The Wild Horse Way Spanish Mustangs

12/03/2022

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!!!
Oak and Comet are now lovely yearlings, celebrating on March 10🎉 They are growing out beautifully and are both so kind, curious and fun! The pictures and captions show some of their recent antics❣.

And Dawn and Moon turned 2 mid-Feb🎉 So proud of these lovely fillies for caring for their younger siblings and teaching them horse🥰. And for welcoming Missy❤

01/01/2022

Happy New Year from The Wild Horse Way Spanish Mustangs. We hope that 2022 will bring peace, joy, love and connection to our troubled world. 2021 was a year with many challenges and for us it ended with the hard work and excitement of moving to our new farm on the upper Murray. We feel so blessed to have found this peaceful haven. We are looking forward to reconnecting as we all settle into our beautiful farm.

To start the year we are sharing a video of the mare and foal herd welcoming VBA Missy (our Kosciusko brumby)!! Scout is leading the herd to drive Missy who gives a spirited kick as she gallops away. And then as they pass her, she chases after them, running into their midst. It is a joy to witness these majestic mustangs and brumby stretching out and living as a herd. Here is to kicking up our heels in 2022, running free and living true to our spirits.

22/07/2021

The girls were glamming it up on this frosty morning wearing a winter wooly scarf❤

11/07/2021

We hope this collection of pictures of Neosho with his paddock friend, Pet our Wiltipol ram, brightens everyone's day❤ Imagine music playing with the first video of Pet running with Neo as he moves to greet his mares🐎

For now Neo is living next to his beautiful mares. He is such a lovely boy and we've loved his visits to our backyard and seeing his bond with Pet. Such funny boys!

17/06/2021

The foals and fillies enjoyed a good run earlier this week after a cold, wet night. You can hear the ground squelch beneath their hooves. It is fun to see the foals frolic and is that the start of driving behaviour with Oak behind Comet?

Neosho was also running, wanting to be with his herd. I so wish I could run them altogether. At least they are very nearby and Neo can keep watch over his herd. I am grateful for the calm mothers, who do join in sometimes, but who often have a beautiful grounding, soothing energy.

17/06/2021

Family - kinship relationships between horses in a herd are beautiful. Seeing this beauty at the birth of Comet and Oak in March led to us include the Navajo word for kinship in their names. This sound bite shows how to pronounce Ak'ei.❤

Part 1 ak'éí - family, relatives amá - mother azhé'é - father amá sání - maternal grandmother acheii - maternal grandfather análí asdzą́ą́ - paternal grandmother análí hastiin - maternal grandfather

10/06/2021

Last night it rained and rained and early this morning I gave the bedraggled, wet herd some hay to warm their bellies🌧 ☃️ And then the sun came out☀️ It is so wonderful how brightly it shines after the rain❤ what a lovely day to celebrate the foals being 3 months old❤🐴🐴❤

08/06/2021

On this cold and wet evening the herd enjoyed running in for their hay and dinner. Out front is Moon and Oak, followed by Feather and Scout and then Dawn and Comet. I love watching them run❤

04/06/2021

A very exciting week as the herd went up to the hill paddock for the first time since the birth of Comet and Oak. It was lovely to see them all enjoy it so much. Leila led Indian Scout and I led Grey Feather, while the foals and fillies enjoyed a run as we showed them the boundary.

29/05/2021

The mustang mares and fillies are enjoying introducing Comet and Oak to the array of day paddocks. It started with the dogs yard, then the creek paddock and now the dam paddock. We lead Scout and Feather and the first few times walk the boundary together. We watch the foals closely and enjoy seeing them quickly learn to find gateways when they've ended up on the wrong side of the fence to mum. They all love the change of scene. Next week it will be the hill paddock.

22/05/2021

It's the little moments in each day, a gentle touch with a nose, a shared drink, a nibbled neck that builds the beautiful bonds in a herd. I love the calm and safety these girls and little Oak share.

03/04/2021

It started with glances from a distance and then approaches and retreats to practising behaviours...and before long little Comet and Oak were sheltering from their first rain under the family tree and running and playing together❤

30/03/2021

Hay Angels...when you have a 10yo daughter and foals, some days you have hay angels❤ thank you Leila for bringing your playful fun to the paddock and thank you to these beautiful, calm, friendly spanish mustangs. Oak and Comet you are divine🐴❤

22/03/2021

Beautiful Indian Ak'éí Comet is a curious, open, friendly little filly. Almost two weeks old she is into everything- the hay, mums feed, the water trough, different plants, her sisters and Oak. She boldly ventures further and further from Scout, yet always comes back close to her loving mother. This stunning filly is available to go to her forever home from 9-12 months. Please PM me if interested.

