OUT Of the Arena Ranch LLC

OUT Of the Arena Ranch LLC "When riding a horse we leave our fear, troubles, and sadness behind on the ground"

08/24/2026

Apparently my day is just going to go to 💩… literally. 😂🤦‍♀️

I was trying to take a cute little video of my 10-day-old foal being adorable because, obviously, everything a baby horse does is worthy of documentation. 🥹🐴❤️

Instead, I accidentally captured what can only be described as stomach-turning, nausea-inducing footage of this adorable little creature EATING HORSE P**P. 🤢💩

And because apparently motherhood never stops teaching you things, I immediately had to turn to the internet and learn something new.

Turns out… this can actually be completely normal!

Foals may begin nibbling on manure from adult horses during their first couple of weeks of life. This behavior, called coprophagy, is believed to help introduce beneficial microorganisms into the foal's developing digestive system. Those microorganisms are important as the foal's gut matures and eventually becomes capable of properly digesting forage and fiber.

So while my first reaction was:

“OH MY GOD! THAT BABY IS EATING P**P!!!” 🤮😂

The scientific explanation is more like:

“Congratulations, Mom. Your foal is apparently working on developing a healthy gut microbiome.” 🤓🐴

Milk is still the foal's primary source of nutrition at this age, and occasional manure-eating isn't generally concerning in an otherwise healthy foal. Of course, excessive manure consumption, diarrhea, poor nursing, lethargy, fever, or failure to gain weight would be reasons to consult a veterinarian.

But seriously…

WHO KNEW?! 😂

I thought I was filming a cute baby horse video. Instead, I got a biology lesson, a gag reflex, and a whole new appreciation for the phrase “you learn something new every day.”

Apparently today I learned that sometimes… you learn something new because your foal ate something old. 💩🤣🐴

🐎 DAY 3 — WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?We've talked about the roundups.We've talked about fertility control.Now let's talk ab...
08/24/2026

🐎 DAY 3 — WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?

We've talked about the roundups.

We've talked about fertility control.

Now let's talk about the part that doesn't get nearly enough attention:

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MUSTANGS AFTER THEY LEAVE THE RANGE?

When a BLM gather happens, those horses don't simply disappear.

Many are transported to off-range corrals where they're evaluated and prepared for adoption or sale.

If they aren't adopted or sold, they can remain in government care for years—or potentially for the rest of their lives.

BLM's own policy says that horses without willing private homes are cared for in long-term off-range pastures.

And the numbers are enormous.

As of 2026, more than 63,000 wild horses and burros were being cared for in BLM facilities and long-term holding.

That's tens of thousands of animals that have already been removed from public lands and now require:

🐴 Feed
🐴 Water
🐴 Veterinary care
🐴 Hoof care
🐴 Transportation
🐴 Facility maintenance
🐴 Staff and contractors
🐴 Land and pasture

And taxpayers pay for it.

BLM reported that off-range care costs taxpayers more than $100 million every year.

In 2025, BLM placed 8,080 horses and burros into private care through adoption and sales.

BLM estimates those placements avoided approximately $121.2 MILLION in future lifetime holding costs.

That number should make all of us stop and think.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY AREN'T ADOPTED?

They don't automatically get euthanized.

They don't automatically get sent to slaughter.

BLM says they are moved into long-term care.

Some may spend the remainder of their lives in long-term pastures.

Others become eligible for sale when they're older or have repeatedly been offered for adoption.

Currently, BLM says animals over 10 years old or those offered for adoption at least three times can become sale-eligible.

And here's an important distinction:

Adoption and sale are NOT the same thing.

With an adoption, the horse remains federally owned for at least one year while the adopter demonstrates proper care.

With a sale, ownership transfers immediately.

And BLM currently says it does not track animals after a completed sale because they become private property.

That is an area where I believe we should continue asking questions.

💰 SO WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER?

Instead of continually expanding the number of horses in holding, shouldn't we be investing more heavily in preventing the next generation from being born?

More fertility control.

More research.

More remote treatment.

More strategic management of mares.

More qualified adoption opportunities.

More sanctuary and preserve partnerships.

More transparency.

More accountability.

And better long-term planning BEFORE a herd reaches a crisis point.

BLM is already using fertility-control tools.

The question is whether we're using them at a scale large enough to actually change the trajectory.

🇺🇸 HERE'S THE BIGGER QUESTION:

Would we rather keep spending hundreds of millions of dollars over time housing horses after removing them from the range, or invest more of that money upfront into preventing excessive population growth?

I don't think the answer is simply:

"Round them all up."

I also don't think the answer is:

"Do absolutely nothing."

And I don't think we should pretend that holding tens of thousands of horses indefinitely is a sustainable solution.

WE NEED A LONG-TERM PLAN.

