Onyx the Mustang

01/09/2023

Onyx is always the first waiting for me in the mornings to be fed. He stands at alert looking toward the house and he always very willingly follows me to his stall. He has started nickering while he’s in his stall when I’m approaching with his feed but this morning he nickered at me as soon as he saw me coming down the porch steps to head to the barn. Luna approached him with me and he shooed her off and then came running to catch up to me. Made me feel pretty good🥰

20/06/2023

The Mirror
I see you wondering if your horse would be better off with someone a little more handy. I see you feeling like you're not small enough, skinny enough, sharp enough, handy enough. I see you feeling like you have no idea what you're doing. I see you tired, I see you overwhelmed. I see you thinking about how much you'd ask for your horse. I see you thinking of how someone could do so much better than you're doing. I see pricing out training so you could really see what she's made of. I see you nervous, I see you worried about failing. I see you fearing that you will actually suck as bad as you think you might. I see you wondering what the girls at the fence are saying. I see you wondering if they would do better. I see you fearing that you won't do your horse justice. I see you questioning whether you're cowgirl enough.

But I also see that you're smart. You are wise. I see you're more talented than you give yourself credit for. I see your athleticism and I see your focus. I see your determination. I see your horse sense. I see your ability to ask for help and I see your open mind. I see that you know that what others say has nothing to do with you. I see you growing. I see your unlimited potential. I see the kindness and compassion you have for your horse. I see that you have what it takes. I see that you have all the knowledge you need in your heart. I see you're deserving of seeing this one through yourself, and I see that your time has come. You are enough.

06/06/2023

Onyx is feeling a little studly today

01/06/2023

A little poem I wrote about Onyx

A little black Mustang showed up at the sale barn one day
Where he came from, no one seemed to know
They said he was wild, not worth anyone’s time
The kill buyers wouldn’t even spend a dime
So he went through the sale
Alone, scared, and doomed for horse hell
But alas! A bid at last! Sold! For $390 to the lady in the back
Rescued, saved, the little black Mustang was no longer enslaved
A woman alone spotted him on a rescue site
Something about him drew her in
But goodness, how could she take him in?
For she already had too many horses of her own
Some she was needing to go to a new home
She was down and out, feeling like she was being shipped to slaughter
Desperate for distraction, seeking redemption she entered a challenge
Where as fate would have it, she met him
The little black Mustang now named Onyx
Now life didn’t seem so grim!
Coincidence? I think not
God’s saving grace?
I’ll bet you a lot!
The other trainers passed him over
They wanted to win and the chances with him were incredibly slim
But the lady down on her luck
She needed purpose, something to give her hope
And she could see in this colt’s eyes he needed the same thing
And oh how right that truth did ring
They were both wounded, discarded
Through no fault of their own
The potential they had was left unknown
So this woman and this horse began a journey together
She vowed to work with him, no matter the weather
No matter his resistance, no matter his fear
She knew in her heart, the little black Mustang named Onyx was something to revere
Oh they had their moments
Days where nothing made sense
Nothing was working but she refused to sit on the fence
She pushed through her doubts, she pushed through her tears
She refused to give up, no matter her own fears
He needed her, and she needed him
So together they pushed through
Determined to win
To beat the odds that were against them
To earn their second chance
To get back in the game
And finally learn how to dance
Around that which had set out to defeat them- this woman and this horse
They kept working steady
They stuck to the course
Oh the days passed by, the weeks and the months
Many were filled with nothing but bumps
Where no one would have been surprised if she called it quits
With the little black Mustang named Onyx who gave her plenty of fits
He held on so tightly to his fear, to his past that was so unclear
And she held on to hers
Two wounded souls
Working to overcome the hand they’d been dealt
But what do you know?
She had an ace up her sleeve
God’s saving grace, she begged for it please!
And as He often does, God works in mysterious ways
The woman and now big black horse named Onyx- their bumpy road was only just a phase
They had to learn, they had to grow, they had to heal and they had to let go
Through it all, they began to shine
Her green eyes and his black coat so fine
Oh the devil tried to get them
He fought to take them down
For you see, he can’t stand anything meant to wear a crown
Day after day they fought the demons that taunted them
But they worked together, these two and life began to not be so blue
For this woman and this horse
Their hearts weren’t made for divorce
But beat with such force
That kept their path straight
For you see their relationship was not just fate
God knew what He was doing
He was working all along
This woman and this horse
Began to sing such a beautiful song
A song of gladness, of hope restored
Not one minute together did they feel bored
Trust was built, a friendship began
The love that was growing was nothing but grand
The woman, the big black Mustang named Onyx and God
A cord of three strands that couldn’t be broken
This Mustang was nothing less than God’s token
Given to this woman as a means to restore her heart and confidence
God did not ignore her tears and her trials were all part of His plan
To focus on him and not on man
He sent her this horse, to get her feet back on course
He knew she needed a friend so her love for Him would not bend
For you see dear sister, dear brother
God’s not in the market to destroy
That’s Satan’s work and he will deceive with such a ploy
So if you feel like your life has come to an end
I hope you have found hope from this story about two lost souls who are now best of friends
The woman abandoned and the beautiful black Mustang named Onyx
God has their back and he has yours too, I promise!

