I first met Jalisco last April. You can read about that post by clicking on JALISCO. It was love at first sight. I came home and decided that if Jalisco was removed I would be adopting him.
Things changed in the next months to follow. The biggest being: Lakota died. My favorite horse on the range. I was faced with a hard decision to make. My heart was torn two ways.
On September 7, I made my final decision. I was going to bid on Kiowa and Kootenai, letting Jalisco go. It was not an easy decision.
On September 8, the day of the adoption. I was standing by a family that had just won the bid on Jumping Badger. I turned and spoke to them and gave them my card and asked if they would let me know how Jumping Badger was doing. I learned that they were from Lovell and seemed very nice. I also learned that they were there to hopefully adopt two horses.
When Jalisco came up for bid, I turned to the family and said: ” This horse is amazing, you should bid on him”. They did and now he lives with Jumping Badger, in Lovell, Wyoming. It gave me some comfort that I may be able to stop by and say hello to a friend.
Thank you Lori for following up and giving us this report.
Sandy
This report is mainly for Linda and Sandy as I know they truly fell in Love with Jalisco.
I had been meaning to get in touch with Alan & Jeri-Lynn Fleming, the couple who adopted Jumping Badger & Jalisco, for quite some time and so today I just set my mind to drive to their place and ask if I could visit with Jumping Badger, who they call Badger now, and Jalisco, who they call Cisco.
Jeri-Lynn was not at home but Alan was, and he so graciously welcomed me and was happy that I had come to see the horses.
We had a really nice visit and he told me that he had been working so much and the weather has been so brutally cold that he had not worked with either Badger or Cisco for quite a while. Both horses looked to be in very good condition, but they still have that wildness to them.
Badger backed away from me and never did come up to me, but Jalisco eventually took some hay from my hand.
I can understand the difference between these two horses as Jumping Badger grew up in the Lower Sykes area and there are not as many human visitors in that part of the range. Jalisco grew up in the Dry Head area and that is the busiest part of the range where many humans can
drive through the park and view the wild horses.
Still, I was in awe of the beauty of these two horses and I could tell that they have bonded and become buddy’s, and that they trusted Alan!
Jumping Badger has that stoutness to him and he reminds me of Exhilaration.
I was happy and felt at peace seeing them at their new home. The north view from where they live is of the Pryor Mountains and maybe that gives them some comfort.
Alan & Jeri-Lynn have plans this spring to gentle and ride both horses, although Alan admitted that it was going to be more difficult to gentle Badger.
I agreed with him, but told him that it can be done.
He told me that I could come visit the horses anytime. We agreed to keep in touch, and I left feeling happy for both Jumping Badger and Jalisco as they have very compassionate owners who understand and Love horses!
Alan & Jeri-Lynn have three other horses who are very friendly and live in the corral right next to Badger & Jalisco. Next time I will get some photos of them also.
Lori
Looks like that halter needs to be loosened or removed completely, as it appears over one ear.
Is there a deformity in the left rear leg of Cisco?
Too bad these guys cannot run and live in a pen. Quite a life change. Do you know the plans for them? Will you keep up with them? Folks who adopt these wild mustangs must make the time to handle them, rather than simply let them stand in a pen. No excuses!
I’m sure you will soon have a reply from Sandy, but I can, and will, tell you there is no deformity in Jalisco’s (Cisco’s) hind leg. That is just the way he is standing in the first picture. I have many pics of him, have observed him quite closely, and if you look at the rest of the pics you see no problem.
People visiting websites w/pictures need to get the drift that a picture is just a momentary glimpse, sometimes a very small fraction of a moment, into life. People with very limited knowledge make their very profound judgements on things from those very brief slices of life, and frequently, they are mistaken.
I’d like to see a better fit of the halter on Cisco, too, but the one he has on does not seem to hamper him with eating, as he is nice and round, and I see no rub marks to indicate that it is really tight. How do we know how long he has been wearing it, or how long he will be wearing it? Lori was there in person, up close, and is a horse owner and handler, and if that were a great big issue, she would have expressed concern, and most likely, would not have published the pictures.
You’re jumping to conclusions about the time spent with them also. How do you know how much time it has taken to get to this point with the horses? Not everyone can afford to do nothing else, financially OR timewise. If you CAN, you should adopt a bunch next time there’s a gather and have a website where you can show how you do everything PERFECTLY. So far, I haven’t seen one like that, so I’d check yours out for sure.
Would you rather see them in a holding facility—I wouldn’t. Even if they are in an enclosure for a time, they are free to move around and have other horses next to them to visit with, and they certainly have plenty to eat and drink. I’d bet they have fun sparring with one another, mutual grooming and kicking up their heels—pretty much what they’d be doing on the Range. We cannot see the size of the enclosure in these pictures, either, to be making judgements.
Of course, we’d all rather they could stay on the Range and be wild, but that’s not reality at this time. And if you think about it, there are negatives there also. They can get separated from their family units or companions (which is a situation I observed Jalisco in and he was very sad). Horses are killed on the roads, they can be injured traveling the rough terrain and fighting, and they are a food source for predators. They can even be the victims of Nature with lightning strikes (mostly on the mountain), and bad winter storms. Life just isn’t perfect anywhere for all things, is it?
