Mustang Dreams

I'm not sure if I'm going crazy or finally coming back to myself (I've had horses my entire life except for the last 4-5 years), but I am going to adopt a mustang. At least, I hope I'm going to adopt a mustang. The BLM Online Auction ends tomorrow at 4pm Mountain Time. Then, if I have the high bid, I will have won a mustang. So far I am the only bidder on 4590, a little black filly with a big white star. She still has quite a bit of her baby fur, so while she is billed as a yearling (over 1 year old but not yet 2) she is actually a weanling (old enough to be weaned from her mom, but not yet a year old). From the looks of her, she is the youngest horse in the auction. Right now she looks like a dark bay, but her muzzle is dark, not brown, so once she sheds out into her adult coat she may in fact be black. I don't care what color she is, as long as once the auction closes I can say that she is mine.

Well, at least, say that she will be mine pretty soon. I will have to pay for her as soon as the auction ends, then submit the final paperwork to agree that I will take good care of her and follow the BLM's rules. Once that is done and the BLM OKs it, I can make an appointment to pick her up. And then she will be mine. I have already been out to look at a stable and talked to the owner (who is really nice, by the way, and doesn't get weird and nervous about having a mustang in his stable). Once I have an appointment set to pick up the filly, I will tell him when I'm going to start boarding her. (I have kept him in the loop on the adoption proceedings as things have progressed; I fear he may be getting tired of receiving messages from me).

I'm pretty sure I have a driver and truck arranged, and we will be renting a small stock trailer. For an un-gentled mustang you have to have a stock trailer, since it doesn't know how to ride in a horse trailer yet. Of course, for a weanling, it doesn't know how to ride in anything yet, really. I've been looking for somebody with a truck AND trailer to give my pony a lift (compensated for time and gas, of course), but the trailer that goes along with the one and only driver I found is having electrical issues, so can't go on this run. Thus we will be renting a trailer. At least Isaac was cool enough to volunteer to do the driving (and would have used his trailer too, but it isn't quite working right). The filly is in Hines, Oregon, and I am in Pocatello, Idaho. It is about 6 and a half hours one way. Right now the plan is to drive to Hines one day, stay the night in Burns, OR (which is really close to Hines), then pick up the filly in the morning and drive back to Pocatello so she can get settled in before night.

So, I've got a truck and driver, I've got a stable lined up, and I'm going to rent a trailer. Now all I need is the horse! Fingers crossed!! I will know at 4pm Mountain Time on Tuesday (aka 6/26, aka TOMORROW!!!)