[Eremite]

VampireMessageNinja
#4953

Name:
Age: 6
Breed: Mustang
Color: Dominant White
Gender: Gelding
Markings: None
Height: 14.2HHs
Vice/Fear/Special: Sadly this boy was born blind in is right eye and is skittish when someone is on that side.
Notes:

[VampireMessageNinja]

General Information
Consider this horse claimed :3
First of all, I'd like to thank the artists and organisators for this great opportunity to learn more about horses
Secondly, I'd like to tell you all the art (especially the photographs) in this post wasn't done by me and I linked the pictures to where I found them or to who made them
Also, I think of it as important to let you know I'm not a native English Speaker (I'm from Germany), so I cannot guarantee my texts/stories are without smaller or even bigger mistakes. Please consider this when judging ^^
I've also never been to a real Mustang Makeover, thus don't know how it's actually working (I watched some videos, but it doesn't tell a lot), so please don't foe me if anything's terribly wrong, just tell me so I can fix it ^^
Furthermore, I want to tell you I'm basically a Beginner when it comes to drawing, I'm neither talented nor experienced (and my art consequently looks quite messy).
Have fun reading and judging

Index
Artist's Information post
General Information + Index + My Horse Information
General Art Of My Mustang

Day 0 - The Arrival
Day 1 - The First Day At Home
Day 2 - TTouch Is The Key
Day 3 - Social Integration
Day 4 - Finding A Name
Day 5 - Here We Go Again
Day 6 - Trust Me
Day 7 - Nonsense
Day 8 (01.07)
Day 9 (02.07)
Day 10 (03.07)
Day 11 (04.07)
Day 12 (05.07)
Day 13 (06.07)
Day 14 (07.07)
Day 15 (08.07)
Day 16 (09.07)
wip, will add them when I have time left

My Horse Information


Name: Munin (old nordic -> 'muna' = to remember)
History/Reasoning behind the name: What can I say, there's this mythology about Odin and his two ravens, Hugin and Munin. Each day they flew out and told him everything about what happened in the world. They basically were his eyes. This horse is half-blind (literally), but I chose this name because I think, even if these two ravens had been blind, Odin would have found something useful for them to do which they enjoyed. That's what I wish for this horse and why I named it like I did.
Age: 6 years
Breed: Mustang
Number: 4953
Brand: US 0 724953 8 (written in Freeze Brand)
Color: Dominant White
Gender: Gelding -> can't breed
Personality: Currently finding out
Possible Future: Currently finding out
Markings: None
Height: 14.2 HHs (~ 1,47 m)
Vice/Fear/Special: Sadly this boy was born blind in his right eye and is skittish when someone is on that side.
Notes: I really like this guy

Genetic Code: e/e, a/a, W/w+ (Chestnut base!)


- Vampire

[VampireMessageNinja]

General Art Of My Mustang

Art by me
(most of this is re-using or editing some lines I once created ^^)


I re-used lines I posted on deviantart (as CrazyWolfFreak) once, and edited quite a lot. ^^


Owners of Narakari might recognize these lines done by me, I edited it to look like a normal horse ^^

wip

Art by others
(thanks for those who acknowledge the fact I cannot use Oekaki and do me a favor by colouring in Oekaki drawings in my stead, you guys are awesome ^^ (I know this art doesn't count because I didn't make it, but I wanted to put it anyway))


Thank you palindrome. ! I linked the picture to its thread ^^

wip

- Vampire

[VampireMessageNinja]

Day 0
The Arrival

Today I went to Utah to pick up my new mustang. When I arrived there, I didn't know what my horse looked like yet, I didn't even know whether it was a gelding or a mare. Oh, well, soon I would find out.
After looking around for a moment (taking in all the people who looked for their mustangs), I decided it would be better to ask someone official to show me where my fellow was.
In fact, right then a man rode past me on his big pinto. "Excuse me, sir", I started, "I'm looking for my mustang. It's number is 4953, and the full brand says US 0 724953 8." He smiled down at me. "Oh, the half-blind gelding. Sure, I know where that one is, I'll go fetch it for you, it's over there." He pointed towards a smaller herd of middle-aged horses. "Be careful to stay on his left side though, 'cause it's his right eye that's blind." I nodded. "Sure thing, thank you."
Half an hour later, the mustang wore a fitting halter and stood in my transporter. The gelding had been rather calm, actually, considering all the noise and the fact one of his eyes was blind.
A long travel awaited us, and I could only hope the horse could stand it.

