Denali, a Mustang yearling gelding, was greeted by a pair of youthful trainers when he arrived at the Wild Rose Mustang Advocacy Group facility in Wellington, Colo. They would prepare him for his new life off the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming.
By August of 2024, Denali and his youth trainers, Dagny Brault, 14, and Ellie Bruckert, 15, were taking part in an event to showcase the horse’s newly acquired skills. While they were preparing the Mustang for his new life, the girls were learning something about themselves, too.
“Working with horses has taught me patience and perseverance—I’ve learned to trust my instincts and adapt my training methods to each horse and situation,” Ellie says. “And I’ve learned to never give up, no matter how hard it gets.”
Wild Rose Mustang Advocacy Group’s Youth Trainer Program
Established in 2018 by experienced Mustang trainer Cayla Stone and veterinary oncologist Ruth Rose, DVM, the Wild Rose Mustang Advocacy Group fosters, trains and rehomes American Mustangs acquired from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, according to spokesperson Stephanie Swanson.
The Youth Trainer Program began in 2020 to provide educational opportunities for the next generation of horse trainers. Kids from 10 to 15 years old are eligible to apply. Mustangs trained through the program are generally yearlings or 2-year-olds.
In 2024, seven horses were paired with 12 youth trainers, including Dagny and Ellie.
“The horses in the 2024 program were all yearlings,” Stephanie says. “And this has been the biggest program yet.”
Since its inception, a total of 22 girls and one boy have taken part in the program, which runs every year from May through August.
Passion for Mustangs
Not all of the young people have their own horses, or even horse-handling experience.
One who did is Leslie Townsend, who was 14 when she participated in the fledgling Youth Trainer Program at Wild Rose. She discovered the program via head trainer Cayla after purchasing a Mustang named Hermes.
“When I bought him, we decided to continue his education with Cayla for another month while we figured each other out,” says Leslie, now a 19-year-old metallurgical engineering student at the Colorado School of the Mines. “I started volunteering with Wild Rose, and I fell in love with the process of training wild horses.”
Since then, she has participated in subsequent Youth Trainer programs at Wild Rose and in other youth training competitions, including the Meeker Mustang Makeover, which draws horse trainers from across the west to Meeker, Colo. It all stirred her deep love for the horses and made her an advocate for Mustang training and for their adoption into forever homes.
“During my time in the youth program, I trained three Mustangs personally, [and] I also helped Wild Rose with the training and upkeep of dozens of other Mustangs,” Leslie says. “Mustangs are unique, and their training often looks very different from domestic horses. They are exceptionally smart, loyal, and athletic, so their training requires an immense amount of patience and problem-solving skills.”
What to Expect
According to Stephanie, those who want to participate in the Youth Trainer Program at Wild Rose must submit an application, an essay explaining why they want to take part in the program, and a letter of recommendation.
During their Mustang training sessions, the youth trainers teach the horses basic skills. These include picking up their feet, accepting a halter, and groundwork exercises such as walking over bridge obstacles and loading onto trailers.
They also introduce the horses to novel objects and sounds and slowly initiate training exercises so that each Mustang can learn at their own pace. According to Stephanie, the consistency in their training helps alleviate stress for the horses and promote bonding between Mustang and trainer.
“In addition, they learn all about other aspects of horse care,” she says. “Once you build trust with the Mustangs, they want to work with you. It’s beautiful to see. The young trainers learn empowerment and empathy, and it helps them become advocates for wild horses.”
Those who participate in the program may do so more than once, she says. In addition to creating a bond with the horses, the young trainers who have shared in the program experience receive another benefit.
“Some have formed lasting friendships,” Stephanie says.
As importantly, the Youth Trainer Program helps fulfill the Wild Rose mission by creating a new generation that doesn’t just train horses, but that advocates for American Mustangs as well.
“I think it’s important that everyone knows how versatile and intelligent Mustangs are,” says Dagny. “They are great companions and deserve to find loving homes.”
Learn more at www.wildrosemagic.org.
This article about the Wild Rose Mustang Advocacy Group and its Youth Program appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!
