Star's New Halter

I began taking a weekly program called Women and Horses at the Ever After Mustang Rescue, Biddeford, ME, July 13, 2009.  My purpose was to get close to horses, develop a bond and relationship, touch them, examine them and learn their anatomy, experience them first-hand - learn their personality so I could paint them better.  Little did I know that the 8 week course would never end for me!  For over 2 years, I worked with Reno Blue, born near Reno, NV in 1985.  He is a very well trained blue roan mustang gelding that was a yearling when he came to the rescue.  I have posted and painted his handsome face numerous times.  (Check 2009 & 2010 posts)

Reno was adopted by the rescue in 1986, gentled and trained with the intention of placing him. "It was soon decided Reno would be a pioneer for his breed in the New England area, where mustangs were still distrusted and misunderstood. He would help to dispel the myths and inaccuracies and promote new adoptions. He lived up to every expectation and continues to visit schools, organizations, make public appearances and give pony rides to disadvantaged youth."  He trained me well! 

After going on a rescue with Mona (director of the rescue) in July of 2010, I decided to sponsor one of the mustangs.  I had seen Star and tried to connect to her and photograph her many, many times during my visits to the rescue.  She was as afraid of me as I was of horses before I took this program at the rescue.  Star was very timid and afraid of most noises, and hates the camera even without a flash. 

A year later, on August 11, 2011, I started working with Star to gentle her.  She is a 13-year-old mustang mare who was named by the rescue when she arrived in Dec. 2002.  "Although she had only minimal handling, she was trusting and in excellent shape. Her color is light Bay with a white star. She is approx 14.3-15 hands. She had been captured in the Calico Mountains Herd Management Area, near Gerlach, NV. on Dec.18, 2000 at 2 years old. 

The first day I went into a pen with Star she stood at the back of it and I sat on a bucket and sketched her.  I brought her some hay and left it near me, leaving her a small pile about 4 feet away from me.  She came up to eat the hay very timidly after a long while and then she would back up.  She pawed the ground and paced because I was in her space, but I just sat there, talking very quietly to her and leaving hay.  Since that day I have worked with her at least once a week, most often, twice and some weeks 3-4 days.  Each time there are very small steps and sometimes bigger set-backs. 

It has been 22 weeks, and I have done many things with Star, and we have much more to do.  She allows me to touch her face and nose and ears and eyes - all over.  I can enter the pen and hook her to a lead line.  I have groomed her all over except we haven't cleaned the hooves yet.  She walks with me and does some ground work, and today she allowed me to put on the turquoise halter I bought her for Christmas.  I worked on that for 7 weeks... first trying a larger halter and that last 3 weeks trying her new turquoise one you can see in the photo. 

She has become my muse.  Today after I let her out into the pasture, she turned and looked at me - letting me know she wanted me to take her picture!