Day Two with a Wild Mustang //Player's Choice Mustang Makeover 2020
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- Опубликовано: 24 янв 2025
- Here's my second day working with #4885.
(Yes I just noticed some typos in the video like "demonstates" lol)
I'm really far behind with editing but I'm working on Days 3/4 right now!
I was debating whether or not to post this (or the rest of this mare's early training stages...)... but I decided to in case it could help someone with their mustang or horse. I'm a very liberty based trainer, not that I'm against other ways of training (believe me, I'll do whatever is best/easiest for the horse!) but it's what I'm used to. Yes- this session was "at liberty" but it also showed me that I can't work her at liberty... at least for a while.
It's not the second day I was hoping for but I could feel it coming on the first day. This past week has been a really big struggle for me, filled with a lot of doubt, and it still is but I'm trying to push forwards. I'll explain more in the day 3/4 video what I started doing that worked for her and made it safe for me to progress with her.
I know I'm a little upset now... but I'm also thinking about how much this horse is going to (and already has) teach me. I know it's not the "Mustang Liberty" start I'm sure everyone was hoping to follow, but if you'd still like to follow along on her journey, I'll keep uploading.
NOTE: If you have a suggestion or critique, feel free to private message me on Instagram as I'm open to suggestions... but please know that I'm in contact with many of my mustang trainers/ friends and they've all be helping me solve this mare over the phone.
Follow for more frequent updates on Facebook and Instagram @vanfleetmustangs
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I really enjoy how you explain how everything is not always daisies and rainbows
This. Not showing stuff like this would be a a huge disservice. Especially while promoting the adoption of wild mustangs. It could promote a false sense of confidence in someone and get them hurt. Hell this should be your tacked video.
John Muldoon I see these comments everywhere
I definitely agree with you
Challenging session but you kept to "as gentle as possible and as firm as necessary". Excellent!
That is perfectly stated!
I love how you explain your actions. People should acknowledge that horses cant be perfect from the start, wild or not.
Awesome video, I’m on day 3 with my first mustang:)
Sam. I prefer an honest view of things. Horses don’t always do what you ask the first time. I find it MUCH more valuable seeing how people deal with less than ideal situations and responses. Don’t ever feel like you have to defend your actions. However the explanations are most informative.
Yes!!! Well said!
I appreciate you sharing the good and "bad". It's truly important info. Love your ability to read your horses. 💕
Thanks for not editing out those moments of challenge and how you dealt with it. I learned an important lesson here; I don't think I would have recognized her actions as a challenge until it was too late! It's very important to be able to see the not so good along with the amazing. Thank you again.
I’m SO GLAD you posted this! This video will help so many people with their horses. I’m so happy to see that even a liberty trainer set boundaries dries and can train an aggressive horse. So many people think that you need a ca horse for liberty, but liberty is the basis of all training and this horse will show people that you don’t need a dead quiet horse for groundwork. If anyone is interested, her training style is very similar to Warwick Schiller who uses the same concepts, being the leader but not being aggressive, desensitising and sensitising and relaxation.
I am very glad you left all this in because horses are not the same and your right they need to know who the boss is and it is not them! Thank you for showing this, it helps others to know how to handle this type of situation, without beating them! Awesome job, she will learn!
After watching this video I think Sam should name her Kestrel after the brown birds of prey known for having big attitudes.
Honestly would be a good name
Agreed.
Once I'm older and get to do things on my own, I want a barn of my own, along with training horses. I love how you explain things and don't leave big things like this out. It really helps me follow along and understand things better. I've learned about body language through dealing with horses myself and by watching videos like these
I think these videos where we see the difficulties are the best ones. It's a great learning opportunity to see how you handle it, how it affects the horse, etc. Keep up the good work!
I love seeing how fast you reacted to her challenge. I know you saw it coming. Great horse trainer. Thanks for showing the good times and the tougher times.
