Buttermilk

Buttermilk was removed from the wild as part of the Bureau of Land Management Mustang Adoption Program. Her herd was from Northern California, around Eureka. She is an Isabella palomino. So unlike widely recognized golden palominos, her summer coat is a much more subtle yellow, that turns almost white in the winter.

After being adopted, Buttermilk was started using natural horsemanship techniques. She was later sold and then returned to Carter Arabians after her rider fell off. Not long after this, Buttermilk was transferred to Horses of Tir Na Nog. She is a shy, timid girl who does well with routines that don’t vary. We suspect that she has restricted vision on her right side. Although initially concerned by strangers, she warms up quickly to those bringing apples. Operant conditioning has increased her confidence with handling and medical procedures. Unfortunately, Buttermilk’s teeth are in pretty bad shape. There is speculation that she may have been kicked in the mouth as a youngster. So every week we brush her teeth. Her willingness to allow us to do this is a powerful testament to not only operant conditioning, but also to Buttermilk’s willingness to trust people.