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Joyce North adopted Keno at Palomino Valley. Actually Keno was part
of a "package deal" which included Jackpot. They decided to leave
Keno undisturbed for a while to raise Jackpot. When they decided
it was time to start gentling Keno, the mare had figured out
pretty well how to take advantage of various situations and was
a handful.
They managed to get Keno into a trailer and down to the ranch
where we put her in "Mustang Manor." We worked with her using a
combination of John Sharp's bamboo pole method, clicker training
and basic natural horsemanship.
Keno wasn't mean but she was extremely guarded and we had
to earn every inch of territory that she'd let us connect with.
Within a couple of days we could walk up and touch or brush her without
taking up the leadrope, provided we stayed in her "safe zones." Her
emotional transition when we ventured a fraction of an inch out of those
OK places to her "forbidden zones" (e.g., legs, face, belly) was
instantaneous and dramatic. We had to be patient and work our way
into these areas inch by inch.
When Keno finally discovered that humans were not only OK, but really
nice to be around, she became a delightful horse to work with, lots of
friendliness, curiosity and "horsenality."
In fact Keno might have turned out to be a little too curious.
A couple of days after Joyce got her home, she went looking for
Keno and found her exploring her guest apartment bedroom.
Oooops!
A record of Keno's training, with photos, can be seen by
Clicking Here.
Vital Statistics
Foaled: 1995 / Mare
Herd: Little Owyhee HMA; Winnemucca, NV
Present Owner: Cliff & Janet Tipton
Present Location: Utah
Willis and Keno
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Getting ready to halter
Keno for the first time
First day- on a loose lead
Targeting the brush
Who's holding the line?
Retrieving Keno from the bedroom
Keno continued to be a rather challenging mare, so Willis and Sharon Lamm took
her in. We'll see how well she does.
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