Our Mustangs
Amis
Born: 2009, Frenchglen, Oregon [range-bred]
Color: Dun
Registered: AMBA, KMA, USDF
Mustang Leadership Partners adopted Amis at the Kiger Auction Adoption at the BLM facility in Burns, Oregon in 2011. Amis was a very nervous horse on arrival at MLP, but he was inquisitive and gentle, giving hope that he would be an asset to the program once he settled.
Since coming to MLP and working consistently with our trainers, Amis has turned into an incredible horse. Amis is currently showing at 3rd level in dressage competitions scoring in the 60s. We are excited that Amis will be able to be an ambassador to his breed at this level of competition in Dressage.
When he’s not working on his dressage skills, Amis is working with the after school program. Amis is used for both groundwork and riding. The girls love his gentle and sweet personality.
Amis is an all around a great horse and a great representation of the versatility of the mustang. One day he can be in the show ring and the next patiently responding as a young girl learns to lead a horse for the first time.
Argentina [Arg]
Born: 2011, Frenchglen, Oregon [range-bred]
Color: Gray
Registered: AMBA
Argentina was adopted by Mustang Leadership Partners in 2011 at the Kiger Auction Adoption at the BLM facility in Burns, Oregon. Argentina came to MLP as a very sick 4 month old filly. Argentina was orphaned during the BLM gathering at 8 weeks old and when Sue Anne saw the shaggy stray dog of a horse at 3 months old she couldn’t leave her. The staff here at MLP put a lot of sweat and tears into Arg’s rehab, but what a success it was. Argentina is happy, healthy and thriving!
Argentina was in dressage training and ready to show when we made an unfortunate discovery. Due to the lack of nutrition received both in utero and after losing her mom at such a young age, Arg developed arthritis in her neck. She was unable to hold her neck in the collected position needed for dressage work. So, like with all our horses, we worked until we found a job that Arg could do. Argentina spent some time competing in combined driving events. Now she is transitioning into working with the students and is quickly becoming a favorite.
Carter Farms Bella [Bella]
Born: May 2002, HMA Callagan, NV [range-bred]
Color: Bay
Bella was adopted in 2003 by Sue Anne Wells. Bella began her riding career and when it became clear that Bella was more suited to lower level riding, a friend of Sue Anne’s purchased her to pursue showing with her. Bella returned to Sue Anne and Mustang Leadership Partners to transition into the partial retirement life of the after school program.
Since returning to Mustang Leadership Partners in 2018, she has thrived with the students. Bella’s kind nature and years of experience make her a valuable asset to the program. She allows our more advanced students to ride independently, patiently stands for new students to learn how to put on a halter, and is always a favorite when it comes to our Halloween painting party.
Jolene [Jo]
Born: April 18, 2013, Paisley Desert, OR [range-bred]
Color: Chestnut
Registered: AMBA
Jolene is one of our newest additions to MLP. She was adopted in April of 2016 and made it to Tennessee on July 4, 2016. Since arriving, she has been a diva. Jolene thinks that she runs the show. She loves attention and will let you know if she isn’t getting enough of it.
Jolene was put under saddle in October of 2016. She is still very green and has much to learn. With her bright personality and her easy gaits, she is sure to be a gem in the show ring. While we still have a lot of work to do before she is ready for the limelight, Jolene is already making it clear that she wants to take center stage. She is sure to be a great example of what mustangs are capable of doing. We know that she will be a great ambassador for the mustang breed.
Just James [James]
Born: March 2010
Sire: Steens Vaquero
Dame: Palm Beach Breeze
Color: Grulla
Registered: AMBA, KMA, USDF, USEF
James is a Kiger mustang that was bred by Mustang Leadership Partners with the goal of preserving the distinct bloodlines carried by his sire.
James has a very outgoing personality; he can be a little bit of a pill at times, but he always keeps you laughing. James is an interesting horse to train, he likes to be busy, but he can get board with repetition. He started in a dressage career but wasn’t patient enough to get through the basics. He learned a lot of neat “tricks” like the Spanish walk and passage, but his heart wasn’t in the work.