We’re all entitled to our own opinion. This is mine.
Thank you Linda. Hi Diane! I appreciate and respect your opinion and have enjoyed and appreciated you visiting my blog! But, I have to agree with Linda on this one. We don’t know the circumstances and I trust Lori completely to give us her honest opinion. I met these people as well and I am usually a good judge of character. I felt they were kind and caring and had horse experience too! I think that Jalisco and JB are in good hands. Not every wild horse progresses as fast as sometime we would like them too. Remember, these two boys were stallions when removed (3 years old). Regardless, rushing a wild horse into doing something he is not ready to do can be devastating and be a really set back that some never recover from.
Well said Linda, and thank you! I do know that Alan & Jeri-Lynn are very caring and compassionate people and Alan has worked with horses most of his life, so I am not concerned about these two having a good home, they do!
Jalisco had injured his leg at some point and they had to take him to the vet for an antibiotic treatment, but I did not notice any “deformity”. Alan is an electrician and has been working every day for the past two months, with a day off every so often. Also, it has been dark from 5 o’clock in the afternoon until 8 in the morning so there is not a whole lot of time to work with a horse when one works so much. I am sure that Alan will be working with both horses when there are more hours of daylight out here. Also, they do own all of the land you see behind them and it is fenced with barbed wire, but Alan wants to put up different fence for them and I am sure they will be able to run and have more room soon.
I agree about the halter and the next time I go out to visit them I will suggest it if it is still on him. Yes I plan on keeping up with them, and as I said they plan to gentle them this spring and have plans to ride both horses. I have confidence that this will happen.
Thank you for your comments.
There are restrictions aren’t there about the facilities for a newly adopted mustang? The adopters have to keep the horses in an enclosure that is NOT barbed wire and is taller than the usual pasture fence so that the horses won’t escape until they become accustomed to captivity. Sound like these folks are planning to upgrade their perimeter fence once the temperature warms up a bit! Thanks for the update Lori.
Your welcome Chris! Yes! They are supposed to be kept in the smaller enclosure until they are gentled. Everyone has their own perception of the word “gentled”.
My opinion is that when they can be haltered and lead, they are gentled enough to be let out into a pasture. Also, as in the case with Kaibab & Liesl, they must come into the corral for water & feed. These are precautionary measures just in case a horse escapes, they can be caught. This is how I see it, but others may have a different view.
I’m so glad those guys are together 🙂 Glad you were there Sandy, to share your observations of the horses with prospective adopters.
I’m hopeful that Jalisco’s acceptance of humans in his life will help JB make the adjustment, too. It tickles me to see that my instincts about horses I’ve observed are turning out to be accurate. Words I’ve used to describe Jalisco are, #1) beautiful, 2) laid back and, 3) sociable. These things will help him on the path his life has taken. I so envy the Flemings, but above all, I thank them for taking in those two beautiful youngsters. Cisco and Badger are two lucky horses, under the circumstances, I’d say.
Thank you so much, Lori, for making the trip to find the boys, and thank you Sandy for having a place for her to get the good news to us. 🙂 🙂 🙂
And Lori, Badger reminds me of Exhileration, too. That was my first thought when I found the family out there by the red dirt hills the first time. I’m not great on the genealogy stuff, but it wouldn’t surprise me if there were a lineage link between the two. Maybe I’ll check that out unless someone beats me to it… 🙂
THANKS again, you two. <3
Thanks Linda, and I plan on doing some research as I think they must be related somehow. I know they have different mothers, but I am not sure who Seneca was with when she had Exhilaration. I am going to find out.
Seneca was in Sitting Bulls band in the 2003 and 2004 lists. Exhilaration was born in 2004 and he is listed with the band at that time. So yes, I believe Exhilaration and Jumping Badger are related! 🙂
And Sitting Bull and Admiral are brothers right. Interesting that Seneca went from one brother to the next. So Jesse James is also related to Badger then. They all have that same beautiful red bay color!
what great news that they are in a great home and most importantly they are together!
thanks for the wonderful news!
Thanks Alex!
Yes…thanks Alex!
Thank you Sandy, I thought that was the case and that is why JB & Exhilaration look alike.
Brianna and I are heading out to the range in a little while and I will keep you informed as to who we see!
Thanks Lori! Good Luck on the range. 🙂
Have fun and good luck! I look forward to hearing about it! 🙂
And according to Joy, they have the same grandmother, Guinevere.