28/05/2023

Onyx got to meet my son today🥰 I wish he could stay in town longer to help me work with him some bc he’s such a good hand with horses. But he did tell me it’s not many people who would be willing to take the time I’ve taken with Onyx and that made me feel pretty good☺️😇

18/05/2023

Hard to see it in the video, but a helicopter landed at the arena yesterday and Onyx handled it very well.

14/05/2023

Good morning! Happy Mothers Day to you mamas! I would sure be happy if you liked this picture of Onyx and me to help us win the fan favorite☺️Thankyou!🥰

TEAM ONYX - Michele Sandifer
Onyx the Mustang

13/05/2023

Howdy do! Please please please like Onyx and me for the fan favorite! We need you to like our page, our picture and The Safe Horse Project page☺️ Onyx deserves this win for sure! Thank y’all!

13/05/2023

13/05/2023

Not gonna post another journal entry- too many from the start were about me ending up in tears while working Onyx- but as time went on- the tears lessened, and things began progressing with him.
“Before you ask a horse to be at peace with you, you must be at peace with yourself.” Not sure who said that but I wasn’t at peace. I was in absolute turmoil. Like Jeremiah in the Bible, I wondered why I was being attacked by such evil people when I had been doing what I believed was in the will of God. In Jeremiah 12:5, God told him, “If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses?” In an article about this passage, it says that, “if you could have the stamina and ability to run with horses and keep up-imagine a wide plain and you’re among a team of wild horses, and as they run into the horizon, you run along with them. Would that not be a thrilling, exhilarating experience? Only in your wildest dreams could something like that happen… and God wants that for you… but He also says there is a process to get there. You have to endure the little first, before you can endure the greater. The pain we go through in life can be thought of as discipline from the Lord. It is meant to prepare us for something greater. Christ endured the most grievous suffering knowing that through it, he might bring us to God. Are you growing weary of racing against men? Renew your mind and remember that God has greater planned for you than this current suffering. You are to run with horses.”
How awesome is that??? I’m finally letting go, and so is Onyx. And I can’t thank God enough for the process of refinement we’ve both been going through.

12/05/2023

12/05/2023

Some of y’all following Onyx and me may think I’m a bit nuts, and that’s ok. I think that often of myself. But I’m hoping that maybe someone following is in need of some hope because this journey has been such a source of hope for me. I’m hoping someone will see the value of how healing horses can be. Like Ronald Reagan said, “There is nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of the horse.” I know I’m not in the running to win this competition and that’s quite alright, bc this journey has been about so much more than winning to me- maybe we will at least end up the fan favorite☺️ I once knew I had what it takes, and I lost it, but my time with Onyx has been building my confidence back and proving that I do have it within myself. It’s been about learning, healing, humbling myself, drawing closer to God, and surrounding myself with people that believe in me and not only believe in second chances just for horses, but for other people too, and do what it takes to give them that chance. It’s helping me to win in life finally and that is pretty priceless. I have been keeping a journal since the beginning of this journey with Onyx and although I’m not riding him yet, and we are both still operating out of some fear, my entries make me realize how far we both have come. I couldn’t even touch or halter him when this all began. I’d like to share snippets of my entries with y’all over the next few days.
January 18, 2023
No join up today. In fact, I believe Onyx is playing hard to get. I worked with him and then I was going to take a few of my other horses to ride at the arena but I had a breakdown, meltdown, while trying to get a round bale of hay where I wanted it to go. It was not cooperating as I was trying to push it out of the mud as my feet were sinking deeper. I cried and cried and cursed my loser husband and felt so weak so I went and laid on the ground next to Onyx in the round pen and just hung out there for a while with a young deer hanging out and calling out behind us. It was so peaceful looking up at the clouds as they billowed by up above. I hope my stillness and nearness helped Onyx to trust me more. Here’s to tomorrow. A new day. A fresh start. A clean slate.