James took a break from dressage and competed in combined driving events. He liked the work and won his first event.
James came back to work in dressage and his heart is now in the work. He won All Breeds Reserve Campion in First Level in 2019. We are looking forward to see how he continues to represent the mustang breed in dressage.
Lily [Lil]
Born: 2009 Frenchglen, OR [range-bred]
Color: Dun
Registered: AMBA
Mustang Leadership Partners, during the Kiger Auction Adoption at the BLM facility in Burns, Oregon in 2011, adopted Lily. She had not been in the holding facility for very long, but her sweet face and kind personality sealed the deal on her adoption. Little did we know that Lily was pregnant at the time! She was here for only 2 months before she had her beautiful surprise filly, Preta.
After being weaned from her foal, Lily started training with Michelle. If there ever was a horse NOT built for dressage, it is Lil, but with Michelle’s steady and consistent work, Lil has made great progress in her training.
While she may never thrive in the show ring, Lily has an amazing talent for something better; she is the best riding horse that we have in the after school program. She is patient, kind and can take a joke when the students struggle with a skill. She is the type of horse that can just let a young girl learn. Whether the students accidentally pull on her mouth, bounce on her back or give her a wayward kick, Lillie takes it all in stride and keeps doing her job. She is truly a one in a million teacher.
Satin Lady [Satin]
Born: June 9, 1999
Sire: Kiger’s Cherokee Diamond
Dam: Lahanton Lace
Color: Grulla
Registered: AMBA and Kiger Mesteno Association (KMA)
Mustang Leadership Partners purchased Satin from her breeder Billy Walls, of Georgia, in 2007. Satin was previously used as a brood mare and came to MLP with a foal at her side. While Satin was a wonderful mother, her role at MLP switched from being a brood mare to being a quiet and steady horse for the students in the after school program. Satin tends to be a little bit cautious around new people, but once she learns that she can trust you, she is a steady and loyal companion.
Satin also appears in the PBS 2009 docudrama “We Shall Remain
”“The horse that has influenced me the most is Satin. I have worked with her quite a bit. She is very patient and teaches me a lot even though she can’t speak” – Arielle
Strider
Born: June 2015 Nevada [range-bred]
Color: Chestnut
Registered: AMBA
Strider was adopted as a yearling from the BLM in April of 2016. He made his way to Tennessee in August of the same year. When Strider first arrived at Mustang Leadership Partners, he was very scared of people; we couldn’t touch him to take his BLM neck tag off for over 2 weeks. However, with a lot of time and patience, he has really started to come around.
Strider is learning all the basics of life: how to be lead, groomed, washed, how to stand for the farrier, how to wear saddle pads and a bit, and how to walk through puddles.
Strider is a curious and silly. He likes to put his nose on everything and really enjoys playing frisbee with plastic trashcan lids. We are really looking forward to what this flashy colored gelding will do in the future. He has every marking of being an amazing horse to represent the mustang breed.
Retired MLP Horses:
Palm Beach Breeze [Breeze]
Born: 2001 Harney County, OR [range-bred]
Color: Dun
Registered: AMBA and KMA
Mustang Leadership Partners purchased Breeze in 2006 from Billy Walls of Georgia. Breeze got her name because she was first adopted at a BLM Auction in Palm Beach, Florida.
Since arriving at MLP, Breeze has been very busy. Not only has she seamlessly integrated into our after school program, but she has also shown in the spotlight:
She performed in the 2008 Christmas parade in Dayton, Tennessee. In 2009, she appeared in the PBS docudrama “We Shall Remain”. She also performed in a ground work demonstration, handled by Yhara at the 2013 Mustang Million event in Texas.
In 2010, Breeze produced a beautiful colt by Kiger stallion Fournier’s Steen’s Vaquero, Just James.
