Selena

ADOPTER CERISE

2026 Update: Just wanted to share some pics of what Selena has been up to since I adopted her. Lots of trail rides in some beautiful places and we just got back from a horse packing trip, she did 30 miles in 3 days and was a rockstar! She’s truly the best trail partner I could have ever asked for.

2024 Update: She has been on several trail rides with me already and does fabulous, crosses water, crosses bridges, no problem being in front or back of the line, loads in the trailer easily. But our most recent trip to Yosemite she really shined! I took my son with me also on his horse Chester so it was a lot to manage, but Selena really helped out by being a brave and sure footed trail buddy, just wanted to share some pics of our Yosemite adventure. So happy to have added Selena to our family!

The Adoption Story

I originally wasn’t even looking for a mare, was dead set on a gelding not for any reason other than that I had heard mares can be difficult and I have a gelding and he’s been easy as pie. So I just took everyone’s word for it and avoided mares. But I had been looking for another horse to keep my gelding company and to have another riding horse after my friends older gelding was sent off to a retirement home. 

I knew I wanted a mustang. I found something really magical about the idea of having a relationship with a horse that had genetics for survival and that was not bred for a specific human sport or job but that despite all of that still chose to have a partnership with humans. I really liked the prison trained mustang program in Nevada, both for the skill set it provided the inmates with and the new lease on life it gave the mustangs. I had attended a few auctions and was fully planning on making a purchase at the June auction…….but then I met Selena.

I found MCR just via a random google search and perused the page a bit to see what they had available. No geldings were available but I saw on their social media they had Selena. Again, I really didn’t think I wanted a mare but I figured I would go and take a look at her to at least get an idea of what the McR training and adoption program was like in case they had a gelding that would come available. I asked if I could bring my son with me since he would be the one riding with me and  we set a date to meet her!

First impressions of course were that she was an absolutely stunning animal, and then beyond that I was just hooked on her gentle in your pocket personality. I did a test ride, my son did a test ride, and we were smitten. It was clear that Selena not only had wonderful training, but that she had been treated well her entire life and trusted and loved people. I remember one day after I had decided to adopt her, going to do a second barn visit and test ride, walking into her stall and she was resting on the ground and se let me just walk up to her and hug and pet her with no reservations, a real act of trust for a prey animal! That’s when I know I had picked the right horse and the right program to adopt a horse from. So that was it! I signed an adoption agreement and picked her up on Mother’s Day weekend, truly the most awesome Mother’s Day gift!

Since coming home with us Selena has been the same horse I met initially. She is sweet natured, clearly loves and trusts people, and is so gentle with my son. She is a bit sassy with my gelding but he has learned to respect her space and now they are the best of friends. Selena is VERY food driven, the girl loves to eat and I have had no problem training her to load into my straight load trailer with just a little bit of grain. She has a favorite scratch spot on the middle of her chest and stretches her neck out when we hit the right area. My mom doesn’t ride, but the horses are kept on her 20 acre property where she feeds and does the daily care, and she RAVES about what a sweet horse Selena is. My son loves her as well, and though Selena will be my primary riding horse (my gelding is now his BFF and trail horse buddy) I will likely eventually trailer her to where he takes lessons as he gets more advanced so he can take lessons on her. I think she will be the perfect confidence booster for him. She is gentle and thoughtful. I thought I would be changing her name, but Selena suits her so Selena she will remain. 

My plans for Selena include giving her the best home possible with lots of love. I am just a trail rider because I love being outdoors and in nature, so she will be my primary trail horse. We have already taken her out to some trails in auburn and gone on rides around the property. She does great! When we encountered some large puffed up turkeys on one of the rides the other horses in the group were hesitant to pass them, Selena pushed right through them all and wanted to chase the turkeys off. And boy does she love water!! Future plans for the year include some trail rides up into the Sierras, maybe the beach, and an overnight camping trip to Yosemite in September! Next year a longer trip to Bryce Canyon is in the works. 

Adopting Selena has definitely given me a different perspective on mares, why on earth did I avoid them for so long?! And as for mustangs, they seem to be horses that give you a partnership because they want to, not because they were bred to. As for MCR, I can’t rave enough about the training and treatment of the horses that come from there. Selena was given the best beginning possible, it’s reflected in her reaction towards people and her entire being. I am so happy to have found such an amazing animal to form a friendship and bond with. Looking forward to all the future adventures and trail miles we have on the calendar.