Kiger Coltrane: A Journey from Flighty to Fortified

Hello to all the fellow mustang horse enthusiasts out there,

Today, I’m telling you the story of Kiger Coltrane. Introducing Kiger Coltrane, often referred to as Col, is essential to understanding my journey and the philosophy behind Sacred Connections Horse Training. Coltrane's story is a remarkable transformation and has been a significant milestone in my career.

Wild Beginnings

Kiger Coltrane lived as a wild horse in Eastern Oregon until he was six years old. He was rounded up in 2015.

Adoption and Trauma

After being rounded up, Coltrane was adopted. His initial experience with a TIP (Trainer Incentive Program) trainer went well—Col was becoming gentle and was liking his training, until Col and his trainer had a horrible accident during trailer loading. A flock of wild turkeys took off right as Col was being loaded into the trailer. The trainer was using butt and lead ropes. Coltrane spooked and bolted, and the trainer became caught in the ropes, resulting in him being dragged for at least ten minutes behind bolting Col. Luckily, the trainer survived. But after Col was out back in his corral that day, that trainer never worked with Col again. 

Severe PTSD

This traumatic event left Coltrane with severe PTSD. In Col’s mind, when something scary had happened (the turkeys), the one person Col had begun to trust had seemingly abandoned him and even "chased" him. Col lost trust in humans, and was poised to expect disconnect and/or abandonment from humans.

He developed a deep-seated distrust, becoming incredibly flighty and prone to bolting from any stimulus. He wasn’t handled for an entire year after the accident. Col’s owner had to run him into stocks to work with him daily for months just to get a halter on Col again.

Arrival at Sacred Connections

Recognizing the severity of his trauma, Coltrane's owners sought my help at Sacred Connections.

Nervous System Retraining

I undertook extensive "nervous system retraining" with Coltrane. My approach focused on helping him feel safe on an instinctual level using herd dynamics. I asserted leadership over Col the same way a wild horse would. And then, I started asking him to hold his ground, to stay with me, to stay at my side, as I added stimulus.  I taught Col to think before reacting—which took daily practice to retrain his nervous system out of a sympathetic (fight & flight) nervous system response and instead teaching him to respond with a parasympathetic nervous system response (stand, hold your ground, and stay calm).  This took many months of work. And as I retrained his nervous system, as he progressed and became ready, I did his foundational training, started him under saddle, and did extensive riding training and then trail riding training.

Remarkable Recovery

Under my guidance, Coltrane made a full recovery, transforming into a calm and solid horse. I even was able to make Col "grandma safe" for his then 67-year-old owner to trail ride, a standard that has since been applied to many other horses. What I had to develop and do to bring Col along has also informed my work with many horses since. My nervous system retraining methods has become a protocol I use to help anxious and traumatized horses. And then enhanced desensitization work I learned through making Col I use on most horses now if I know that they are going to children, grandparents, or greener riders.

Col is the only horse I have ever done liberty stunts with. As I worked Col, I saw how easy it was to lay a pattern in him. I used that to my advantage when teaching him to self load. And I was able to teach Col to self load in a trailer from 160 feet away. I could release Col, tell him to “load up” and he would run the 160 feet and jump into the trailer on his own! I also set him up to go over jumps and obstacles in an arena at liberty in the same way. Col is the only horse o have ever done that with.

Eagerness to Work and Connection

Despite his past trauma, Coltrane became eager to work, enjoying the connection and sense of purpose it brought him. Our bond is deeply synced, marked by love and loyalty.

#1 Project

I consider Coltrane the #1 project of my career, and he continues to inspire and demonstrate the profound impact of my training methods.

Mentor to Other Horses

Coltrane's journey from a highly traumatized wild horse to a centered individual has made him a valuable presence at Sacred Connections. He now plays a role in helping other horses, such as Merlin the head-shaking Lusitano, through nervous system co-regulation. Coltrane's current calm demeanor can help set a positive tone and demonstrate to more anxious horses that there isn't anything to be worried about.

Current Status

While he has a life long home at Sacred Connections, Coltrane is currently officially retired due to lameness stemming from a likely congenital abnormality in his stifle joint. Despite this, he still seems to enjoy being part of the activity at the barn and can even do a little work when he's feeling up to it. I sometimes use him as a "grounding rod" for other horses in training. And he has the best ground manners of any horse on the property due to the extensive training I put him through. Col is 100% a product of my training, and is what happens when I have a longer timeline to work with a horse.

As you can see, Kiger Coltrane's story exemplifies my dedication to understanding horse psychology and my ability to help horses overcome significant trauma, making him a cornerstone of the Sacred Connections philosophy and a testament to the effectiveness of my approach.

If Col’s story has inspired you or you have a “Col” of your own, consider exploring my services by clicking the button below.