Featured in the Fall 2008 issue of the East Side Magazine

The Sierra Horse Whisperer
by Mike McKenna
Fall 2008

pleasure horse?

trail class

Photos

Show photos

Here are some more photos of Chato's Trail class.

Chato and Janet do Mother's Day Show in Bishop CA

Chato is an amazing horse, let alone a 3-year-old Mustang with 78 days of training under his saddle. Therefore Janet must be special too!! Chato has been ridden by several different people and ridden in parades, in horse shows, over jumps, out on trail etc., and he remains the calm horse that seems to be part of his disposition, or is it the sleight of hand by trainer Janet Titus of Equine Connections? Janet has a deep understanding of horses and what motivates them to perform their best and she has instilled this in her Mustang Chato.

Chato and Janet in the Mule Days Parade!

They did it! Not only did Janet and Chato ride in the Mule Days Parade in Bishop on Satuday, Chato looked like he'd been doing it his whole life! He may have been born in the high desert of eastern California, but he's a natural performance horse. And Janet is a natural leader!

Tacking up with the American Mustang breast collar.

A little lunging takes the edge off.

Heading out!

Here they are! We were sitting at the end of the parade route, and look how calm Chato is!

Janet's beautiful smile, courtesy of Chato!

Holding up while the parade turns a corner...

With a smile and a wave, off they go...

After the parade, a foot soak, a drink, and a snack.

We couldn't be prouder of Janet and Chato!!

Bareback Jumper

Chato is clearly ready for primetime and will make a great riding partner for any enthusiastic owner.

Trust, Work and Play

Yesterday was the hottest Saturday of the year so far, 100 in the shade at Millpond. Janet invited me to come and take pictures of her working with Chato, and it was so fun I hardly noticed the heat.

According to Janet yesterday was a typical day with Chato, who she is spending three or four hours a day with. The hard work is paying off. This is the most talented and intelligent horse I think I've ever seen, whatever Janet asks of him, he does. Janet is also a naturally gifted trainer and rider, and together they are amazing to watch!

They get started in the enclosed round pen:

Out to the big arena to ride and work on their amazing trust:

Time to get up:

And off with the saddle:

Concentrating on form in the jumping arena, Navajo whip in teeth:



Over the jumps!

After the work, a little bit of play. Mom has the coolest hat to munch:

All signs point to blue skies ahead for Janet and Chato in the Mustang Challenge!

Coming next week - Janet and Chato in the Bishop Mule Days Parade!!

Mustang Janet

Janet and Chato were featured in this week's Good Times section of the Mammoth Times. Turns out they're both photogenic!

You can click on and then zoom in to read the text. Sorry, I reversed the order, so start with the column on the right.

Chato Shines in Local Horse show

I really thought I was going to write alot more than I am, but the good thing is that I'm riding alot more than writing. Yes, I said riding. I've been riding him for about two weeks. We spent about a week in the round pen getting used to going forward, turning and stopping. Then we went out into the western arena. After that we went to the jumping arena. The 4H class with all the kids were riding around and he took it all in stride. I've had about ten rides on him now, so I thought it was time to take him to our local horse show to see how he would be around all the commotion. He was great so I entered him in a couple of classes; mustang trail and green horse pleasure. I was really happy with our classes. We even got a third place ribbon in mustang pleasure. Did I mention there was only three horses in Mustang Pleasure? The next show is May 3. I'm hoping to do better. Today I was in the English arena and the girls said "jump the small x jumps." He jumped them beautifully. Then I took his saddle off and rode him around bareback. He is really comfy and bareback is my favorite way to ride. I think I can really show him how to move off my legs more quickly bareback. Oh, by the way, the judge at our horse show is one of my competitors for the challenge. She brought her mustang, "Diva," to the show for the experience too, but she wasn't riding in the show. But it was really fun to get to meet somebody else who'll be competing in Sacramento. We even got to let our horses meet one another. We talked about what we were doing in our training, but neither of us divulged much info. Her horse is a bay also. The BLM has given all the trainers mustangs that are all about the same age, color and size to keep the competition as fair as possible.

Millpond Equestrian Center - The Facility

Chato is living and training at Millpond Equestrian Center in Bishop, CA. MEC is located at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains set in the scenic Owens Valley and has 25 acres of corrals, arenas and paddocks with 24-hour on site staff.


Owner/Operator/Trainer
Hilke S. Ungersma

Millpond Equestrian Center Website

Go Janet! Go Chato!

It's been my pleasure to witness my sis-in-law and good friend Janet working with this amazing horse. I want to kidnap him and take him home! Janet's gift and passion is working with horses in general, and mustangs in particular. Chato is so curious, level-headed, smart and giving, they make a perfect pair!

These are some of the pictures I've taken in their first two weeks together.