This was our first "mustang" rescue.  When BLM called and asked if we could take him, we immediately said yes.

Hank had been abandoned by his owner.  A truck had shown up the night before and took 5 of his companions (hmm -- wonder where they went!).  The owner took Hank to a neighbor's round pen, locked him in and left his paperwork.  It was the neighbor that notified BLM.

It took us about an hour to get him close enough to the trailer to load him -- Yes, we were very green in working with these guys.  But, once in the trailer he settled quickly.  When we arrived home Hank was given his own stall & paddock area to settle.

We gave him a couple days to relax before moving him to a field of his own.  Due to some big trust issues, Hank would let us get too close. 

However, one day while I was working in my yard with my granddaughter I noticed that she had gone over to Hank's area and was talking to him - he was responding.  Within a few minutes she was feeding him apples and petting his nose.  It was because of this "innocence of a child" that we were able to break that trust issue and begin working with Hank to bring him back to a positive frame of mind.

After a thorough vet check, Hank was ready to have his hooves trimmed.  Both the vet, Mary Masterson, and our farrier, Greg Kier, were very understanding and worked to help Hank feel comfortable.

Within a few months Hank had made a tremendous change in his attitude and appearance.

Before long a wonderful family adopted him.  Today Hank lives with April & Ed, who have also adopted Honey.