Breeze is one of the favorite mustangs we have on the farm. She is wonderful with the students, and they love that she can teach them so much. She is safe and kind enough to work with the beginners, yet talented enough that the older students can refine their skills and learn more complicated movements.
“Breeze was the first horse that I worked with, and even though we don’t get along all the time, she’s a very good and awesome horse. She makes me feel better about myself. She acts just like me!” – CeCe
Former MLP Horses:
Abe
Born: 2013, Jacline's Butte, OR [range-bred]
Color: Dark Bay
Registered: AMBA
Mustang Leadership Partners adopted Abe in April of 2016. He arrived to the farm in Tennessee on July 4, 2016 and has been wonderful since he stepped off the trailer.
Students in the after school MLP program named Abe from Abraham Lincoln as this US President is a symbol of freedom for all peoples and nations.
Abe is quiet, personable and likes to cuddle. He is a sweet boy and has grown tremendously. Abe is an amazing example of the athletic abilities that mustangs possess. He was quite the bucker when first put under saddle, but has decided to use his athletic abilities for us, not against us!
Given his athleticism, Abe has joined the rodeo as a bronc.
Caliente [Cali]
Born: 2005 California [range-bred]
Color: Flea Bitten Gray
Registered: AMBA
Mustang Leadership Partners adopted Cali from the BLM in 2006. Cali was almost deemed unadoptable before MLP found her due to a large scare on her left hind leg. Though it didn’t seem to trouble her, the outward appearance of an old injury was all it took for people to walk away from this adorable pony. MLP gave Cali a chance and while she isn’t always easy, she has a lot to teach. Once she was brought to the farm it didn’t take too long to discover that Cali was deaf.
While some might see this as a limiting factor, at MLP we see it is a great tool to educating our students about difference and finding new ways to communicate. Cali also teaches our students a great deal about patience and paying attention. She is not the easiest horse in the barn and will try to sneak a nip if you aren’t looking, but we use these things as a method of showing students how to be persistent, strong and thoughtful leaders.
Although Cali is sometimes tricky to work with, she really does put her all into working with young students. She participated in a groundwork demonstration with Yhara at the Southern Equine Expo in 2013.
“The mustang that inspired me at the farm is Cali because she can’t hear or see well, but she is still able to do the same things that the other mustangs can do. She may not do it perfectly, but she always tries. This inspired me because English is my second language and I always try to participate in things even though I still don’t know English very well.” – Frida
Kachina Doll [Kachina]
Born: 2005
Sire: Cherokee Rainbow
Dam: Satin Lady
Color: Grulla
Registered: AMBA and KMA
Kachina was purchased with her dam in 2006 from Billy Walls of Georgia. Kachina Dolls are wooden carvings used by the Hopi people of Northeastern Arizona to depict deities and spirit gods. They are very detailed hand carved sculptures that are generally brightly painted and are used to tell the story of the deity that they represent.
Unfortunately, Kachina suffered a freak pasture accident as 2 year old, which severely limits her as a riding horse. Kachina was bred to Just James in 2013 and foaled a colt the following spring. This breeding passed on the Kiger line to another generation.
While Kachina served the MLP program very well during her tenure, she has since been sold and is now living in Kentucky.
Pret A Sauter [Preta]
Born: February 29, 2012 [range-bred]
Sire: Unknown
Dam: Lily
Color: Dun
Preta came to us as the somewhat common BLM two-for-one special. Lily was adopted and brought form Oregon to Tennessee before anyone realized that she was pregnant. Thankfully, Lil foaled out without complication, and Preta was the wonderful result of that surprise.
Preta’s name means “ready to leap” an apt name for her as she was born on Leap Day, February 29, 2012. Preta trained with Michelle to prepare for her centerline debut. This spunky mare was full of personality and opinions. She was great fun to work with as she had enough attitude to keep you on your toes.
