My Wild Horse Story: Fred and Blue

By Fred Woehl
Arkansas

Blue Bonnet Spearman (named after Robert Duvall’s character in Open Range) comes from the Adobe Town herd management area in southwestern Wyoming.  Processed through Rock Springs Corrals, Blue was adopted by me in 2005.

Blue has been an ambassador for the Wild Horse Program since that time. He is well known by many adults and children through his demonstrations and shows at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri every fall (September and October) at the Salute to the Great American Cowboy Festival. Over 300,000 attended this Festival every Fall.

Blue has also worked with the Black Stallion Literacy Program at the University of Arkansas, used as a hippo therapy horse and given literally thousands of children their first horse ride.

From visiting residents at nursing homes, rounding up cattle on the Bell Ranch in New Mexico and visiting elementary schools to conducting clinics with adopters and potential adopters, Blue has been my best friend, confidant and companion. He is the reason I currently serve as Chair of the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board.  He has proven that Mustangs are versatile, trustworthy, athletic and are an American Legend, a living, breathing part of our history.

"Mustangs have taught me more about horses and myself than anything else I have ever done.......patience, prayer, body language, understanding, not taking things personal, creative thinking, different perspectives.......if more people understood the true reward and could grasp the real meaning, no mustang would ever want for a home........." by Fred Woehl