Kid-Cat's dam is a grade ranch horse, who is frequently left on the family place near the old spanish settlement of Truchas, New Mexico, bordering the Santa Fe National Forest. There is a band of wild horses, true Spanish Mustangs, that live in the forest and sometimes come into the settlement. These Mustangs are direct descendants of the original Iberian horses brought in by the conquistadors (spanish explorers and settlers) during the 1500's. The sire runs with this band, and was able to jump the fence and breed Kid-Cat's mom.

Kid-Cat was an "unplanned pregnancy", and as such was left whole and was only halter broke (to tie). As he became rowdy, his original owner had him gelded just prior to advertising the 16 month old colt for sale. It was love-at-first-site for his new (and permanent!!) owner, John Sarember. Within the first week, Kid-Cat was having his feet picked up, getting groomed, and learning what treats from the hand were. At first, he would only eat hay, and would not take anything from the hand. He now enjoys almost everything, from fresh fruit to Halloween candies!!

His name is derived from two sources; "Kid" comes from Billy-the-Kid, as he is an outlaw renegade horse, the son of an outlaw renegade horse of the old west!! "Cat" comes from his cat-like tendencies toward John…… this gorgeous horse almost purrs when he gets to love it up and play with his owner, just like a 1,000 pound kitten. He even comes when called by, "Here, kitty, kitty, kitty".

All schooling began almost immediately when Kid-Cat arrived at his new home, with his first steps under saddle at the age of 20 months. He has been taught using only classical methods, and ever so gently. His spirit has been retained, yet he is never mean or resistive. His favorite activity is rearing, as he has tremendous power and grace. He already knows more than a dozen voice commands/requests, is now in transition to physical cues, is great in the arena, and although tremendously sure-footed on trails, still a bit spooky about new things. His tendency is to fight whatever scares him, rather than run away. He loves to jump, and has been started over jumps under saddle.

Kid-Cat is nearly 15 hands, and will probably mature close to that. He has the characteristic large striped hooves, long graceful (but stout) neck, large centered eyes (one wild one), heavy feathering, short back, and mixed coloring (especially in the main & tail and around the edges of his ears), and endurance of a Mustang. Also true-to-breed, he very "tough in the gut" and has extremely hard hooves and large, stout, short leg bones.

Mustangs can thrive on forage that many regular blood breeds would starve or colic from. Of course, Kid-Cat gets only the best feed from his loving home!! His regular daily diet consists of five measured feedings of pellets, a warm breakfast bran mash, a little cracked corn in the winter, and a warm breakfast combo of soy meal and corn/oats/barley when he's working hard and growing. Oh, he also gets a bedtime snack of wonderful grass hay!!! And let's not forget his grazing time on wild grasses when he's turned out every day (usually twice).

A fat pig, you'd think. Not hardly. He's as fit as can be, and still growing and developing. His workouts consist of "classroom" training in the arena, and field workouts uphill, downhill, the three basic gaits (upward and downward transitions), and climbing. He is allowed to jump the occasional ditch or rut. By the way, all riding is done with only a halter and reins…….. the only bit he has ever known is a snaffle, and that was only briefly. He is ridden either bareback or in an exercise saddle, depending on the terrain and the "lessons" or adventure for the day. He turns by only a "whisper" on the reins!!! The only person training him is his owner, John.

The goal for Kid-Cat is to become a fine field-hunter, in the English tradition. Some basic dressage is also incorporated into his schooling. In turn, that will make him an exceptional and talented trail horse. He will be introduced to working cattle (herding, cutting, and penning). He already enjoys other ranch work, such as riding and fixing fences, watching tractors work, and such things. The biggest problem is keeping him from playing with me, or stealing my tools when I'm trying to fix something. Kid-Cat has been taught to stand still for gunfire, and great care is taken not to shoot too close to him so his hearing doesn't suffer.

Although he lives in the real west with his family and all the western color and culture, Kid-Cat will be an eclectic horse. Gee, maybe I'll teach him to neck-rein someday!

"Just thought I would drop you a line and let you know how things are shaping up. My leg has been out of a cast for three weeks, and seems to be getting less painful each day. I got back on Kid-Cat last week, bareback, and he was really happy to "have me back". We rode around the house a bit, then into our big field, where I dismounted (carefully) and let him loose.

"My wife and I put our heads together and made up a really nice light bosal-type hack for him. I started with his original bridle, a red nylon racing type that I used to have his straight-bar snaffle on. We designed a noseband with two "D" rings where to attach the reins.

"Will be up and about fairly soon, and will take some good trail photos of him and Stanley together."