Following a great stint on the farm, Preta has joined the equestrian program at Hiwassee College
Touch of Gold [TOG]
Born: 2014 Oregon [range-bred]
Color: Black
Touch of Gold was captured in the Three Fingers herd management area of Oregon in early 2017. TOG was the first horse that MLP has ever adopted through the internet adoption program that the BLM offers. This process provides you with a 16 second video clip and 4-10 pictures of the horse that is available. TOG was sent from the BLM holding facility to our friends Kevin and Lisa Sunk who took the first steps in gentling him. He arrived at MLP halter broke and ready to start his new journey with us. TOG has been at MLP since April 30, 2018 and is already making a big impression with his trainability and calm disposition.
West Walker [West]
Born: 2016, Antelope Valley, NV [range-bred]
Color: Buckskin
Capture Date: May 9, 2017
West arrived at Mustang Leadership Partners on September 26, 2017. He was fascinated with people right way and started the gentling process with ease. Within the first few days of arrival he was enjoying human touch and had his identification tag removed. West has been a wonderful young addition to our program; he is calm, inquisitive, and enjoying learning new skills. When he is not working with our staff he is running through the fields playing with his best friend Strider.
Sadly, West was small statured and therefore did not fit into the MLP program. He is loving his new home being the best friend to a little boy.
Little Thunder [Dart] - Deceased
Born: April 6, 2006
Sire: Unknown
Dam: Mattie
Color: Dark Bay
Registered: AMBA, USDF, USEF
Dart was a surprise for MLP, a freebie, his mom and half brother were adopted in 2005 from the BLM, and the next spring Dart made his entrance.
Plein De Coups - Deceased
Born: July 2007 Harney County, OR [range-bred]
Color: Dun
Registered: KMA, AMBA
Plein De Coups was adopted by MLP in 2008 when he was a weanling at a BLM holding facility.
Narcil [Narci] – Deceased
Born: April 2002 Owyhee, NV [range-bred]
Color: Gray
Registered: AMBA, USDF, USEF
Mustang Leadership Partners adopted Narci in 2003 from the BLM. While she wasn’t the farm owner’s first pick, her son saw something that no one else did in the skinny, funny looking, dark horse. Narci was named by the young boy who picked her from the range; he wanted to name her something that was strong and powerful since the little horse was anything but. He decided on Narsil the name of a sword form The Lord of the Rings. Narsil is a Quenya word ‘it was a symbolic name, pointing to the Sun and the Moon, the “chief heavenly lights, as enemies of darkness”’.
With time, Narci developed into a horse well deserving the name bestowed upon her by a young boy. In her life, she has achieved many great accomplishments:
She successfully participated in several 30-mile endurance rides. She was in the 2008 Christmas parade in Dayton, Tennessee. In 2009, she was in the PBS docudrama “We Shall Remain”, and in 2010 was featured in the Emmy winning docudrama “Untamed Legacy: America’s Wild Mustang”. Narci helped her owner, Sue Anne Wells, earn her USDF Bronze Medal Rider Award. In 2012, Narci participated in a riding demonstration in the Mustang Million event in Texas. Narci received an “All-Breeds Award” in dressage at second level, a triumph for mustangs whose versatility and ability to compete are just now being recognized in the sport of dressage.
Reaching the end of her show career, Narci worked wonderfully with the students in the afterschool program at MLP.
Chief of Minnekahda [Chief] – Deceased
Born: April 1998, Palomino Valley, NV [range-bred]
Color: Dark bay
Dam: Lahanton Lace
Adopted by Mustang Leadership Partners in April 1999
Registered: American Mustang and Burro Association (AMBA), United States Dressage Federation (USDF), and United States Equestrian Federation (USEF)
Chief was the first Mustang to be adopted by Mustang Leadership Partners from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Chief is a great example of the diverse trainability that mustangs have. He has successfully competed in Dressage, Hunter/Jumpers, and Endurance Riding.
Currently Chief is a vital member of the after school program. He is a favorite of the girls. He participates in everything from riding lessons to having bows tied into his mane for grooming contests. He is gentle, careful and calm when the girls are handling him. He has helped teach girls to ride, give IM and IV injections, pull nails out of shoes, and to be more confident in themselves.