Hank The Tank

My Name is Hank the Tank, but my friends just call me Hank. I am a four-year-old strawberry roan gelding from Owyhee, Nevada. I was rounded up on 11/25/16, and from there I made my way to Ewing, Illinois. I wasn’t there too long. On 3/17/17 I was loaded onto a trailer. That’s where my story really begins. I was frightened, but I somehow knew everything was going to be ok. Once I arrived in North Carolina I was very thankful for all the hay I could possibly eat, and of course not being on a trailer any more. The next morning this silly looking two-legged began to work with me. He sent me around the round pen several times. Each time he let me stop, I let him get closer and closer. I began to trust this skinny two-legged. I even let him touch me, and later put a rope thingy around my head that day. The rope around my butt was the scary part. Every once in a while, I still get scared when something touches me there. If you know how to desensitize and move my feet, I quickly get over it. From then on, I really started to like these two-leggeds. I mean who doesn’t love lush green hay and treats? Carrots, and apples however are just gross.

My trainer and goofy two-legged friend, Cale, started jumping all over and around me. I thought he was strange, but I just went along went it. Soon I had a saddle on, which was the hardest thing for me to get used to. Having an empty saddle on my back is quite strange. Soon it was time for our first ride. We walked, trotted, and cantered all on the same day. After two more rides, we were out of the round pen and into the arena. We worked just about every day and soon I was introduced to the slant load trailer. I already respected and trusted Cale so much I went on with ease the very first time I was asked.

A few days later I loaded into the trailer with two mares, and headed to Texas. There, Cale went to school to become a Certified Clinton Anderson Ambassador. The Girls were enrolled into the Academy and stayed on the ranch. I stayed across the street with Cale in an apartment and stable complex. Cale didn’t have as much time for me now as he was focusing on the girls and on graduating. Yet, he took excellent care of me, giving me all the alfalfa I could possibly eat. He took me across the road and we worked on the ranch as often as possible. At first, I thought it was scary seeing other horses being ridden. Cale wasn’t a bother to me at all but why is there a two-legged on that horse?! Yet, I learned that they too must have trust in their trainers. We did many obstacles, trained out on the trails, and of course lots of arena work. Our partnership really took off. Cale gained control of my feet, which lead to even more respect, more control, and more trust. This lead to love. It didn’t seem long and we were headed back to North Carolina. I guess Cale passed since he now wears a shiny round thing around his waist. Once back home we worked on refining what I had learned and went on more trail rides. I even started jumping!

Hank was the Number 1 horse going into the top ten performances, ahead of the second place horse by nearly 10 points! Hank decided he had enough of being a show horse and mentally checked himself out for the rest of the day lol. Yet, Hank and Cale came in 10th out of 60 trainers that picked up horses for the Makeover. Mustangs are excellent teachers and Hank defiantly taught us a lot. Hank at the end of the Extreme Mustang Makeover was purchased by a wonderful couple in Pennsylvania, and is loved on by four women who call themselves the Sisterhood of Hank! He has the best home we could ever ask for and keep in touch often. Hank is also responsible for changing our out look on mustangs, they are not all “beat with the ugly stick,” some are very beautiful. Some mustangs you would think are registered Quarter Horses or Warmbloods. They are not all crazy like most people would have you believe. Its all about your approach to training.  Once you are able to touch them they just melt and can become great horses. Many mustangs are also becoming very popular in the show ring, and giving registered horses a run for their money. Plus, boy do they have some personalities! Hank was so easy for us to fall in love with and because of him we are now dedicated to getting more mustangs like Hank out of the holding pen. We want to show people just how amazing these living legends can really be.