We accompanied Sebastian Nolewajka and his Mustang mare Equiteam's Shy Miller aka Day 3348 for one day during their daily training. The Horseman is one of 15 coaches who face the challenge in Mustang Makeover Germany to win the trust of a true Mustang within 90 days.

Carefully, Sebastian approaches the small, brown Mustang mare. A real brown is not really. Her coat shimmers slightly anthracite colors. She is standing with a Haflinger mare and has her head deep in the hay rack. Sebastian takes the knot holder off the hook and opens the gate to the paddock. Of course, the mare has noticed us long ago, but does not even think about coming to us, nor to let the hay out of her sight. Only when Sebastian has approached two meters, she suddenly sets in motion - not hurry, but still determined. 

Sebastian remains calm himself and keeps taking a few steps towards the mare and stops again. Curious, she watches him and finally lets him approach him. He gently puts her halter over her. Although she has been with him for almost 60 days, it still does not make a routine impression. Sebastian gets moving again and the mare follows him without hesitation.

With passion

Sebastian Nolewajka is a Horseman and successfully runs the Heide Horse Trail - an extreme trail park for horses with seesaws, bridges and various hurdles made of natural materials. He is one of the 15 coaches in the Mustang Make Over Germany and has picked up his mare on 30 April 2017 from the airport in Frankfurt am Main. She came directly from the US from a Mustang reception center and was already prepared for transport and trained. Sebastian became aware of the "competition" through one of his riding students - he had been in the USA several times and had the opportunity to look over his shoulders and to meet Mustangs as well as his horsemanship role models. 

So it was inevitable that he has applied as a coach. However, he has moved after the departure of another coach, but still or maybe even more passionate. 90 days are not a long time and require a lot of trust, time and patience from the trainer and the animal. "Of course I would like to ride on the CHIO grounds in Aachen on the 5th and 6th of August, but unfortunately, that's not what her body does. Of course, Mustangs are late developers and of course have lost much of their muscle due to the long time spent in the recovery stations, but I think we can still get through the substance of the competition well. 

What could be better than winning the trust of a wild horse? And that's intriguing enough. " 90 days are not a long time and require a lot of trust, time and patience from the trainer and the animal. "Of course I would like to ride on the CHIO grounds in Aachen on the 5th and 6th of August, but unfortunately that's not what her body does. 

Of course, Mustangs are late developers and of course have lost much of their muscle due to the long time spent in the recovery stations, but I think we can still get through the substance of the competition well. What could be better than winning the trust of a wild horse? And that's intriguing enough. " 90 days are not a long time and require a lot of trust, time and patience from the trainer and the animal. "Of course I would like to ride on the CHIO grounds in Aachen on the 5th and 6th of August, but unfortunately that's not what her body does. 

Of course, Mustangs are late developers and of course have lost much of their muscle due to the long time spent in the recovery stations, but I think we can still get through the substance of the competition well. What could be better than winning the trust of a wild horse? And that's intriguing enough. " Of course, Mustangs are late developers and of course have lost much of their muscle due to the long time spent in the recovery stations, but I think we can still get through the substance of the competition well. What could be better than winning the trust of a wild horse? And that's intriguing enough. " Of course, Mustangs are late developers and of course have lost much of their muscle due to the long time spent in the recovery stations, but I think we can still get through the substance of the competition well. What could be better than winning the trust of a wild horse? And that's intriguing enough. "

Patience is the A & O

Twice, three times a day Sebastian works with the mare Day 3348 aka Equiteam's Shy Miller - the number serves as an identification feature and is typical of the Mustangs who carry their brand along the mane ridge. Due to the repeated training Sebastian gets more time and can almost simulate almost a year. It was also important not to overstrain the animals. Many riders and coaches are too impatient - if a horse has made his lesson even rudimentary correctly, even if it were only two centimeters in the right direction, the training should theoretically be terminated. "Training with Mustangs is a very special challenge. 