19/03/2021

The 10th March was a very big day on our farm as beautiful Feather also birthed her foal at 11.20pm. We are so happy to welcome her son, TWHW Feather Ak'éí Oak to the world. A gorgeous c**t, bright, strong and a laid back little fellow.

Sensitive Feather was showing signs for days and we wondered if she was holding back to allow the dominant mare Scout to foal first. All day after Scout foaled, Feather looked uncomfortable and her milk started dripping around midday.

She waited until the cover of darkness and her labour progressed. I could hear her restless movement and once she lay down her waters broke and her little c**t was quickly born. Her yearling filly Moon was with her for the birth. As Feather cleaned her foal, Moons breath warmed him as she gently sniffed him. Scout, Comet and Dawn were close by welcoming him. As with Comet this really stood out at his birth and so Ak'éí, the Navajo word for family is one of his names.

Once little Oak was on his feet and moving with his mum I fell into bed exhausted! Early the next morning Leila and I were up to check on him and as we watched him feeding strongly from Feather a big moth flew past. We entertained so many names...Bogong for the moth and nearby mountain, Duet for both foals on the same date and then his beautiful forever person Thao saw the Oak in his star. And Oak just seemed to fit him, from the name of this farm The Oaks, to the giant oaks that sheltered his family from the heat and smoke last summer, and the oaks that are in his heritage. Welcome little one.

18/03/2021

This is a sweet little clip of Comet and Scout reuniting. Scout had gone in under the family tree fir the first time since Comets birth and the lil one couldn't see her. Listen for the little calls. Love seeing Scout come out to her and rest her leg to relax as Comet feeds.❤

15/03/2021

We are so happy to welcome TWHW Indian Ak’éí Comet to the world. Born to her stunning mother Scout at 2.08a Wednesday 10 March. And with her doting big sister Dawn in attendance at the birth. This little filly is friendly, curious and strong.

One thing that really stood out at Comets birth was family love. And so the Navajo word for family and kinship ak’éí is part of her name. Comet arrived quickly once Scout's waters broke with a whoosh. As Scout lovingly licked her, Dawn was there gently breathing warmth and touching her little sister. Nearby Moon watched, with Feather and Neosho.

Leila and I felt so privileged to witness mostly by sound, with some peaks of light, Comets birth. Leila was amazed to see a Comet shoot across the starry sky above the little foals birth...and so she was named. And already this gorgeous girl loves running fast❤ Welcome little one🙏

05/03/2021

Sharing the morning sunshine, Neo and Minka❤ Neo is such a kind gentle boy it is a pleasure to have him spend time in our house yard with us, the chooks, dogs and cat. Oh and today he watched calmly as a hawke sat on our portable hen house!! Neo pokes around our verandah, oversees all feed mixing and listens to 10yo Leila if she asks him to move or back out of the feed room. Love Neo and all these delightful animals.

28/02/2021

I thought you might all enjoy seeing this picture unfold, drawn by my lovely friend Karen🐴❤

My next adventure. I’ve given to much away already so it’s time to guess the s*x: Mare, gelding or stallion????
A beautiful Spanish mustang from ‘The wild horse way Spanish Mustangs’ in country Victoria.

26/02/2021

Clever girls working it out! There was still lots of sharing feed with their mums, but it was sweet to see each filly eating from their new feed buckets❤

24/02/2021

It is always so much fun introducing new things to the herd. Yesterday Leila was very excited to feed Moon and Dawn in their new colourful feed buckets. We are getting them used to feeding away from their mums to make room for the foals that are soon to be born. Moon and Dawn were not at all sure about these strange objects we were trying to hold towards them. Dawn thought it was a new toy and Moon thought it was a pink monster😍 So mares and fillies shared their dinner as always, then they shared their second colourful dinners and then the fillies were comfortable to explore the tubs on their own. So much fun and so many lessons in simple day to day activities.