10/05/2023

These photos show Onyx’s health and fitness progression. The first photo is the day I met him almost four months ago and the last is today🥰

06/05/2023

This is our last required checkin- this is bittersweet. What can I say? These last almost four months have been something to write home about for sure. I signed up for this competition having no idea what was in store. I just knew I needed a distraction- a good healthy change in my life- bc I felt like I had ended up in the kill pen, honestly I was content to be headed for slaughter- my circumstances had caused me to feel incredibly hopeless, and desperate. And then I meet Onyx, who was not happily in a kill pen headed to a horse’s hell . So here we were- two beings operating on fear and survival mode, having been abandoned, rejected and cheated in this life, being passed over for “better”. I chose him, have been choosing him every day for these last four months- some days, begrudgingly, yes- but I have been choosing him regardless, and the same goes for him as far as I’m concerned. We have both had some good days-have overcome a lot of obstacles, have overcome a lot of fear, have both become happier and healthier- and we have had some days where we’re just not so sure- not so sure if we can fully trust each other, not so sure what we’re doing, not so sure where we’re going- but we are taking them all in stride- together, striving daily to do better. Some days our trauma response flares out full force, and others we are as light and carefree as a butterfly. Some days it’s a little of both. But each day with this horse has been a blessing and each day a lesson-in life and horses. And I do believe Onyx feels I’m a blessing in his life too- he keeps giving me second chances and I keep giving him them as well. And God has given us both a second chance to conquer this life together and for that, we are truly truly blessed! I have not yet decided if I will bring Onyx to Jackson for the competition to at least show what we have accomplished. There are many varying factors for this decision. But I will continue to work him as a Diamond Project horse and I will, for a fact be at the competition to cheer on the amazing work the other trainers have accomplished with their horses that will be available for adoption. Til then, c’est la vie!

“No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us. “
Philippians 3:14

02/05/2023

Been trying a little Liberty work with Onyx lately and so far so good☺️ We still have a lot to learn about it all but Onyx seems to really enjoy it. I reached for the halter once but other than that, he kept along pretty well🥰

30/04/2023

Onyx had a great session today at the arena and then stood here like a perfect gentleman for over an hour while I worked Caly and Cayuse. He forgets his manners though sometimes when he’s eager for a cookie as you can see with his cookie monster face☺️😁😂

25/04/2023

Just adding more pennies in our piggy bank☺️ May 19th will be here before we know it😳😭😁

22/04/2023

Onyx had an eventful evening- he was a bit apprehensive about loading in the trailer behind Caly and Cayuse but he fared well. He is ponying better all the time. He was completely unimpressed with some steers being unloaded and didn’t seem too nervous about a rainstorm blowing in and beating the roof. I truly feel like if I had gotten on him tonight it would’ve gone ok, but my back is reminding me it would be better to have someone to be there with us. And his nickname is Cookie Monster- he literally walks around now saying, ”Me love cookies”😁😁 Please disregard my breathing- I am actually in fairly decent shape but breathe like I have some issues😭

20/04/2023

Onyx wants me to work hard today to show off his shiny black coat😳😂

17/04/2023

Maybe I’m a bit biased, but this guy is starting to really look some kind of fine! He is really starting to fill out and gain some muscle and he keeps getting taller😳😍 He is doing so well with ground driving and Smokey has been the best pony horse for Onyx under saddle. It has been a bit chilly here the last couple of days so he will get a good bath when it warms up again bc he is a bit dusty:) Our journey has been full of ups and downs but after an amazing session this morning, I truly believe it’ll be steadily moving forward from this point on. Go Go!