Sam, you are so smart! I love watching you train because you have such an instinct for horses! Several horses back, I forget which one, but you said (paraphrasing) that you have to make sure the foundation work is thorough and solid because any holes will show up later as bigger problems. (something like that. It stuck with me) I feel for what you're having to do however, it's as much about her health and her future as anything else you're doing for her. I know with dogs (don't freak horseland I know there's difference), some behavior namely or especially aggression can quickly lead to them being labeled a danger which in some hands means they'll be put down without blinking. Addressing it without hesitation becomes as much about protecting them, protecting their life, as training them. Keep doing your deal, Girl!
I worked a mare, paint not mustang, like this but she was being bullied in the herd. She caught me off guard when she charged and sent me up the fence. The second charge I had no time to move and hit her right between the eyes with the whip handle. I broke down crying, but she walked up behind me and just stood there. She was fine after that. One of the best mares I've ever sat on.
She must have been the head mare, she's beautiful though. worth the wait. love your videos I have learned so much.
This is extremely important. I have no experience with horses, but I am a professional dog trainer, and while I try my hardest to do everything in a way that is as stress-free and fun for the dog as possible, sometimes you have to put your foot down and say "this behavior is NOT acceptable." Stopping a dangerous behavior needs to happen before you can introduce a safer, more acceptable one. Thank you for leaving all of this in. I enjoyed learning the body language and appreciated your explanation of it all.
Your sensitivity to her every action is so crucial. I'm glad you understand this. I've worked with aggressive horses, you have to know when to give and take, not push to hard but not be to soft. Timing and sensitivity is everything. I believe this is what separates good trainers from great trainers. Thank you for showing this. People need to understand the good and the bad times when training a horse, you learn to be assertive in the right way. Looking forward to your journey with her. Sassy might be a good name for her lol
I was going to name my first cat Sassafras and call him Sassy, but he turned out to be a boy and it seemed like a girly name. I love it for her!!
This was such an important video to show. You handle her fear aggression beautifully. Keeping her legs moving is a response from you that she understands and can respect. Firm but fair and keeping your mind and reactions calm will help her to realize that you are the Alpha mare of that round pen. :)
I'm going to start by saying the easiest thing first: your voice-overs are super, so please keep on doing those. It's much easier to follow for us (me) as well. ;)
Second, looking back on all of this in a few months, you will hopefully feel great about what you have accomplished with this mare, but in the meantime, stay safe, please! You have offered a good explanation for what was happening and what you were doing in this video and as you said yourself, just try to clear your mind and focus on what to do to get through to her.
Good luck!
Valuable information for all horse owners. Your gentle pressure and "read" of her were insightful.
I like that you left this full clip in. I thought it was a real example of why you do what you did and dealt with a difficult and yet different type of mentality of this Mustang. GREAT JOB!
I like that you leave all the bad things in the video.Not only does the horse learn, but as observers, we learn as well. Never apologize for what you think is right, If in the future, you find that you were wrong, acknowledge it and move on
I could see her confidence as a possible issue when she seemed totally nonplussed by you. The only thing I would add is that I would have driven her a bit longer after the first time she charged you. I don't know if you uploaded the whole time (I don't think you did) that you drove her, but she didn't seem appropriately humble. I do understand giving her the opportunity to come on board, but dang, she's a dominant mare!
I so enjoy watching you with these horses. I was a teenager back in the 1970s and stumbled upon this type of training as a natural instinct waaay before I ever saw anyone do it. I'm thrilled that it's been honed far beyond what I could do at the time. I'm getting a rescue haflinger after the first of the year and I'm planning to use the liberty method.
I think it’s great that you put this video up and left everything in. That way, anyone wanting to get into training horses (wild mustangs especially) can see that all horses are different and there’s different ways of getting a horse to respect you...and that you do that without abusing the more fight feared ones, is nothing but awesome and should be shared with everyone. So, don’t second guess yourself, please? There was nothing wrong with any part of this video. You, and your new mustang, we’re perfect. Can’t wait to see her progress and star to trust you more 😉😊❤️
You did the very right thing by shutting down that mare. Don't worry about it, go forth and keep doing what you're doing 💯 your great, Sam. Don't apologize anymore for being a fantastic dedicated horse whisperer
Sam I very much appreciate this, you were dead on about her body language and not everyone can see that. I love your honestly and just raw ability to read them and then get your timing just right. I also appreciate how even though you make it clear it’s not how you want her to respond you don’t over do it and you drop it and carry on until you have the address it again. The patience required to train a horse that isn’t wild is a long process and your patience with these mustangs is really wonderful to watch. Training is tough and it doesn’t always go how you want it so having to adjust on the fly your methods in order to get things going in the right direction is nice for you to show. Thank you in heck of a trainer.