21/02/2021

Summer girls☀️ Next summer I hope I can offer the herd a swim in a dam or river, but for now the blue bucket is offering a little cool fun💙

20/02/2021

Sleepy Saturday! Makes me want to set up a hammock, watching them sleep in the shade. So precious to live in this family herd. They are able to deeply relax. Imagine how chilled our lives would be if we followed their lead❤

17/02/2021

Happy birthday Moon❤ Our beautiful girl is a yearling. We have loved every day getting to know you.💕

15/02/2021

Happy birthday beautiful Dawn. Our baby filly is a yearling today. We've loved every moment

23/01/2021

Where do you hide from the heat? We came home from a pony ride at Lazy Acres Farm midday and not a mustang to be found! I felt like I was creeping up on brumbies in a forest when I found them in the wattle thicket. So grateful for the shade they share and their secret glimpses ❤

12/01/2021

Mane magic...it started with a whorl in Scouty's lush, long mane...then Dawn edged in very curious about the brush and how it felt...next came Moon for a moment before Neo claimed the brush...he was not happy about Feather and Moon sidling into the salon beside him. Love these magical moments that brighten our days❤

03/01/2021

Happy New Year from all of us at The Wild Horse Way Spanish Mustangs. We hope 2021 brings peace, joy and gratitude for the little moments in life 🙏

Last nights moment involved me dragging a blue tarp through the mustang paddock at 9.30p to cover our chook pen. I startled the mustangs at their hay nets and loved how they faced up to me and the tarp with Dawn and Moon coming in to explore. Scouty didn't move a muscle...that mare is so grounded.

Yesterday's moment came after we arrived home. I couldn't see any mustangs so I wandered up the hill and spotted them all in a shady wattle thicket. I loved seeing them hidden and cool in this secret grove. We've been so lucky to rent this little farm with a diversity of habitats to keep the mustangs, our sheep and us curious. May we all enjoy the richness and intrigue of diversity this year❤

25/12/2020

Merry Christmas and may 2021 be full of joy, peace and the quiet moments like these that give rhythm and connection to our days. Here Neo moves beautifully to join his mares as they stride out in the early morning. Most days Neo lingers longer sun basking and then canters majestically to join them. ❤

16/12/2020

Salute to the sun🙏 I loved coming out in the early morning to see these 5 beauties basking in the suns rays. All orientated in the same direction. A beautiful start to the day❤

06/12/2020

Early morning and the herd is following Scouty up the hill after being let out from their night paddock. We are not able to set up a paddock paradise track on this farm, but we are fortunate it allows for plenty of movement. A fenced dam in the middle of the hill paddock creates a hilly circuit over rough terrain. Each day the horses roam the loop, coming home for water, food and rest. We love watching where they go and seeing what interests them.

28/11/2020

Feather, Moon and Neosho resting in the shade on our first day over 40 degrees. There are many places they can shelter and often they choose this tree near our yard where they can check our activity and talk to us. We love how they group and regroup during the day...life in a herd keeps the days interesting!

21/11/2020

Moon has followed Scout in for dinner and is watching and listening as Dawn raises the dust in her chase home. Beautiful Moon is watchful of Scouts lead and likes to follow her on any adventure. Dawn is often found lingering behind, napping or grazing. The end of another peaceful day on the hill.

17/11/2020

These beauties make this stunning landscape complete❤ They are so happy to leave their night paddock each morning and roam up to this rocky hill with its diversity of plants and micro-habitats. The fillies love exploring the nooks and rough terrain. Its given us lots of ideas about the kind of farm we hope to buy soon!

14/11/2020

Neosho is such a gentle and beautiful stallion and loves his daughters. He often has naps with them in the sun. He also teaches them good behaviour and will drive them to stay with the herd, but they love him all the more❤🦄❤🐎🐴🦄

14/11/2020

Our little herd didn't need a text from our neighbour to know they had moved their horses to a closer paddock😀

07/11/2020

Enjoying a siesta🐴 This herd really know how to relax on a sunny afternoon! A behaviour we will adopt more too as the days get hotter 😀 I love it when they rest together under a shady sheltered tree❤ They are such a peaceful herd.🐎

03/11/2020

The view from my bedroom window...I love seeing Dawn and Moon resting together and here with Scouty resting nearby. We are all coming out of our covid winter hibernation into this glorious spring full of hope and new life. So much to share with everyone on how the fillies have grown and how the herd has knitted together over the last months, forming new bonds and subtle shifts. I feel so privileged to share their lives. A beautiful message from Hannah showed me how much people love hearing about the herd...sorry for the quiet months as we worked hard on our finances to get ready to buy our own farm. As Kirsty Hagger and I recently shared, with the herd in our lives everything always works out magically.

06/05/2020

Autumn girls...shaggy...
Inquisitive...brave...friendly... soft..playful...we love these foals and the joy they bring us! Yesterday while their parents ate hay they went alone into the day paddock. Exploring, cavorting together, saying hello to our dog Badger and spending time with leila and I. Late in the day I saw Dawn touch noses with Pet, our lamb ram. So many moments to saviour❤😀🐴🐾

04/05/2020

These babies were so sleepy in the morning sun they couldn't wait to finish breakfast for a sleep😀❤