For example, I could not lure her with food at all because she just did not know it, she was very distant at the beginning and just moved into a corner. We also had some teething problems: in Frankfurt, we only got a five-minute instruction and then we were on our own. After we arrived, I took off her halter, a stupid mistake that cost me almost a week of training, but now she trusts me more and more, "explains Sebastian. The fact that there is a deep trust between the two becomes clear at the latest when training in the hall: Sebastian prepares the little mare for the 'Show' in the CHIO Arena and is therefore already training with a smoke machine. Day 3348 is always vigilant and at least always has an ear and eye on us - after all, we are new to their surroundings and they can not really judge us. After careful approach but we can finally caress our first real Mustang.

Be a friend to the horse

Gradually, the machine blows more and more steam into the riding arena, in addition Sebastian gets a large plastic tarpaulin and confronts the mare with it. "It's easier to train with horses that follow their flight instincts. This is similar to the Join Up - at some point, the horse deals with the situation and accepts you as a manager, "says Sebastian. He prefers to call himself a manager, a leader or a herd leader - the word implies a certain compulsion, while the manager remains more neutral. "The horse ultimately needs no one to lead, but someone to trust," explains the horseman. 

Sebastian picks up the tarpaulin from the ground, the mare loosely on the rope, and brings it loud to crackling and closer to the mare. Day 3348 does not run away as we would have thought, but remains relatively quiet. Not because she is not afraid of it, but because a Mustang has just grown up in the wild and is therefore confronted with permanent survival stress. Constant running away would only consume the necessary fat reserves and that could mean death. "This is also the difficulty of the training," emphasizes Sebastian, "if she does not run away, she does not deal with the situation, but it builds up a lot of pressure and then it explodes at some point." Fortunately, we do not experience this 'explosion' in the training session. but because a Mustang has just grown up in the wild and is therefore confronted with permanent survival stress. 

Constant running away would only consume the necessary fat reserves and that could mean death. "This is also the difficulty of the training," emphasizes Sebastian, "if she does not run away, she does not deal with the situation, but it builds up a lot of pressure and then it explodes at some point." Fortunately, we do not experience this 'explosion' in the training session. but because a Mustang has just grown up in the wild and is therefore confronted with permanent survival stress. 

Constant running away would only consume the necessary fat reserves and that could mean death. "This is also the difficulty of the training," emphasizes Sebastian, "if she does not run away, she does not deal with the situation, but it builds up a lot of pressure and then it explodes at some point." Fortunately, we do not experience this 'explosion' in the training session. but it builds up a lot of pressure and then it explodes at some point. Fortunately, we do not experience this 'explosion' in the training session. but it builds up a lot of pressure and then it explodes at some point. Fortunately, we do not experience this 'explosion' in the training session.

Love is (not always) through the stomach

The little Mustang mare makes a very balanced impression. She looks at everything carefully and does not even let her irritate her by the fog machine, as she emits a full load of water vapor again - she is only fixated on Sebastian and thinks hard. At the end of the training, Sebastian also demonstrates sitting down on an oversized beanbag. Every millimeter the mare takes backwards towards the beanbag is immediately rewarded by Sebastian. 

He does not work with treats. "The mare would not accept anything in these situations anyway, and it's worth much more if the animals want to cooperate with us and not just because of the food. Mustangs are honest horses from the ground up - either they love you or they hate you. But once they have closed you in their hearts, you have found a friend for life, "says Sebastian and looks at his day 3348 almost a bit in love. Whether Sebastian might even take part in the auction, he has not betrayed us.

Mustangs - the wild horses of North America

The Mustang is one of the last wild horses in North America. There is no particular breed type, nor can the Mustangs be described as 'real' wild horses, as they are simply the offspring of various European breeds. Convicted to America during the colonial era, some of the horses have been run away and feral - a population has developed that has not only fascinated the Indians and cowboys. The myth of the wild horse continues to this day and inspires many people around the world. Overpopulation and low living habitats have severely worsened the Mustangs situation. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for the Mustang population and has set up reception centers to sustain the number of wild Mustangs.

