Some folks have all the luck!  This is a story of two wild horses that are successfully showing what the American “Living Legend” can do.  This is the story of “Haiku” and “Eeyour” who have seized the moment. 

In 2001, “Haiku” (a Japanese verse form that relies on brevity and simplicity to convey its message) was adopted by the Hellner family from Avon, CT and quickly became a member of the family.  She came into a family that had an absolute love of horses but had never had the opportunity to have a horse until they were in their late thirties.

“We, my husband, son, and myself, quickly realized that in addition to becoming good riders we wanted to become good horse people, we wanted a real hands on approach,” said Ms. Ricki Hellner.  Thus, when they went to an adoption in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Ms. Hellner said “we encountered a new world.”   There they saw a demonstration that illustrated the absolute trust that could be developed between a horse and man that cemented their feelings. Later that summer they made their way to Cornell University, where they met #3300.  She was a 17-month-old filly from the untamed Granite Range of Nevada.  “She looked like a Japanese watercolor.  Bold, simple yet elegant lines, wild mane, large wondering eyes,” said Ricki.  “She stood in the back of her small group; lifting her head above another’s back, just slightly, to peer out at all those people beyond the bars.  Never quite letting on that she was, indeed interested,” Hellner said.

The Hellner family have now gentled and trained Haiku, and their 11-year-old son, Austin, has begun showing her in the Hunter/Jumper world.  They find it amazing that an 11-year-old boy and a 5-year-old mustang can do what they are doing together.

“The mutual confidence together is a beautiful thing to watch,” said Ms. Hellner.  “Perpetually, here in New England, Haiku is surrounded by “well pedigreed” horses yet her intelligence, generosity and spirit rise far above the other horses.  Our lives have been enriched beyond measure.  “Haiku has allowed us to become her “herd” and in doing so has given us a feeling like no other,” Hellner said.

The Hellner family is looking forward to the upcoming show season for Austin and Haiku.  “Who knows, maybe even the pony finals in Kentucky this year,” said Ms. Hellner.

Our second “American Legend” lives a different sort of life.  “Eeyour", a Riverton, Wyoming mustang is currently used for children’s programs at the New River Trail State Park in Foster Falls, Virginia, and is being trained as a trail lead horse.  Eeyour is a 5 year old gelding that arrived at the trail in February 2005.  He got his name from the park staff and their children because he has long ears and had a big orange nose.  He looked like Eeyour from the children’s story.  He is very gentle and allows anyone to handle him.  

The New River Trail State Park designated as an official National Recreation Trail by the U. S. Department of the Interior parallels 39 miles of the New River, the second oldest river in the world and one of the few flowing north.  New River Trail is just minutes from Claytor Lake State Park and Grayson Highlands State Park.  This unique park features 57 miles of continuous multiple-use trail.

Eeyour, along with Brady, Gabe, and Hershy, come to the Virginia State Park system from the Riverton, Wyoming, Honor Farm, part of the Wyoming prison system, where inmates, as part of their rehabilitation, gentle the horses prior to them being adopted.  “These horses help us provide a resource to the youth of the area that many might not ever have had the opportunity of experiencing,” said Park Manager Mark Hufeisen.  “This partnership with the Bureau of Land Management-Eastern States and the Virginia State Park System is the best of both worlds.  An opportunity to find good homes for the “American Legends” and a resource for the State of Virginia, at a reasonable cost, which allows the youth of the area to have a unique equine experience utilizing the State Parks,” Hufeisen said.

“Eeyour has proven to be a hit with the kids.  He is very gentle and allows anyone to handle him. Eeyour is an exceptional horse and has taken well to working with children as well as working as a trail horse.  He has the patience of a saint.  The kids make mistakes, pull on the reins, do all the things that you shouldn’t do, and he just puts up with it without raising a fuss.  He is quite a remarkable horse,” said Mark.

“He and Brady, a 2-year-old gelding mustang, are part of our America’s Wild Horse program, which is a public program to introduce people to the mustangs and horsemanship in general.  This year we had a one-day camp, and next year we plan to have a week-long camp for children as part of our junior ranger program,” Mr. Hufeisen said.  

“As manager, I have found the mustang to be very well suited for trail work and our goal is to have at least 6-8 mustangs trained for trail riding by the public.  Gabe and Hershy are now in the process of being gentled and will also train as trail guide horses.  All the trail mustangs are gentled and have had ground training to include saddle and bit.  We use them for day programs and they are available for the public to see daily,” said Mr. Hufeisen.

If you would like to join the Hellners, and Park Manager Hufeisen as partners with American’s “Living Legends” and enjoy the opportunity and challenge to gentle and train a wild horse just call 866-4MUSTANGS or visit www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov to learn when and where an adoption is coming to a location close to you.  You will never have a more loyal and trustworthy friend than your gentled mustang, the “American Legend.”