Just want to say thankyou for uploading this video. You never get to see this kind of starting with a horse who does have a fight response. I have a 2yo who also is challenging me so this has been very helpful. Thankyou
1. I LOVE the voice over, please keep it in, it's so much easier to follow along rather than having to read, pause, go back, and see what it was you were talking about in the text. With voiceover I can concentrate on watching your interaction with the horse and their reactions.
2. Don't ever feel like you need to apologize or explain for your actions. People watch your videos beause you are a great trainer and they are SO informative for those of us who are still learning. Putting in the bad with the good is only more helpful. Especially when you explain why you do what you do.
3. I saw the name Kestrel suggested in the comments. Absolutely LOVE that one for her.
She is a feisty one for sure, but I'm sure you'll be able to get through to her with patience and repetition!
You are doing fantastic and you are empowering others to have confidence. Please please don’t stop.... thank you 🙏
I think I speak for most ppl when I say the voice over REALLY REALLY help us understand what's going on! And they are probably alot easier and faster for you to do as well. Thank you!
I love this video!!! I have a very sensitive OTTB. It’s hard working with a flighty horse, but when she gets very nervous she does the “freeze” response you mentioned. Thanks for showing the raw footage. It’s important to see! I often watch training videos and think “oh but I wish they showed their response the the challenging moments”... thanks!
I applaud your quick reflexes and appraisal of what’s she’s thinking/ doing. I’ll bet that she was a lead mare in the wild. Once she accepts your rules, she will make a magnificent mount.
Well done video. Super informative and right on the mark.Bravo!
Seems like she was a dominant mare in her herd.
She is smart and beautiful and at some point will have a lightbulb moment and get it all. Who knows what treatment she's had since caught and her freedom taken away. I think you will end up with a good horse. You are an awesome trainer!!!🐴🐎
A couple months ago, i was looking through all the mustangs on the website, and i actually saw this mare. I couldn't participate in the challenge, but i knew instantly that this horse was special. So glad to see an amazing trainer like you gets to teach her! I am so excited to see your journey progress!
I liked you adding “freezing” as an internalizing choice they might make. Great explanation during your training session.
I absolutely love watching your videos. I know a bit about horses but I am learning so much more with your videos.
I appreciate your showing all of her responses and I am learning a lot from your calm and measured approach to gentleness. Thank you.
This is such a helpful video for someone who wants to train horses. I love the way you talk through things and explain what she’s doing and why she’s doing it and how you explain what you did and why you did it.
Wow Sam! I totally get it. Your instincts on her were right on. I would love to Liberty train a horse, but for me it’s imperative that I see/experience the bad with the good. If I only saw the positive responses, I’d be in for a very rude awakening. So this is GOOD and for sure honest. To see her challenging you, she is no longer a fluffy toasty muffin, but a true threat. You were awesome. I completely respect your decisions and hope that a trust factor can emerge at some point, but clearly it seems like it’ll be a difficult trip. Excellent video, very informative and I am looking forward to your future with this mare! Thanks so much!
I'm not a horse trainer, but you absolutely do everything you're supposed to with a high-strung animal. Dogs aren't much different, but smaller. She's a challenge. Good work on her.
Very intelligent and willing mare, so far. I look forward to seeing how she progresses.
Thank you so much for sharing! My first mustang was very aggressive and had a strong fight response. I went through so much trying to gentle him... doubt, frustration, fear, everything you could imagine. But he taught me so much, and we have such an incredible bond today. Love watching and learning from your videos! Thanks for being real with us and showing us everything. I can’t wait to learn more! 😘
Thank you for showing that horses can be aggressive in their fear. People need to see this. I've known people who have let this go and end up with a really dangerous horse because of it.
