I entered into the
Extreme Mustang
Makeover since it
was going to be in
Ft.Collins. I
picked up Calypso on
February 5, 2010 in
Canyon City,
Colorado. When I
saw him being herded
into my horse
trailer, I knew he
was going to be a
real challenge and
he was. Each
Mustang is a blind
draw but I knew that
I got mine for a
reason.
My approach is
slow and gentle and
that is the only
thing that this
mustang could
handle. The first
day Calypso stood on
the far side of the
pen, a 24 ft. by 24
ft. enclosure with 7
ft. high walls. He
tried to climb them
if he felt any
pressure. He could
rear up strike
forward and cow kick
with the hind. We
could not get near
his right side, he
would get a wild
look in his eyes,
ready to take flight
at any second. I
spent hours each day
just hanging with
him, hoping that he
would start to trust
me.
I had to resort to
energy work,
essential oils,
equine touch and
tons of patience.
If at any time he
felt too much
pressure, he was
gone. He jumped
across the 16 foot
water tank twice,
climbed over the
round corral twice
and jumped over the
fence. I would
watch him in awe as
he flew, tail and
head high in the
air. Once he
settled down he
would trot to me or
wait for me to come
to him. We were
finally creating a
bond, it only took a
couple of months.
Everyone else was
riding their mustang
but I could not even
get a saddle near
mine. He learned
come over to the
rail so I could sit
on him bareback. I
always had one hand
and one foot on the
rail, just in case,
but he seemed to
relax when I sat on
him.
Just two weeks
before the
competition, I rode
Calypso and we
turned a corner. We
really were not
ready for the
competition but I
wasn't anxious for
him to show well
because I had fallen
hard for him. Not
only that, I knew
that he still needed
me and I wanted
him. My husband
bought him for me at
the auction and we
took him home.
Since the
competition weekend
of June 12 & 13, I
have ridden him on a
Cattle Drive and in
a small Country
Parade with loud
popping old
tractors. We let
our cows out of the
pasture so we can
herd them back home
and he will go any
where they go
whether it is up,
down, boggy, trees,
ditches, water or
downed trees.
I have to say that I
am very proud of
what I was able to
do with Calypso.