One that considers:

🐎 The horses
🌱 The land
🦌 Native wildlife
💧 Water
🐄 Other permitted uses of public lands
💰 Taxpayer costs
🧬 Genetic diversity
❤️ Animal welfare

And most importantly—

PREVENTION.

If we can reduce reproduction enough that fewer horses need to be removed, fewer horses need holding, fewer taxpayer dollars are spent on lifetime care, and more horses can remain where they belong—

isn't that worth investing in?

I don't have every answer.

That's why I'm having this conversation.

I'm asking questions.

I'm looking at the numbers.

And I'm asking what could we do differently if we stopped fighting about who's right and started working toward what actually works?

Because managing America's wild horses shouldn't be about winning an argument.

It should be about finding a sustainable future for the horses AND the land. 🇺🇸🐎❤️

DAY 5 coming next: What happens when a mustang leaves BLM ownership—and why tracking and accountability matter.

🐴 DAY 1: WHAT’S THE RIGHT HORSE FOR YOU?If you’re a first-time horse buyer, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is ...
08/21/2026

🐴 DAY 1: WHAT’S THE RIGHT HORSE FOR YOU?

If you’re a first-time horse buyer, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is shopping for the horse you dream of owning instead of the horse that actually fits your experience, goals, lifestyle, and abilities.

The “best” horse isn't necessarily the youngest, prettiest, most expensive, most athletic, or most highly trained horse.

And it isn't necessarily the oldest horse either.

A well-trained senior horse with years of experience may be an incredible teacher for the right rider. But a senior horse can also come with increased maintenance and health considerations.

A younger horse with excellent foundational training and the right temperament could be a fantastic match too.

And that highly trained performance horse you've always dreamed about? It may be absolutely incredible—but that doesn't mean it's the right first horse for you.

A highly trained horse can still be too much horse.

Minimal training doesn't automatically mean an easy horse, either. Sometimes it means you're buying a horse with holes in its education, inconsistent training, or behaviors that haven't been fully tested.

So before you start shopping, ask yourself:

🐴 What do I actually want to do with my horse?

🐴 What is my current riding experience?

🐴 What can I safely handle TODAY—not what I hope to handle someday?

🐴 How much time do I realistically have for riding, training, and daily care?

🐴 Can I afford the horse beyond the purchase price?

🐴 Do I have access to a knowledgeable trainer?

🐴 What temperament makes me feel confident rather than intimidated?

And perhaps the most important question:

Am I the right owner for the horse I'm considering?

Because this isn't just about finding a horse that works for you.

It's about finding a horse whose life will also be better because it came to you. ❤️

Don't buy a horse because you feel sorry for it.
Don't buy a horse because it's a bargain.
Don't buy a horse because someone tells you it's “bombproof.”
And don't buy more horse than you can safely manage just because you love what that horse could become.

Take your time. Work with a knowledgeable trainer. Be honest about your abilities. Look at the entire horse—not just the price tag or the pretty picture.

The goal isn't to buy the most impressive horse.

The goal is to find YOUR horse.

The horse that helps you grow instead of overwhelming you.

The horse whose education complements yours.

The horse whose needs fit your lifestyle and budget.

And the horse that can become your partner for years to come.

The right horse + the right owner = a partnership for life. 🐴❤️

DAY 1 of our 4-Day First-Time Horse Buyer Series!

🐎 DAY 2: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AMERICA ROUNDS UP A MUSTANG?Yesterday we talked about America's wild-horse crisis.Today, let'...
08/21/2026

🐎 DAY 2: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AMERICA ROUNDS UP A MUSTANG?

Yesterday we talked about America's wild-horse crisis.

Today, let's talk about what actually happens when the government decides horses need to be removed from the range.

When the Bureau of Land Management determines that a wild-horse population is above its designated management level, a gather can be authorized.

And yes—sometimes that means helicopters. 🚁🐎

A helicopter may be used to guide groups of horses across the landscape toward a trap site. Once they reach the trap, ground crews move them into holding pens.

From there, horses may be examined, vaccinated, branded, transported and eventually placed into adoption or sale programs—or remain in government-funded off-range holding.

This is where the conversation gets complicated.

The BLM says gathers are necessary because wild horses can reproduce rapidly and because limited water, forage and habitat cannot support unlimited population growth.

Animal-welfare advocates argue that repeatedly removing horses isn't solving the underlying problem and that fertility control should be used much more aggressively.

Both questions deserve to be asked.

Why are we repeatedly gathering thousands of horses?

Why aren't we preventing the population from growing so quickly in the first place?

How much are taxpayers spending to house horses removed from public lands?

What happens to every horse after it leaves federal custody?

And how do we make sure the horses we call America's living symbols are actually protected?

Here's something important:

BLM does NOT legally send protected wild horses directly to slaughter.