I like that you left the tough parts in the video. It shows some people that some horses are aggressive due to fear or trying to dominate you. You did a great job. She is going to take some watching when you are with her so be careful. I really liked your video. Do not apologize for getting after her. Whoever moves the feet is in charge and it better be the human. You were very brave and held your ground. Good job and keep up the good work.
Great job Sam and please keep the content coming! These mustang's are wild and are going to come with all different responses like you mention in the video. A great trainer figures that out and adjusts THEIR training to meet the horses needs. Looks like exactly what you were doing. You're not doubting yourself when you're in that pen with her so don't doubt the footage you are showing your followers! Can't wait to follow along with you and her...and I LOVE the comment suggesting naming her Kestrel.
Keeping all this in is the best way (imho) for others to learn from you and to show that these horses have the ability to hurt you if they so desire! You handled this aggression from her VERY well. Nice work young lady 👍🏻
You did really well. (Bet she was the lead mare in the herd) The way you handled the situation was perfect. Each horse is different, and I am looking forward to seeing how you cope with this challenge. Thank you for posting.
First off, love the voice overs! It makes it much easier to follow. Secondly, I applaud you for showing this side of the training. As someone who has a lot of animal experience (I currently work as a dolphin trainer and previously worked with birds and other marine mammals) but not a lot of horse experience, I have so much appreciation for how quickly you reacted to her first challenging you, it was impressive! It is my dream to gentle and train my own mustang someday (alongside my girlfriend, who has much more horse experience than I) and its invaluable for someone like me to get to see the whole process, and the process in action with a more difficult animal. I am a firm believer that the more challenging animals make you a better trainer because they force you to think more, and think outside of the box, and I think you're gonna do great with this mare! Cant wait to see the next video :)
I love dolphins so much, you are soo lucky ❤️❤️❤️
I appreciate watching this and seeing the harder parts. I’m only just learning about training horses and seeing bits dealing with horses who challenge you is really interesting and informing for me. It’s also really awesome watching you work with this horse!
Thanks for the video Sam, needed this for motivation and to help me handle training my filly. She can be a lot like this mare though she hasn’t charged me, she still doesn’t respect me or my space. In the fact she has jumped on top me or like tonight spooked sideways and kicked me in the leg with a front hoof. Going to be working more in depth with her and it’s my fault too for not doing more. So thank you for posting these and I hope you don’t mind me looking to your footage of player’s progress for help with my own horse.
Thank you so much for sharing this journey with us, love the voice overs and explaining what you do and how you do it when things aren’t going picture perfect. Very educational and insightful 🐴
For you to keep your stance and not step back, then immediately get her feet moving was amazing to watch. Not once did you scold her with the stick. She really will need a lot of ground work reminders as you start to work on other things.. She is a real Upstart.. ooh that would make a great name for her lol. I'm really looking forward to the next video. It's great to watch someone so young thinking like the horse and acting like a herd leader would.. True horseperson 💜🖤💜
Thank you for showing it the way I remember. Horses are living, breathing animals with wills of their own. Training is challenging. You have to adjust your methods based on the personality and behavior of the horse. Good video.
Wow, im so amazed at how you handled her and her ”aggression”. Ive seen so many people do this type of work sooo wrong, its refreshing seing you work with her!! Well done!!!
My Kentucky Mustang started with a similar mindset... it was tough to get through, but once I gained her trust she turned out to be my bravest little warrior! Keep up the good work, I can’t wait to see what you do with this beautiful mare!
Thank you so much for your honesty and for your explanations. This is fascinating and educational. I look forward to watching your progress. I admire your courage, patience and willingness to share your journey with this mare.
That mare is very confident...may be why she seemed 'unruffled' in her video...Wow...you just never know. Thanks for sharing this...people may get hurt and definitely ruin a horse if they don't have the confidence to get in there and be the leader. This mustang makeover stuff is not for the faint hearted...probably why only half of them show up at the end.
Thanks for being real and showing the challenges as well as the rewards! Great training video!
