Written by Jade Scott, journalism student at SMWC

Photos:

SMWC Student Brittany Gambill works with one of the male mustangs.

A colt is born in the SMWC stables.

For the fourth year in a row the Equine program at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods has once again taken in mustangs as a part of an adoption program.  As well, for the first time ever, a colt was born early last Thursday morning at SMWC's barn.

Partnering with the BLM (Bureau Land Management) the Equine program has taken in four mustangs in attempt to get them a suitable home.  With two males and two females, the students at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College are given the chance to take a Handling and Training class as a part of their Equine studies.

“We really like to expose the students to horses that haven't been domesticated.  Most of the mustangs that we get here have not even had human contact before the girls start working with them,” said Angie McMillin, stable manager at SMWC.

The students that are in the Handling and Training class are expected to train the mustangs by the end of the school year.  Since all four of the mustangs arrived on campus only two weeks ago, they only have about 10 weeks to accomplish their goals.  The training starts with the task of just being able to touch the mustang.  While that task may not seem complicated, there is always a certain level of danger when it comes to working with wild animals.

“There is a danger when entering this class and the students are aware of that before they even sign up.  Most of these animals have never had human contact before and they have a mind of their own, so of course there are going to be some bruises at the end of each day,” said McMillin.

The students are expected to train the mustangs most of the basic handling and training skills.  That would include being put into a halter (headgear that allows the horse to be led), leading, being able to pick up their feet for examination, and then going into and out of a trailer.

Once the mustangs are able to perform all of those basics and are properly trained, anyone who wishes to is able to adopt the mustang of their choice.  The minimum amount that is required for the adoption is $125.  There are cases where the mustangs are not performing to the required standards by the end of the year.  If this should occur, the mustang is sent back to a holding facility where it will get another chance in the future.  The mustangs have a total of three years to be trained and adopted. 

“We have actually had a three-striker before; that is what we call a mustang that is on its final year to be adopted.  In that kind of case we are literally that animal's last chance of survival because if it cannot be adopted, it will unfortunately be euthanized,” said senior Brittany Gambill.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods has had a 100% success rate of adoption for the past three years with the mustangs brought on campus.

For the first time at SMWC, a colt has been born.  The colt (male baby) was born between 2:30 and 3:00 on Thursday morning.  The mare (adult female) was brought by a member of the community near campus and was bred with the intent of keeping the mare on campus for the colt to be born.  This was the first time for breeding and foaling on campus because the barn does not have the facilities needed for the process.

“This was a great experience for the students because they were able to watch the process that the mare went through and they were also about to learn the changes that comes with foaling,” said McMillin.

A group of 8 girls were put on foal watch.  This meant that every night, after 9 p.m., they would go to the barn and one would check on the mare about every two hours, the entire night,  for changes or signs of foaling.  This went on for about a week. 

“It was really always a ‘no-touch' situation.  We were there to make sure the mare was healthy and that there were no complications.  But when the foaling process began we would have caused more problems than anything else if we tried to help,” said Kortney Saylor, one of the 8 students on foal watch.

Both the mare and the colt, named Beto, are happy and healthy.