Mustang Makeover Germany 2017

For almost ten years, the Mustang Heritage Foundation has been running the EXTREME MUSTANG MAKEOVER in the US to make the wild horse more popular and increase the number of adoptions. This year, the Mustang Makeover takes place for the first time in Germany to promote the fascination of wild horses. 15 coaches have 90 days to train their assigned Mustang and finally present them on the CHIO grounds in Aachen - the animals will then be auctioned off.

Willow time, warm time, wonderful time - if you pay attention to a few important things. Thus, the grazing is not always easy, but also the insect and sun protection in the summer is a small challenge for the horse owner. The most important topics around the grazing in spring and summer will be treated here.

The first Green Grass of The Year

Problematic in April / May are the many carbohydrates, the fresh grass in itself - quite different than it was the case with hay! The danger lurks in fructan, a long-chain carbohydrate. In particular, fructan is found in grasses, where it ensures that the plant is not undersupplied even in prolonged drought. High levels of fructan, for example, have fescue or ryegrass. The latter came into the criticism: Meanwhile, however, it is clear that it is irreplaceable on horse pastures, as it is very valuable as fodder grass. 

A low fructan content is provided by meadow grass, meadow foxtail and couch grass. The fructan content in grasses after night frosts is particularly high, as they may very well occur in late spring. Horses lack fructosidases, by means of which fructans in the small intestine can be split. If the horse gets too much fructan into the colon too quickly, it often acidifies in no time. This kills intestinal bacteria, which play an enormously important role in horses as well as humans. Instead, toxins - which lead in the worst case to a colic. Also, the disease on Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is possible, as well as increases the risk of laminitis.

Gentle Grazing as a Solution

Above all, it is important that the animals never go hungry to pasture. So the best way to feed your hay is to continue feeding normally (concentrates only after grazing, otherwise there is a risk of colic again!).

Incidentally, the horses are best placed on the pasture several times a day - for example, early in the morning and in the evening - then the grass has already been sufficiently digested by the morning. One should always respond to the individual horse when grazing: A horse that takes a lot of feeding breaks and does not show so much interest in the grass, can sometimes even faster longer time on the pasture. In very easy horses should be thought about a loose-fitting muzzle.

Although the time from June is not quite as critical as when grazing in the spring. Pastures are often either parched or over-greasy at this time of the year. Especially ponies are very susceptible to diseases when they eat greasy grass. An episode that often occurs after a short time is colic. Longer may be it until Hufrehe arise. Both diseases can in the worst case lead to the death of the horse.

Therefore, a pasture should already be influenced before the season by appropriate grass cultivation and fertilization so that it is not too greasy.

If this is not possible, it can also be divided into smaller sections so that the amount of feed is limited accordingly. However, one should make sure that the horse can still move sufficiently.

This blog is for horse owners, and those who want to become one. There are 1000 good reasons to buy a horse, but you should never forget that: First, it is different and, secondly, you think. 

Have you ever accompanied a foal during its first months of life? Make the first jumps, see how it discovers the world and how to make new jokes every day? If so, you know exactly how I felt when my riding mare gave birth to her foal: whether I wanted to or not, my heart opened with such power and so much that this little delicate thing touched his staccato legs just climbed in and would never come out again.

All of a sudden, it was not just the two to three hours I spent stabling looking after my chestnut mare, but quickly four to five. Even though my social life began to suffer (at least outside the stable), my horizons were widening every day, because such a little horse child is capable of surprising you over and over again, triggering both panic and anger attacks, and above all to conjure up a smile on your face over and over again.

At first, the little Stutchen was very shy and fled in spite of all curiosity in panic before any overtures, it was quickly brave and cheeky and turned out to be a small jacket, boots, and saddle-chewing monster, not to mention the very strong talent to steal things such as riding caps or brushes. 