13/04/2023

Loooong post alert but please read and if you can’t view the video, please find a way- so where do I begin? First-I’m not real privy to making good tiktok videos but I thought I’d try my hand at making my progress with Onyx look a little less bootlegged so I sure hope y’all enjoy it and like and share it so I can become famous on tiktok and quit my day job. And I also hope it brings tears to your eyes like it does mine when I watch it. It took me over an hour to make it and right at 3 hours to load- seriously-Ain’t nobody got time fo dat! I never in my life thought I’d hear the all the pretty girls walk like this song as much as I did while waiting and watching other videos and now I have no desire to wish that I could be like the cool kids. But that’s not why the tears come to my eyes…
As most of you know, I got on Onyx the other day and came off pretty quickly- I have a video of it and it isn’t pretty- I didn’t get bucked off but basically slid off like a sack of potatoes- he bolted and then spun around like a cutting horse and gravity grabbed my fat ass and slammed it into the ground with my hard head in pursuit. It knocked the wind out of me, the noises I made hurt my pride and my ego was what got busted up the most. As soon as I managed to get up, I got back on him for a second but didn’t have the strength-or courage-to see if we could accomplish more. With all that being said, some have reached out with concern over Onyx bucking and at first it didn’t bother me, but I got to thinking about it, and it does. I didn’t sign up as a “pro” trainer and I’m not any sort of ambassador, but I took a big chance by picking a horse that all of the pro trainers passed over and six other amateur trainers passed over before it was my turn to pick. And before all of that, there sure wasn’t anybody upping his bid price at the sale barn- he sold for $390- 3 hundred and ninety. I know about rejection all too well and I also know how it feels when nobody seems to see, nor cares to see, your potential-not many are willing to stick things out through the bucks and the spins while you learn, and work hard, to trust and believe there are good humans left on this planet. I run a one cowgirl show out here. I don’t have a spouse to help me, or other trainers to work alongside. My son and I both wish he could be here to help me but he’s making his living starting colts every day for Craig and Cole Cameron in Texas. I have 8 personal horses, 2 donkeys, 12 dogs, an inside cat and 5 barn cats I am responsible for. My current means of living requires hard labor and I’m eating ramen noodles and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches so I can keep my animals fed well until I get back on my feet. I’m tired, my body hurts, I’ve been dealing with the after effects of a failed business, a failed marriage, a miscarriage, two traumatic horse accidents-one of which was fatal and on top of all of that, I recently had an MRI done and the results proved what I had been suspecting for 28 years- my brain ain’t right because of a TBI I suffered when I was 15. I ain’t ticking with a full tock and I’m not making excuses or trying to make anybody feel sorry for me, but I’m doing my best and I’m here to tell you that Onyx is doing his best too. I want others to be proud of us, not feel sorry.
So for our 3-month update: We worked on ground driving today- the first time for both of us- and we both enjoyed it. Believe it or not, I’ve done a good bit of ground work and desensitizing with him. Have I drilled and drilled and drilled it into him- no- I was more concerned with him overcoming his fear and getting him physically healthy again. I got on and off of him ba****ck again today. I’ll get back on him under saddle again soon too, and if he bucks some more, so be it. It ain’t the first time a horse has bucked no matter how much ground work has been done. And if I end up on the ground again, eating a little dirt is a good reminder that I’m a lot tougher than I think sometimes. Today was also the first time Onyx has seen another human other than the farrier for these three months and he responded well to her. He’s letting me catch him in the pasture again. Caly even likes him now bc she’s in season and since she hasn’t been able to make any of the other geldings magically turn into studs for a few minutes, she’s hoping she can charm Onyx with her tactics.
I’m not saying by any means that I’ve done everything right, but I am saying I’ve done the best with what I’ve got, and God willing, I will be in Jackson in May with Onyx by my side. Will our performance be pretty and polished? I don’t know- but what I do know is that life ain’t always beautiful, but it sure is a beautiful ride with a Mustang named Onyx by your side.

I worked on ground driving Onyx today

09/04/2023

Happy Easter from Onyx and me! This has always been my favorite holiday- I love bunnies and Spring and Cadbury eggs- but what makes it so awesome and amazing is that Christ died and rose again! He paid the ultimate price for us and for that He will always get the glory! I was so blessed to be able to attend a wonderful church service this morning and sing praises to our God and King and I am so blessed as well, to be able to honor Him by caring for one of His most amazing creations- The Horse. And my journey with Onyx keeps me in aww of that blessing. I got on his back fully today- first ba****ck- and then in the saddle. I’m not sharing the video bc the noises I made were embarrassing and I said some 4 letter words- after I came off of him and had the wind knocked out of me- but I rose again too and got back on him but was too much of a wuss to try for any more. I will say that he wouldn’t leave my side after it all happened and he must have felt ashamed bc he wouldn’t even eat another cookie- and he was NOT not eating bc of fear- I truly believe he was sorry I came off of him even though it was totally my fault- aside from the bucking- that I came off. My back is jacked up and I know tomorrow is going to be rough but we are one step closer!