And the more than 24,000 American equines exported for slaughter in 2025 should NOT be described as 24,000 mustangs. There is no evidence showing that the 2025 slaughter-export statistic represents BLM wild horses.

But we also shouldn't stop asking questions once a horse leaves federal custody.

BLM has acknowledged that animals can be illegally diverted into slaughter situations after leaving government ownership and provides a process for reporting suspected violations.

That's why tracking, transparency and accountability matter.

🇺🇸 SO WHAT CAN WE DO?

We don't have to choose between:

"Let the horses multiply without limits"

and

"Round them up forever."

There is another path.

🐎 Expand humane fertility-control programs
🐎 Protect genetically important herds
🐎 Improve population and habitat science
🐎 Reduce unnecessary helicopter gathers whenever practical
🐎 Increase independent veterinary oversight
🐎 Expand qualified adoption and sanctuary opportunities
🐎 Strengthen accountability after government sales
🐎 Make government data and gather footage more transparent
🐎 Demand that land-use decisions consider horses, wildlife AND livestock
🐎 Invest in long-term solutions instead of endlessly paying for temporary ones

America's mustangs are part of our history.

But protecting that history requires more than putting a horse on a postcard.

It requires us to build a system that actually works.

We can protect the land.

We can protect wildlife.

We can protect the horses.

And we can demand humane, science-based management.

But we have to stop fighting long enough to start solving the problem.

Tomorrow: DAY 3 — Where do the horses go after the roundup? 🐎

Follow along. Ask questions. Share the information.

Education is where change begins. 🇺🇸❤️

The Horse Industry Needs More Encouragement, Not More Gatekeeping 🐴❤️Can we talk about something that doesn't get talked...
08/21/2026

The Horse Industry Needs More Encouragement, Not More Gatekeeping 🐴❤️

Can we talk about something that doesn't get talked about enough in the horse industry?

How intimidating this world can be.

And I'm not just talking about the beginner rider.

I'm talking about the brand-new lesson instructor.
The person opening their first lesson barn.
The trainer who is still learning how to teach.
The established barn that has been operating for five years and still wonders if they're doing enough.

Because one of the hardest things about entering this industry isn't always the horses.

It's the people.

It's the criticism.
The judgment.
The comparison.
The feeling that no matter what you do, someone is going to tell you that you're doing it wrong.

And sometimes all it takes is one negative comment to make someone question everything they've built.

But you know what else can change everything?

One person saying:

"You're doing a great job."

"I'm proud of what you've built."

"Keep going."

"I'm glad you're here."

Sometimes one pat on the back is enough to remind somebody why they started.

And the same thing is true for riders.

Imagine walking into a barn for the first time when you've never touched a horse.

You're nervous. You're afraid you're going to look stupid. You're worried everyone knows more than you. You're scared of being judged.

Maybe you're coming back after a traumatic injury.
Maybe anxiety has kept you from trying.
Maybe you have a disability or you're neurodivergent.
Maybe you're a child who has never even sat on a horse before.

You are still welcome here.

At Out of the Arena, we've always believed that our job isn't just to teach someone how to ride.

It's to help them find courage, confidence, kindness and enthusiasm.

We want people to leave thinking:

"I can do this."

"I belong here."

"Maybe I really can become a horse person."

Because here's the truth:

Every experienced rider was once a beginner.

Every instructor had a first student.

Every trainer had a horse that taught them something the hard way.

Every successful barn started somewhere.

And every horse person you admire had a moment when they didn't know what they were doing yet.

So if you're a barn looking down your nose at another barn because they're new…

Shame on you.

Be the mentor instead.

If you're an experienced trainer watching a new instructor struggle to find their footing…

Help them.

If you're an experienced rider watching a beginner make mistakes…

Encourage them.

Correct unsafe behavior, absolutely. Education matters. Safety matters. Good horsemanship matters.

But there is a HUGE difference between teaching someone and tearing someone down.

This industry needs mentors.

It needs instructors willing to teach other instructors.

It needs experienced riders willing to encourage beginners.

It needs barns willing to collaborate instead of compete.

It needs people willing to say:

"Come on. I'll show you."

We've had to take a step back recently because of our own health challenges, but we haven't forgotten what it felt like to start.

We haven't forgotten how hard it was.

And we haven't forgotten how much one person believing in you can mean.

So whether you've been in this industry for 20 years or 20 days…

Whether you've just opened your first lesson barn…

Whether you've just climbed onto a horse for the first time…

Whether you're coming back after an injury, fear, anxiety, or simply a long time away…

I'm cheering for you.

You don't have to be perfect to belong in the horse world.

You just have to be willing to learn.

Let's stop tearing each other apart and start building each other up.

Because at the end of the day, we should all want the same thing:

More good people loving horses.

And maybe the next beginner we encourage today will become the mentor someone else desperately needs tomorrow. ❤️🐴

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Sanger, CA
93657

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