Wild burro and me (Canon G9, ISO 1600, photographed by a participant with my camera)
I saw some amazing animal-trainer interactions today at the Intermountain WIld Horse and Burro Advisors' Festival of Learning: a wild mustang learning to come to a hand signal, another going from bouncing off the corral walls to a halter in under two hours, and this burro accepting hugs and scratches, a halter, and a clipper treatment in one session. Yes, I am in love, but with another burro, a yearling who rested her head on my shoulder and demanded to stand between two of us to get more attention.
Even when five trainers and about 30 participants were working in separate pens, the arena was quiet, except for the occasional snorting of a horse. Each trainer had a different technique, from making hand motions to communicate to the horse an impression of cacti and granite walls in the landscape, to stroking the animal with a 10' long bamboo pole. Each one got results. The common trait was an absolute certainty of authority in the corral, giving the horse confidence of its place in its new herd. Repeatedly, these wild animals burst out of the trailer into the corrals and then progressed through the fear to a calm and curious acquiesence, until their attention span was exhausted, and they were returned to the stables. Tomorrow the same horses will come back for another session - it will be fascinating to see how much they retain. One of the trainers said the refresher part of the lesson will be very short, because mustangs are very smart. On the range, it's learn fast or die.
These horses and burros are up for adoption this weekend at the Festival in South Jordan. I have no land, corral, shelter, or any of the other items the BLM requires of adopters, and it's not my time to have one of these animals in my life. After today, I can imagine that time will be sooner rather than never.
Tomorrow I take the full photographic arsenal.
Comments (3)
Excellent post. How do they gather the horses and burros? In Arizona, they often use helicopters to gather the wild burros around Alamo Lake and other areas. BLM sets up fence traps and the helicopter herds them in. Interesting work.
Burros make excellent companion animals for horses. Quite a few of the folks here in Wickenburg have them to keep a single horse company when they take the other horses out for a ride. (Horses, being herd animals, do not like being alone.) One of my neighbors would go horseback riding and her little burro would follow behind, without even a lead rope to keep him close. Funny to see.
I'm looking forward to more photos. Have fun!
Posted by Maria | May 13, 2008 7:52 PM
Posted on May 13, 2008 19:52
Cool! Sounds like you had a grand time.
Posted by Harley Pebley | May 13, 2008 8:27 PM
Posted on May 13, 2008 20:27
Hi Ann, I'm the one who took the photo and worked with the burro's with you. I love your blog and it was SO much fun working with you, and seeing this all through fresh eyes, although I have to tell you, it never gets old.
Posted by Vicki | May 21, 2008 7:43 AM
Posted on May 21, 2008 07:43