Honestly it is refreshing to see this because this is the reality of working with big animals.
I've seen this with tame horses, been in the receiving end to some warning kicks and quick bites, head resting and other aggressive/dominant signs.
But like we see here. You don't and should never beat the absolute shit out of a horse, or any animal for that matter. Being strict doesn't always look pretty but in order to form a good trusting bond, you need to do that.
I like how you voice over the best. Sometimes I can't finish reading before it's gone!😊 I tell you, I'll admit she scared me several times. I think you're right in showing how it isn't always a piece of cake training these wild horses. You are great working with them though and I love watching their progress. Whenever I watch these mustangs in training, I always try to mentally picture where the horse(s) may have been in the pecking order on the free range. She must have been pretty high because of the way she tries to show dominance. You'll get that corrected in no time! Can't wait for the next vid, I love watching you train!👍
Thank you Sam for showing all sides of training not just the big achievements, I continue to learn so much from your videos and we appreciate you sharing your journey
What you do is amazing! Following along your journeys has taught me a lot. Thank you for being so open.
You did a wonderful job !!! You explained what was going on, I am glad you included this video as I have never seen this type of behavior...
You made the wrong thing hard and the right thing easy! Can't wait to follow this mares journey! ☺
Other videos have made it seem almost too easy. Thank you for sharing challenges as well. I look forward to following this journey.
That was such an interesting video. Thank you for leaving the tough parts in... I learned so much! As a student, I’d much rather see the real horse, which will teach me to solve problems that I will surely have with my own horses. I’m looking forward to the next video!
I think your doing amazing with her. I know from past experiences about this kind of horse. Its difficult and it's also rewarding to get them past this. Keep up the great work
Thank you for showing the “real life” of owning a mustang. They take a lot of patience and love and you are doing great!!!
I am so glad you don't cut anything out and let us see the real facts and my gosh you're brave little girl!! I don't know if I could have held my ground like you do..
Wow !! Thank you for showing everything. Please stay safe . Hopefully things will state to click with this one and she can relax and feel more calm .
Amazing how she almost went from one horse personality to another, from when you started and then as soon as she started head bobbing she became another horse..Almost like she relaxed more than being afraid with you, then decided she was going to push a dominant role with gusto..When you put the foot down she got very rattled like s**t that ain't working I will get feisty, Great vid glad you posted it, very interesting...
You said it's easier for you to narrate with voice than on-screen text. Works for me.
I just started watching this sub and am glad to know she is considering voice over. That way you can just concentrate on the horse.
I totally prefer voice overs.
Much prefer voice overs since I’m not always looking at the screen.
Loving the voice over because English isn't my first language and reading doesn't go fast so I need to hit pauze/play a lot..
@@mademoisellekaya1438 English IS my first language and I still hit pause and play a lot! I don't want to miss ANYTHING.
I loved this video! I’m so glad you decided to share it, most people would have cut it out but I’m so glad you didn’t. Can’t wait to see more of her progress!
Thank you for posting this video even though you were hesitant, it truly helps us learn some of these behaviors and how to handle them as some people only chose to include the good parts. I can’t wait to see the work that you put into this mare and watch her come out of her shell more. 😁
I love how you handled that and you showed her your the “boss”. Good work sweetie ❤️
I think it's good you're showing that this horse is proving to be a challenge and how you're dealing with it. She's a really good looking mare. Hopefully she starts smoothing out quickly.
Really enjoying this series. Thank you for being brave and keeping in all the aspects of your training, its such a valuable learning tool for us to see how you deal with challenges that inevitably arise. Really appreciate the time you must put into editing these. Cheers from sunny Scotland 😀 x
Great job! The truth is that every animal is different & some horses are gonna take a bit more work. This is a great video to show the difference between a horse that is submitting versus one that is actually facing up to charge or dominate. People learn more from seeing the real deal.
So interesting. Thank You for showing these clips and educating us and explaining the reasons of what all the different body expressions between you and your horse. Looking forward to more videos.