08/04/2023

“Love- for the animal, the work, and yourself- has to be the guiding principle, and that demands a continuous awareness and respect for the horse’s dignity in whatever task you’re dealing with. If you can’t accomplish a goal at this particular time without violating that trust, then it’s time to stop what you’re doing. That’s not to say it can’t be done, but it does mean you have to change your plans to find the pieces you don’t have.”
From Riding Between the Worlds-Expanding Our Potential Through the Way of the Horse by Linda Kohanov

06/04/2023

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐝…

I’ve been passed from pillar to post, in hopes I’ll find the unfindable someone who will understand me.
I’ve been labelled dangerous, naughty, unstable, and a lost cause.
Little did they know what I’ve been through…

Wouldn’t you be dangerous, naughty, unstable and a lost cause if you’ve been forced to do ridden work at an extremely young age, stabled for hours with no turn out, beaten and neglected.

All I’ve ever wanted was something to see me as a living being, not an object. All I’ve ever needed was someone to take their time with me to understand the pain I’m dealing with.

I’ve never had the chance to show my true colours, I’ve always been pushed to show the traits of myself that I don’t like.

Allow me to express myself, allow me be understood and you’ll see a different side of me…

I’m a 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐝 horse and all I ask is for you to understand.

Written By - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫

Art Work By - Dorota Kudyba Art

31/03/2023

Have not posted in a few days bc I’ve not been wanting to spend too much time on fb, but after our little mishap the other day, Onyx became difficult to catch again so I was a bit discouraged because I felt like we were having to start all over. But sometimes in life, and with our horses, we do have to start all over and that’s ok, as long as we don’t make the same mistakes when we take the new steps. It took a little bit to get Onyx moving out- he had become a bit frozen in fear being saddled but he is learning that it isn’t going to eat him alive, and after a little bit of bucking today, he settled in to working under it quite well. There are a few things we need to get tack wise and training wise that I cannot afford to get right now so we are making do with what we have, and in spite of everything, I’m really proud of this guy and cannot thank God enough for the healing journey we’ve been taking together. I won’t be logging back on here until it’s time to do our three month check in unless I happen to be riding him before then, so I would like to wish everyone well and thank those of you who have been following Onyx and me on this journey.

25/03/2023

It’s a long video (and post) and I havent even watched the whole thing, but it shows Onyx getting hosed off for the first time. He and I have both been trying to process what happened the other day with the bucking, and long story short, I’ve come to some epiphanies about it after having talked to another trusted trainer the other night. I didn’t have an opportunity to work with Onyx yesterday. I opted to watch Road to the Horse and then spend some time with friends after which I needed both badly. And this evening when I went to catch him, he wasn’t having it at all. But once I finally did, we had a come to Jesus moment in the round pen- both of us- and I’ll explain more of that in detail as well once I put it all into words. But to make another long story short, things are happening in both of us that will make a whole lot more sense when I have time to get it all on paper and process it all. It looked really bad the other day and it was a bit traumatic for us both, but sometimes it takes bad things happening to wake us up to what’s really going on deep down. Needless to say, Onyx handled being hosed off pretty well and seemed to rather enjoy it.

23/03/2023

Yesterday he wanted to go to a barrel race but today he wants to be a saddle bronc- glad I wasn’t back there😳😂 First time he flipped over backwards. It’s not all rainbows and unicorns y’all!

22/03/2023

Onyx is ready for a barrel race😁

21/03/2023

Two months ago Onyx couldn’t even be trimmed under sedation, but today he allowed all four feet to be trimmed like a pro! I cannot thank Ambre Matte enough for being so kind, gentle and patient with him and am beyond amazed at how awesome she and Onyx both were during the whole process. Yesterday was the first day he really let me hold his back left for a while and pick it out and today he didn’t even hardly flinch, he didn’t kick out, didn’t try to jump away- this little horse just amazes me more every day and now he has nice feet which will help him to be even more comfortable all around😁😍🥰😇 I wish I had gotten a before photo- but take my word on the fact that this trim was long overdue!

21/03/2023

Won’t be long y’all! 😁



#