his wife Susan, founded the Wild Horse Foundation. Field's mission for the Wild Horse Foundation is to prevent the abuse and mistreatment of wild horses and burros. He provides food, shelter, care and love for the horses and burros that have been abandoned and neglected. He also offers a refuge for horses and burros until they are successfully adopted.

The Wild Horse Foundation is located in Franklin, but on May 13-14, the Wild Horse Foundation Extravaganza and Show was held at the Heart O' Texas Fair Complex in Waco. The extravaganza offered free horse training clinics to the public, as well as horses available for adoption. Vendors were on hand, as well as the country western duo Diane Berry and John Honeycutt and the Wild Horses Band to entertain the crowd in the evenings.

On Friday, Field launched his first training session with teaching "humane penning" gentling. Field worked with Nevada, a 15-month-old strawberry-red roan horse, adopted by Clyde Nicholas. This was Nevada's first time working with a human.

Field worked with Nevada inside of a rounded pen. He stood in the middle of the pen, making Nevada run around him in his (the horse's) space. Field had two extra rails inside of the pen, securing one end of the rails to the post. He left the other end open, allowing Nevada to enter the small space.

"Horses have a photographic memory," Field said. "He knows exactly where he got in."

After letting Nevada get used to his space, Field closed the end of the rails. He then approached Nevada from the side. This allows Nevada to see him as he approaches so the horse will not become scared or think Field is a threat. Field then stuck a cane pole into the enclosure.

"Horses are curious animals," Field said. "I'll let him touch the pole first."

Field began touching Nevada's back with the pole, letting him get used to it. He then closed the gate in tighter as he touched Nevada with the pole even more.

"I'm desensitizing the horse," Field explained. "I make sure his ears are up, I've got his eye and he's flat on his feet."

Field then exchanged the pole for his hand and began massaging Nevada with his hand. After massaging Nevada for a few minutes, Field got the halter rope and dropped it in front of Nevada. He then rubbed Nevada with the rope.

"Once you've gotten him used to the rope, you can begin to slide it over his ears and around his neck," said Field. "Get him used to the halter. Kind of massage it on his neck."

Nevada was then wearing a halter and Field gave him much praise.

"When he does something good, show him some affection," Field said. "Every one operates off of affection."

Field then opened the end of the pens and walked away, letting Nevada come out on his own.

At the extravaganza, many horses were being adopted. One adopter, 14-year-old Bradley Campbell from Connally Junior High (Waco), adopted two horses.

"We got a two-year-old black stud," he said. "I've already fed this one out of my hand."

His mother explained that Campbell is involved with Bosqueville 4-H, where he shows cattle and 16 rabbits. He has one horse, but he hasn't ridden or shown horses yet. Campbell and his mother then adopted a pregnant mustang.

Another couple who brought their already adopted mustangs are Young Hee and her husband Dallas Moore. Dallas is an army officer at Fort Hood who received his first horse, Nevada (different from the Nevada that Fields was training), as a Christmas gift.

"I've played with the idea of having a horse since I was little," Dallas explained. "I got news about the foundation and looked into getting a horse. We weren't quite sure what we were getting ourselves into."

Young Hee received the next horse, Dakota, in March.

"We got another horse because we thought Nevada was lonely by himself," she said. "It's amazing. They are very sociable and smart."

Dallas has been working with the horses, and they are reasonably tame. Young Hee gives the horses lots of love and kisses.

"The way to horse's heart is through their stomach," said Dallas.

John Honeycutt and his wife, Diane Berry, who were the entertainment Friday night are also wild horse adopters. They have a one-year-old mustang that is being gentled.

"We write songs to preserve the heritage of the Western horses," Honeycutt said. "I just began writing my cowboy songs six years ago. But, I was raised on a ranch and I decided to adopt my mustang because it's a good cause. You learn a lot from raising horses."

For more information on adopting wild horses and burros, or for information on upcoming horse clinics, visit the Wild Horse Foundation website at www.wildhorsefoundation.org or call 866-W.H.F.O.U.N.D.