This is my favorite of your videos so far. I love the fighting and the explanation. I plan to go to college to train horses, and we have to break colts. This video explained things that I haven’t seen in horses before. Thanks for keeping the “hard stuff” in.
I respect you for sharing the nitty gritty as well as good bits! You're a rockstar. Keep at her!
I feel that no one deserves an explanation from you. You do you, boo! It was obvious that this was more of a fight horse. Keep killing it. Love it
Hang in there! You handled that so well!
I can imagine that it is like this with every mustang. It just depends on how dominant of a horse they are, how much they will try. I think they always will try to be the dominant one at least once, because they only know their language and ranks. So she just got taken out of her herd. You're the only one with her, making her feet move. So yeah, of course she'll try to take the lead. Every horse does it when you introduce them. 😊
I feel you on this. When you do ground work with him my horse still has aggressive responses like this. He HATES groundwork and I rarely use it for that reason. So often people tell me I need to get on his case when he bucks and plays on a lunge or at liberty. Since all I use it for is to loosen him up (he has some pretty bad arthritis and gets stiff in a stall. I take a minute or two and no more to let him goof and stretch before I get on and he knows that’s what it is) I allow that. Then when I do correct aggressive steps and body motions like these they say I am too hard on him... People learn the difference between happy playful energy and aggression! I’ve owned him 17 years. Your five minutes of observation do not mean you know him!!! So good to see someone take the time to explain what’s going on instead of cutting out the video that isn’t pretty and happy!
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING JOB!!!! I love your work!!!!
Nice video Sam. We will be waiting for the next one.
This is great! I love that you're showing the challenging parts. When everything goes easily I don't learn nearly as much as in videos like this. Great job and can't wait to follow along with the progress! Cheers from New Hampshire.
I admire the way you go about it, no nonsense and both feet on the ground. And you knowing from yourself that when you are not in the right mindset, you risk your own life with this particular horse.
And I honestly am glad you left this footage in! This is the single most important thing about this horse and the way she is right there..
I really think that did you cut that out, you had gotten fully the blame for all that's coming in the future.
You are trying to figure out who she is, at this point it is clear that the horse is afraid of humans after all she's been through.
So as you are trying to get to know what she's about and discovered that she isn't a "follower" and has a will of steel, you need to stay grounded and repetitive until you find a breaking point..
This is my view of the whole situation here but, I could be wrong about things but I truly am happy you left in the footage, I hope you show as much as possible, to me it doesn't matter if you are later with uploading, it is helping out other people but also yourself, when you look back at this footage years from now...
Be strong and never doubt, Respect for helping out this horse on the way to her future path..
Your very good at what you do. Thank you for showing us all of the training 🌺.
Really great work! I love how you handled the situation. You're gonna do great things with her. Keep up the good work!!
This video was so interesting, I really appreciate that you left all the footage in! You are amazing!
4:06 Never thought I'd see a full moon in the daytime. 😎
Continue to and don't apologize for showing wrong behavior. People can easily get disillusioned when they see only the good behavior of a horse and need to be reminded once in awhile that establishing communication with a wild horse isn't always blue skies and sunshine.
Every horse is different in some way; I’m glad to see cases like this that are more challenging and to see how things will turn out.
Keep your head up, she will get better. And Great job!! Showing how difficult it is can really open some peoples eyes up!❤️🤠
Brave and honest video, the voice over was done perfectly. You're right for being firm, the energy she has while approaching wasn't good. It comes from a place of worry, but you need to be save. My mare is the same, first reaction is ignoring things that make her tense, if that doesn't work fighting is the first instinct. Still she is a wonderful horse, you'll get there
I love ur vids! I really enjoy the fact that u start doing voiceover‘s. And I think it‘s absolutely a good choice to put everything in ur videos and not cutting out the important part‘s as u said. I‘m very into u and ur work with the horses.
I love this mare. She has a great brain and she is very brave
Agreed. When she turns that fight instinct into "fight to do what you ask," she's going to be amazing.
Well be careful Sam seems this fear she has could be dangerous, I know you are an awesome trainer, but keep yourself safe ok 👍🏻🙏🏻🐎