Particularly nerve-wracking for all sides, however, were the moments in which mother and foal lost sight of each other, which happened especially when one was on the way to the pasture and always led to the little chestnut mare whistling across the yard galloped, while the great chestnut mare's hand was almost impossible to hold on and tried hard to break free and collect her lost child.

The longer I watched the little mare, the more enthusiastic I was about her. She grew to a small likeness of her mother, only a shade darker. And if I've always dreamed of a chestnut mare, then not just a normal, golden-brown fox, but most of all one of those wonderful dark foxes with that rich reddish brown tan and fair hair to which the little one changed when she lost her foal skin ,

When, finally, my rather amateurish idea of ​​the perfect horse was underlined by the judges at the foal show, for which we had spruced up mother and daughter, the soft question grew: What, if I do not grow up a mature horse, but a mine Would buy foals? One that had conquered my heart in the storm and that I had accompanied from the first day of his life, and that neighed like his mother when I came? Would not that be the fulfillment of each rider's dream?

Well, maybe you already suspect what should come out with this consideration

There are so many different horses and especially so many different riders. Actually, we all have the same hobby, but if you look at us rider more closely, somehow not. The jokes about not jumping dressage riders, the bad fit of the show jumper and the madness of the bush riders are already hanging out to our ears, but nevertheless they persist. The saying, What does a dressage rider call when there is a straw in the hall? - jump free! ' is also after the tenth time diligently geliked and shared. What we all have in common is the horses (I ignore the new discipline of hobby horse riding here). They always have four legs, a lot of hunger and often their own head and, above all, all the horses are sometimes dirty.

It is puzzled whether horses may simply have a very pronounced camouflage instinct and therefore always wallow in the dirt. But if the horse is really dirty, it will be cleaned - you should think so. As there are also different riders and horses, there are also different plaster stereotypes. With what a plaster box should be equipped, we have riders in the best case already learned in the pony riding school and how to properly use which cleaning equipment actually. 'Actually' - the little word that goes through so many blog posts.

The perfectionist

This type of grooming plans well and always four hours for the stable every day. The box is not only hunted, but also neatly swept. The potions are scrubbed every day and the pasture is also taken care of. The food is put together with such care that you no longer know exactly whether you are in the stable or in a laboratory.

And then when it comes to cleaning, the two cleaning boxes are taken out of the closet and the horse with three different brushsticks, two mane brushes, a metal, a rubber and a plastic harrow, a lot of coat gloss spray, hoof oil, Huffett and hoof paint and two different Lambskin gloves polished to a high gloss. Not to mention the various wipes for nose, nostrils, eyes, ears and ... Finally, the perfectionist states that she does not even have time to ride anymore and puts her horse in the pits. Tomorrow is another day.

The Optimist

She looks for her horse every day at least half an hour in the pasture or on the paddock. At some point, his camouflage flies in the mud but on and the owner realizes that it is not an aardvark, but his horse. Sometimes there is a likelihood of confusion with other horses because they usually all have the same gray-brown coat color after a thunderstorm and a day on the paddock.

But once the horse has been found, the optimist gets down to work and tries to get the finger-thick mud crust down. All the stable members advise her to water hose, but she wants to make it so. Finally, there are two kilograms of dirt and hair on her fleece pullover - the horse is still dirty.

The fast

She is a master in equine-fast-finishing. If you have made an appointment for a ride at 10 o'clock, the fast does not arrive at the stable until 5 to 10, but in the end it is sitting on your horse in front of you. Your motto? Saddle position and head are enough! Just brush over and off. It does not bother the dirt - after all, belongs to a horse.

The Crazy

This plaster stereotype always wanted to have a mold and has actually gained one despite the warnings. From that moment on, he questions this decision every day. In front of the other stable members, of course, it is still said that they are absolutely happy with the coat color - except in winter, before riding lessons, before the photo shoot, before the tournament or in summer.