The bond between a cowgirl and her wild mustang

It’s the year of the cowgirl and the 128th Daddy of’ Em All rodeo in Cheyenne, Wyoming, which is the largest outdoor rodeo in the world!

At any one rodeo, the crowd can surpass 13,000 fans, filling the silence with a roaring orchestra of cheers and applause.

Cowgirls serving as goodwill ambassadors for Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) are called Dandies. They often go on to become Miss Frontier, the prestigious title of the rodeo queen. The Dandies’ horses are an essential part of any rodeo performance. This year, two special Dandies are riding BLM Wyoming wild mustangs that they’ve adopted and trained.

Shelby Hoobler and Abby Morrow introduced their horses on a warm sunny afternoon in an empty arena at the rodeo fairgrounds, with a little bit of that normal Wyoming wind. Entering the arena that day, it was hard not to pick up on the sense of heritage filling the space.

Shelby’s mustang, Sage, is an 11-year-old gray gelding from the Salt Wells Creek Herd Management Area (HMA) in Wyoming. He’s sweet and calm. Abby’s mustang, Bolt, is a six-year-old black gelding from the Green Mountain HMA in Wyoming. Because he’s younger, he has a different energy level than Sage. It’s apparent both horses are connected to their cowgirl, trainer, and partner. They have a strong bond between them and will listen to where they’re guided.

Each horse and cowgirl have their own story. After being gathered from Salt Wells Creek, Sage went to the Wyoming Honor Farm’s Wild Horse Program where inmates work with and train horses as part of a very successful rehabilitation program. Sage was then adopted to a rescue in Laramie, off to a trainer in Cheyenne, and ultimately, ended up meeting Shelby. She decided that he was the horse she wanted to adopt.

Abby attended the BLM adoption event that occurs annually at CFD looking for her wild mustang. She had her eyes set on one that the Mantle’s had trained. The Mantle family has been working with wild horses since the 1980s and has partnered with BLM for 26 years, gentling and training wild horses for adoption. During the auction at CFD, Abby was outbid on the mustang she had wanted. The Mantles invited her to come to their ranch to see more horses that were available. That’s when she met Bolt and adopted him, five years ago.

Both Shelby and Abby knew they wanted an intelligent and strong horse. “Sage is really lovable and so far, everything I’ve needed him to do he has been able to do,” said Shelby. “I chose to look for a wild horse for the principle of it in helping rangeland management and the overpopulation of mustangs on BLM land.”

“I look for a horse that we can work as a team together,” said Abby. “I saw the bond between others with their mustangs and I wanted that. I wanted to grow up with Bolt.”

It’s heartwarming to see these girls as they train and watch their horses grow and, in the process, grow themselves.

Shelby and Abby both believe the BLM adoption program provides an opportunity for finding a forever horse, at an affordable price; and the BLM wild mustangs are fully capable of being trained, completing all the same tasks as higher dollar breeds of horses, and performing in the world’s largest outdoor rodeo at CFD.

When they’re not performing in the arena during Dandy season or riding in a parade, Shelby and Abby take their mustangs trail riding, train on new tasks, and spend time together – creating an even greater bond between cowgirl and horse.

Abby has also shown Bolt at Mustang Days, an open horse show specifically for branded BLM wild horses and has been a part of the Cheyenne Saddle Tramps Riding club. Shelby has taken Sage on a big horn sheep hunt with her dad, Matt Hoobler. She plans to take Sage back to the mountains for hunting and packing as well as join a Ranch Horse Team when she’s off to college.

Attending any BLM adoption event, it’s always moving to see the different adopters of all ages. Excited by the opportunity to create their own bond with a wild horse. The CFD adoption event will be at Lions Park again this year, July 19 – July 27. There will be daily demonstrations where the Mantle’s go over working with a halter- or saddle-started horse. Even though the family is demonstrating training methods, it’s spectacular free advice on navigating life as well. There will be BLM staff present, who will be happy to tell their stories of their wild mustangs and the special bonds they’ve experienced.

Shelby and Sage, Abby and Bolt, truly inspiring young cowgirls with a passion for their wild mustang horses and their very bright futures ahead. Fully supported by their families and the amazing CFD Dandies community, directed by Halley Redman. A grand thank you to all parties above for sharing their stories. And to all the adopters who have wild horses at home. May this year, the year of the cowgirl, be an unforgettable time of celebration of our western heritage and self-growth. 

To check out the 2024 CFD adoption event click HERE! For all adoptions and sales, check out the BLM Wild Horse and Burro program.

For more information on CFD and the Dandies, check out The Year of The Cowgirl and The Dandies: Then and Now!