2025 Meeker Mustang Makeover

I’ll head to Meeker, CO this weekend to pick up an untouched mustang for the 2025 Meeker Mustang Makeover! In the last few days, I’ve increased the height of the panels in my training pen and done some spring cleaning around the ranch. This week is all about spending time with the other Rainbow Ranch horses, laying the marketing foundation for my horse training business, watching colt starting videos, and preparing for the big day!

Meet #4869! I had a lucky day in the horse lottery, and was able to choose one of my top picks. This horse is a 3-year-old gelding from the Conant Creek HMA in Wyoming. We had a chance to participate in a clinic with Nick Mantle on Sunday to build a foundation for our next four months together. Our trip back to WY was smooth, and the new guy is settling in to life at the Rainbow Ranch!

Holy cow! Spot is really making strides. In spite of a rainy, muddy couple weeks, we had our first ride on Day 12 together! And Spot got a name! We sailed through groundwork basics, desensitization, haltering, leading, ponying and trailering. I’m getting to know this little guy — he got his name because, well, spots…but also because he really reminds me of a character in a children’s book. He wants to be good and generally is, takes most things in stride, and sometimes has big feelings! Check out my Instagram and Facebook pages for regular updates.

This week saw some major milestones for Spot! On Wednesday, we had our first canter in the arena, Spot joined Sammy and Muffin in the pasture after learning about electric fences, and Spot wore fake loads in the middle of a pack string! I’ve been guided in the under saddle work by Warwick Schiller’s principles; I think he has a really nice approach to early rides on young horses. I rewatched the video linked below before my first arena ride this week with Spot. You can also find a full-length video of this ride on my YouTube channel and shorter updates on Instagram and Facebook.

The highlight of our week was Spot’s first trail ride! Sammy, Spot, Ruthie and I headed to state land southeast of Lander and rode through the desert together. I lead out on Sammy, ponying Spot, then swapped horses. At first, Spot was more interested in eating grass than in going for a ride, but it only took a little encouragement to get him moving! Spot walked out with purpose, was unfazed by Ruthie running up behind him, and led Sammy like a real professional. Back at home, I also packed Spot for the first time, and led him in a string. Spot will head into the mountains to start working in June, and all the pieces are coming together!

This week I moved with Spot, Sammy, Otter and Cub to the NOLS Three Peaks Ranch in Boulder, WY. I’ll be working as a horse trainer over here for the next month and took a bunch of my own horses with me! Spot settled right in to life in a new place. I’ve introduced the snaffle and we’re working on lateral movement on the ground and under saddle. Spot got a bunch of exposure to new people while a NOLS course was in town, getting ready for a two-week horsepacking expedition in the Red Desert.

Spot and I kicked off Week 6 together with a trip to Rock Springs for a clinic with Jim Hicks. What a fantastic experience! I rode Spot and Otter in the clinic and left with some transformational learning. Spot and I focused on moving his shoulders and starting to accept contact through the bridle. Not only did we have time in the clinic together, but Spot rode out through unfamiliar desert terrain without batting an eye! He was a great traveler through and through — a new barn, new arena, speakers, crowds…not a problem! I can’t wait to keep practicing some of the things we learned next week!

What a big week for Spot! He got shoes, had his first obstacle practice, and went to work. I stood up on Spot for the first time, and we traveled to Meeker together for the Back on Track clinic. Phew! Riding with Jim Hicks last week helped me start to develop a feel with Spot. He’s getting softer and softer through the bridle, I can increasingly put him exactly where I want him, and he’s happily jumping over barrels and cantering over tarps! Spot and I rode in the mountains together on Thursday to deliver food to a NOLS course in the Wind River Range, and this little horse — whether packing or riding — never put a foot wrong. I feel so lucky to spend the summer with this special mustang!

Week 8 started out with the Back on Track clinic in Meeker. Spot and I rode with Bryan Neubert—what a gift! I was reminded to have patience and wait for the horse to find the answer, and that doing big things is only possible when you do the little things well. Back at Three Peaks, a friend got on Spot, and he did just as well with a (talented) stranger as he’s done under saddle with me! What an incredible horse. Other highlights from the week included getting some exposure to cows on the BLM, opening it up on a 4 track, and opening (and closing) every gate we could find.

This week, Spot and I (and Otter, Cub and Sammy) rejoined Trixie and Muffin back at the Rainbow Ranch. On Monday, Spot and I rode with Sam Van Fleet, who was passing through Lander. It was awesome to work with someone who has so much experience doing mustang challenges, and Sam gave pointed us in the right direction for our freestyle event at the makeover! I also got some valuable coaching on how to ride a little more like a cowboy :) Our week ended with Spot’s horse show debut at the Central Wyoming Dressage & Western Dressage Series. We rode the Training Level Test 1 and had a clean round over crossrails. This little horse can really do it all!

In early July, Spot and I travelled deep into the Absaroka mountains to deliver supplies to a NOLS backpacking expedition. We rode with a friend and 5 other horses to a beautiful camp halfway between Hawks Rest (the most remote place in the lower 48) and the trailhead. From our camp, we covered 15 more miles and crossed the Yellowstone River to meet the course a little over a week in to their month-long trip. Students and instructors were happy for food and were excited to meet the Rainbow Ranch horses! Spot made a lot of new friends!! Once again, I’m so impressed by the confidence, demeanor, and work ethic of this little horse!

What a busy week! On Sunday, Spot and I went to Riverton to participate in the CSSHA Family Fun Day and Jackpot. Spot walked over mattresses, past blow-up lawn ornaments, through pool noodles, and over bridges! In the afternoon, we competed in the Jackpot—Ranch Riding and Ranch Trail—and finished in money! In both the obstacles and the riding pattern, Spot was calm, careful and responsive. He did so well trailering alone to a new place, spending time in a busy warm-up arena, and competing in an unfamiliar indoor arena! Two days later, we left for the Eastern Absarokas, where we met up with my friend, Liza, who did the Mustang Makeover last year! Liza and I took six horses through miles of challenging trail (lots of deadfall and exposure) to reration two different NOLS courses. On this 4-day, 70+ mile trip, Spot rode through the backcountry with a new person and didn’t put a foot wrong!