A few hours later, we arrived at our ranch. I considered taking the gelding to a normal box, but then again, I wanted him to relax a bit after the long drive, and he should feel a bit like at home. So I chose a nice paddock and prepared it for my newest mate. The door that connected the 'box' with the outside-part of the paddock stood wide open as the horse should be able to taste some fresh air if it wanted to.
At first, the gelding hesitated, warily sniffing the air, but then it stepped out of the transporter and, under my guidance, into the box. I carefully closed the door behind us and slowly took off the lead rope, backing up a little to give the white horse more freedom. "Hi my boy, do you like it?", I asked melodically, slowly pointing towards the buckets filled with food and water. "Hungry or thirsty? Take whatever you like, I'll be off so you can calm down a little, okay?" Slowly walking out of the box, I sighed contendly.

[VampireMessageNinja]

Day 1
The First Day At Home

When I got up this morning, I was determined to try my best. I knew I would be lucky if I could actually touch the gelding today, seeing I had just picked him up yesterday and he was still very wary of everything. And everyone.
"Good morning, my boy", I said quietly, stepping into the box and closing it behind me. "How are you doing? Having a nice morning?" The gelding, which was standing in the outside-part of the box, turned his head, snorted and backed up a little when I gently brushed past him in the process of adding new food to one of the buckets. "Hey, hey, it's all cool. Calm down."
I slowly put down a small bit of apple onto the ground between us. "Wanna get it? You just have to move a few centimeters, shouldn't be too hard for such a strong and beautiful horse like you." The horse sniffed the air, then looked down onto the ground as well, taking in the delicious scent of the apple.
Then it stepped forward. One step. Two steps. Slowly and carefully, always ready to bolt, it grabbed the apple slice. "You like that, don't you?" I again pulled out a piece of apple (much slower this time, though), stretching out my arm and holding it out for him. "Come on, get it. Apples are delicious, aren't they?" The gelding looked at the treat, then at me, and back at the treat. Obviously, it was considering coming closer just to grab it. "You want it, huh? Then come over, I don't bite", I said soothingly.
The gelding stretched his neck, trying to get closer to the treat without needing to take another step.
It, of course, didn't work, so he saw no other option and stepped forward again.
Quickly, his muzzle grazed over the palm of my hand. Then he bolted a few meters back, watching me intensively. "See, wasn't so hard, was it?" Once again, I put a piece of apple onto the ground and let him fetch it.
When he devoured it, he actually didn't look as ready to bolt as he had earlier. Soon, he would also take treats out of my hand without thinking about it.

[VampireMessageNinja]

Day 2
TTouch Is The Key

"Hi my boy, how's it going?" I stepped into the box and faced the mustang. "Know what we are trying to do today?", I asked casually while filling up his buckets with new water and food. "TTouch, it was thought of by a vey wise woman."
Grabbing an apple slice, I held it out for the gelding to take. We had established what seemed like timid trusting, because it took the offered treat without hesitating for more than a second.
Slowly but steadily, I put up my hand while the mustang was eating and gently placed it on its muzzle. The horse backed up, snorting irritatedly. "Hey boy, it's all good, it's all good. No need to worry, I'm not a predator." I once again touched the gelding's muzzle. The mustang tensed. "It's all good, my boy." I slowly started to stroke all the way up its head, then switched to its neck, back and side. It was still tense.
Remaining on the side of his body with the good eye, I slowly used the Basic TTouch method. Thumb semi-deep into the skin. The gelding tensed up even more. The first three fingers next to it drawing a circle and a quarter one. The horse seemed to relax slightly, but maybe I was only imagining things. I switched to the next spot and did it again. And again. And again. I remained in places where the gelding could still see me, which meant I didn't use TTouch on the right side of its body, but at least the mustang trusted me enough to let me do this at all in the first place. We were making lots of progress, we could be proud of ourselves.