I wish my info and memories were so well organized… 🙂
Thanks all. 🙂
It’s good to see them together and in a great home. I had imagined Jalisco’s sweet and out going personality on the range would make him an easier one to gentle. Hopefully he will lead the way for Badger! When working to gentle wild horses they usually have to stay in a smaller area until they get to a certain stage of trust and interaction with people. If you let them out in a large area, you probably won’t be able to get close to them again. The center has been very lucky with Liesl and Kaibab that they have progessed quickly. And correct me if I’m wrong Lori, but I would think that’s the reason you have been able to turn them out in the big pasture during the day. That they’re comfortable enough with you handling them that you were confident after turning them out into the big pasture you wouldnt have trouble getting them back into their smaller pen at night. And that if you couldn’t handle them as easily, you wouldn’t have turned them out yet. Every horse progresses at their own pace and it’s better to allow them to do that then to try to force progress on them. I like that they plan on replacing the barbed wire fence. I think that’s a very good idea. Barbed wire makes me nervous around horses, especially mustangs (both wild and previously wild.) And I’m sure that when Badger and Jalisco get turned out there will be a lot of running and playing and I would hate for one of them to run through the fence on accident. I had noticed Jalisco’s halter too, but wasn’t overly concerned. I’m assuming that it still being over his ear is because, still being somewhat wild, he may have not let them fix it when they’ve tried. I’m sure they’re working on fix it. Badger may even be the one who pulled it over his ear while they were playing. We have a horse at my barn who loves to pull things off of his friends. Halters, fly masks, etc. He finds it hilarious! It’s one of his favorite games. Thanks Sandy and Lori for the update! I hope you’re able to go visit them again. And Sandy I think I remember you saying you know who has Kokopelli and another one, but I don’t remember which. I know you said you wanted to visit them. I hope you’re able to and I know I will love to hear how they’re doing. Thanks again!
Hi Sarah! Thanks! Yes, Kokopelli, Lewis, Lander and Jedidiah are about 2 hours from me, near Kalispell, Montana. I hope I can visit them sometime and I will be sure to post an update on them!
🙂
I would love to see and hear about that visit Sandy. I just love every one of those four!
That’s so great that the four of them are together! I knew they had more than Kokopelli, I just couldn’t remember who else it was.
Actually Sarah it was not my choice to let Kaibab & Liesl out to the pasture so soon, but the director and board members made the choice as they needed the corral to get the other horses into to be able to load them up to take them home. I am just a volunteer now. I wanted to wait until spring time and had hoped to lead her around the field so that she could learn where the fence was and the ditches, but that did not happen. As it was Liesl & Kaibab did ok, but I still worry about Liesl getting hurt in the field. She seems to be doing ok though and is learning where some of the ditches are and she sticks pretty close to Kaibab. Remember, we don’t know if she was born blind, or if this happened from a kick to the head, and for that matter we really don’t know how much she can see. I can tell you that she can’t see too much because I have seen her walk into the post inside the shelter when she first came to the Center. She has even walked into me…but now I always talk to her and she knows where I am. They both come right into the corral at night when I feed them and then I close the gate. They are tame enough that they will come right up to people, but Liesl definitely needs extra care. I do worry about the barbed wire fence, but I am not in charge of them and can only make suggestions. I do hope that the board realize that she does in fact need special care and that she is a special needs horse. She is a real sweetie and has a good personality. Kaibab too! It was my love for her that led to the Center adopting her, but since I am no longer there, it is up to the board to do the right thing for Liesl! I hope they do.
She seems like a real sweetie and also that they both have great personalities! I hope the center does the right thing too. She definitely is a special needs horse, I think her adapting so well sometimes may make people over look that at first. I’m sure leading her around the field would still help. I think she would very much appreciate you teaching her the fence line and where the ditches are.
Hi
I am new to keeping track of the horses and tried to research a bit of there families. Can you please help me.
I have:
Jumping Badger – Cecelia & Sitting Bull ?
Exhiliration – Seneca & Sitting Bull ?
Are Seneca and Sitting Bull’s mother Guinevere?
Seneca father being Starbucks & Sitting Bull father being Sir Lancelot?
Are Sitting Bull and Admiral brothers?
Admirial – Hightail & Sam?
Also is Jalisco related to JB & Exhiliration too, with Durango being Jalisco father?
Durango also by Guinevere & Sir Lancelot.
Can give me any of the correct info if this is wrong.
Find this all really interesting.
All of your information is correct. Thank you for reading my blog! 🙂
I think we need to be sure that people who adopt the wild horses know how much they are needed and appreciated. I think it was so special that Alan and Jeri-Lynn would make Lori welcome and let her spend time with Cisco and Badger and allow photos. It is not only important that the horses get adopted, but follow-up is very important. Those who adopt will not allow that if they feel they are going to be immediately judged – and they certainly won’t allow photos of their horses and their private property that may be sent out for 100s, 1000s of people to see and judge – by those who are knowledgeable about adopted horses and those who are not so much. If we want to visit and follow-up, we must be very sensitive to the the situations of those who adopt. Thank you, Lori, for the visit and posting. And thank you so much if you are reading this, Alan and Jeri-Lynn, for welcoming Lori to your ranch and sharing some time with Cisco and Badger in their home so we can all follow them in their new lifestyle.
Thank you Laura!
Yes…thank you Laura, it was my pleasure, and I loved seeing those two!!!
Very well said, I agree! Alan and Jeri-Lynn is you’re reading this I would also like to second say thank you!
Yes, I would also like to add that I think they are in a great home. I just had that feeling when I met you at the adoption that you would be the best home for Jalisco (besides myself!! 🙂 ) So thank you for stepping up and also thank you for listening to me that day! 🙂 I am looking forward to stopping by and seeing them and you both sometime soon!