More than a Number

One of my favorite stories is how I got my mustang. In the spring of 2023, I was studying for my national board exams. My heart had been moved to get a mustang for a few months, so I decided to attend a live auction at the corrals in Wheatland, Wyoming.

I remember hooking up to the trailer that morning, my mom in tow with me. I knew my horse was going to be there that day and I felt confident I would know exactly which horse he was. I was set on a gelding that was aged 1-3. I knew I wanted something with a lot of bone and athleticism. Other than that, I trusted my gut. I could feel my nerves building as a pulled into the corrals and parked my trailer. I went to get a bidding number and then set off with my notebook to look through the pens. Pen by pen, horse by horse, I narrowed my choice down to three. My top two were tied and my third was a reserve. I anxiously awaited the auction to start. One of my top picks was bid on a few times, I stuck with it, but my gut told me to quit after two bids. So, someone else took that gelding home. Then came my other top pick, the auctioneer talked him up but everyone stayed quiet. Pass. They were on to the next horse. I quickly made my way over to the main booth and said. "I will take number 2348." You see, if a horse is not bid on, then anyone that is an approved adopter has the ability to go and pay the minimum amount for them. So, that is what I did.

Number 2348. A stunning black gelding with chromed out features, big bone, athleticism, and a seemingly curious personality. I went to get my trailer and get in line to load 2348 up. When I handed my paperwork into the wranglers, they teased me about choosing 2348. They knew my reserve choice was a pretty little blue roan and they were all sure he would have been the better pick. But something about this jet black gelding with white eyelashes tugged at my heart. So, I shrugged them off and anxiously waited as they brought 2348 up the alley way. There he came....in all his glory. His trot was even better than I thought. He floated down the alleyway. He stopped, looked at the trailer and then calmly loaded up and stood quietly. I heard one of the wranglers "huh, maybe he is pretty nice." I smiled, I knew I just loaded up an absolute dream.

The haul home was uneventful. 2348 hauled quietly and unloaded without too much of a fuss. I settled him into his new home and watched as he began to eat his hay and look around at this new world he just became a part of. On his neck was a rope collar with a tag hanging from it reading "2348". This gelding had been nothing more than a number but that was all about to change.

My approach to "gentling" 2348 was a soft and on his terms type of approach. Every evening I had to study for my boards.....so every evening I drug a chair out into his corrals and read to him and studied. During that time he became curious about me, he would sniff me or stand near me and rest. He even began to learn a few verbal cues and hand signals, such as back up. All this was done without me touching him. He had not invited me to touch him yet, so I was not pushing the subject. I passed my boards with flying colors and I am sure 2348 would have passed them too. He was a great study partner.

Then, one day it happened. He pushed his nose into my hand. I slid my hand up his forehead and felt him melt. I ran my hand down his neck over the white hairs that made up his unique mustang brand. He accepted every moment of it. From that point forward he adored physical touch. It was time to remove his neck tag and that number that had defined him. I decided to commemorate the event by having a photoshoot done while I cut the rope off of his neck. It was in that very moment that 2348 no longer was defined by a number on a neck tag. He was home. He was wanted. He was very much loved.

I named 2348 "Reverend".

He is no longer defined by his past, he is not confined to being just a number. He is an active, growing, wonderful soul. He is part of my family and he has been working in the therapy world for the past 2 years. Reverend is a sight to see and a unique soul to encounter!