Mustang thrives with whisperer’s touch

GLENBURN – Life has taken a turn for the better for Brutus, a mustang gelding rescued from near starvation last fall after months of languishing in a dilapidated stall in an Orrington field.

When he was examined by a veterinarian on Nov. 6, 2002, Brutus was judged near death. A companion horse that had been in the same wet and drafty shelter was discovered lying in the mud and had to be euthanized because of advanced starvation and dehydration.

Two other horses were removed, one in good condition, one in fair condition. Those two animals have been returned to owner Steven Roberson under order by 3rd District Court Judge Jessie Gunther in Bangor.

The judge listed several conditions for the animals to be returned, including frequent checks by the animal control officer.

Darcie Carson, Orrington’s animal control officer, adopted Brutus in December.

Now hundreds of pounds heavier and much less skittish than he was four months ago, Brutus radiates health. The majestic creature, between 8 and 10 years old, was moved last week to Serendipity Stables in Glenburn.

Brutus weighed less than 900 pounds last fall. His weight now tops 1,300 pounds, his coat is shiny, his mane clean and unsnarled.

Brutus had spent two months with a man known as an area “horse whisperer.”

Kevin Crane of Cerlain Farms in Albion worked to build trust between himself and the mustang, and said Brutus adjusted well to calm, steady handling.

The animal was the first mustang Crane had trained. He also worked with the horse’s new owner to increase her confidence and horse-handling skills.

Crane said he was pleased with the results.

Brutus stood patiently in his new stable in Glenburn last week, prancing a bit as Carson slipped a rope halter over his snout. He allowed an attendant to encircle his midsection with an equine weight tape. The device looks like a tape measure and uses mathematical theory, including surface area, to estimate an animal’s weight.

Then, Brutus was led back to his stall where he munched hay. The animal eats 6 to 8 quarts of oats and grain daily.

Once gaunt with prominent ribs and hip bones, the mustang now has a bit of a paunch and has been restricted on feed to prevent too many pounds from creeping onto his strong frame.

For Carson, adopting Brutus is a leap of faith, financially and emotionally.

She has a one-year lease arrangement with the U.S. Department of the Interior, which has a say because Brutus originally was captured as a colt from a wild mustang herd out West. A number branded on his neck identifies him as a “government” horse. A final decision will be made on the animal’s custody next fall.

Carson’s dream for the animal is to give him a good home and to love him as a family pet. Recognizing the public interest in Brutus since his plight was publicized, Carson also sees a need to make the horse receptive to visits from others in the community who may have heard about him and want to see how he is doing.

“I want him for a ridable companion horse … I want him to be a good pet and to not be afraid of things, to know he finally has a safe home,” Carson said.

Crane said he tries to align his training with the owner’s wishes for an animal.

For Brutus, life as a family pet is a possibility, but he will need more socialization and more skilled handling to develop a bond of trust with his owner.

“I needed more training than Brutus,” Carson said.

Using a tried-and-true technique called “natural horsemanship,” Crane employed gentle, trust-building methods to encourage the timid animal.

“What I tried to do was to get Brutus to learn to come to me, rather than to force myself or let anyone force themselves on him,” Crane said. The key, he said, is to “develop an understanding of the horse based on body language.”

A disciple of famed horse whisperer Ray Hunt – whose techniques were portrayed in the Robert Redford film “The Horse Whisperer” – Crane said the key to handling Brutus lies in the need for humans around him to keep in mind his traumatic past.

Despite lingering skittishness, Brutus would be good for a family pet or for dressage, according to his former trainer.

“He turned out good. I was on his back within three days,” Crane said.

Anyone wanting to make a donation toward the animal’s upkeep or to send letters of interest or those having questions may write to Help a Horse Fund, c/o Brewer Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 189, Brewer 04412.