[VampireMessageNinja]

Day 3
Social Integration

Today I was up very early. I spent the first few hours reading about more methods to train the horse. 1 book, 3 books, 10 books... I read and read, and started to feel like a professional. Alright then, let's get it started.
When I first went to the stables to check on the mustang, I was faced with two horses curiously sniffing at each other over the fences. The gelding I still hadn't found a name for and Skydancer, one of my favorite stallions, were nibbing at each other's neck. First, I was too stunned to say anything, I just stared at the two of them. "What the... Sky?" The chestnut looked up from what he was doing, snorted and continued as if he hadn't heard anything. Prat, and I always thought he was on my side.
"Alright then, do whatever you like." I stepped past the mustang and filled up the food and water buckets. "But we need to do some training tomorrow, okay?" Rolling my eyes, I left. The two horses didn't even look up from what they were doing.
A social integration was more important than taming the horse right now, it needed some friends if I wanted to train it properly.

[VampireMessageNinja]

Day 4
Finding A Name

Yawning softly, I watched as Sky stepped towards the mustang. I had watched the interaction of the two of them all day yesterday, so I was determined to try and see if they really got along well.
Now the two of them met without borders separating them. Skydancer nibbled at the mustang's ear, the other horse snorted and pushed its head into Sky's chest. Then, they playfully chased each other.
"Sky!", I called after a while, and my chestnut looked up, trotting over to me. "How're you doing, buddy?"
I slowly used TTouch on my domestic horse, and it gradually became more and more relaxed. His head hung low and he shifted into a daydreaming-pose. The mustang watched us, but didn't do anything. "You feeling lonely, my boy? Come on, come over."
I grabbed some treats and held out some to each of the two horses. "Come on, come on, my boy!" Sky had already started devouring his treats.
The mustang stepped closer and took his, but stepped back a little after that. Well, couldn't get everything right away, could I? I stepped up to the mustang and hummed softly, using TTouch with him as well. He was still tense, but nothing compared to the first day.
"What could I call you? Barney? No, doesn't fit. Something mythology-themed? Odin? Oh, no... Hugin or Munin! Munin fits better. Do you like that name?"
I wasn't sure if the horse had understood what I was saying, but it snorted softly just at the right moment. "Okay, Munin it is. We'll make it, won't we, my boy?"

[VampireMessageNinja]

Day 5
Here We Go Again

Today I felt like crying. I had put all my hopes up and thought we were doing okay, were making lots of progress.
But Munin was very shy today and I simply wasn't able to touch him for much longer than a second. Not to mention he ignored me when I wasn't trying to touch him right now. I knew horses could have bad days as well, but still... It was frustrating, to say the least. "Munin, hey, look what I got for you!" I held out a treat, but the mustang ignored me and acted as if he hadn't seen me. "Oh come on, Munin, I know you love apples!" No reaction. The horse continued staring off into the distance. Shaking my head, I gave a sigh. Oh well, I couldn't force him, could I?
I was just about to turn around when I heard a soft, quiet whicker from one of the surrounding farms. Munin's ears shot up and he replied to the unknown horse. There basically was nothing I could do, horses liked to contact each other, and Munin would ignore me now anyway, other horses were way more exciting. I'd just have to wait, maybe tomorrow I could continue training Munin without any distractions.

[VampireMessageNinja]

Day 6
Trust Me

Finally, we were able to work on building up some trust between the two of us again. As always, I used basic relaxation and massage techniques, like TTouch, first, whilst handing Munin some treats. He had learned quite quickly that this kind of things weren't bad or dangerous, so I could proudly announce that, since today, I was also able to work on his blind side.
At first, he tensed there as well, and insisted on turning his head to be able to watch the proceedings, but in the end, he managed to relax while I was rubbing his fur and skin. "You like that, my boy, don't you?", I asked, as he propped up one of his hindlegs and his eyes closed halfway through the massage. "That's a good boy, relax." My hands went up to his ears and drew gentle circles on them. Munin gave another satisfied snort and pushed himself further against me. Obviously, he wanted me to continue, but eventually, I had to stop.
Before I left, I gave Munin a few more treats for being so calm. Tomorrow, we would work on him actually getting used to leadropes, I hadn't tried that again since he arrived at our ranch.