Emmie Sperandeo Will Be Nice—or She Gained’t

It was simply this insane expertise the place I’m nervous and this horse is nervous and I’m on a very totally different continent—like the opposite aspect of the world. I’ve to just accept the truth that that is simply all out of my consolation zone, and I’m going to do it anyway.

I grew up in central Florida. I had by no means left the continent earlier than, and I haven’t traveled internationally a lot. I by no means had the boldness or money or time to do it earlier than.

I traveled to Namibia for the month of April and went to go work on a ranch on the market. I bought there and was walking round with one of many ranchers someday. And they’re like, there’s this wild horse. He’s younger, two, however he’s a stallion. He got here in with their herd and simply sort of joined their ranch horse herd. And she was like, if we will get him in a pen, that is your venture whilst you’re right here. You can practice with that horse. And I used to be like, I don’t know if I’m even certified for this. You positive?

It’s undoubtedly not regular for a wild horse to decide on to be domesticated, which is what makes this story sort of distinctive and humorous. But it’s regular for a horse to ultimately get kicked out of their herd once they’re a younger stallion, as a result of the older stallion goes to say it’s time to go. Basically a guardian kicking their child out of the home. And in the event that they’re not robust sufficient once they’re out on their very own, particularly in that panorama and with that wildlife, they’re not going to outlive. And he ended up simply bonding with the horses on the ranch and simply caught round and went into the pasture with them someday and by no means left. He may have left many instances, and he simply determined to hang around.

I named him Kibo. It’s a peak in Africa, as a result of Kibo had a mountain vary on his neck. He was a paint horse, so he had all of those actually lovely markings and a number of the markings seemed like a sharp mountain vary, like a peak.

I had by no means labored with a wild horse earlier than, and particularly one which’s used to such totally different wildlife than the wild horses within the U.S. They’re tremendous reactive and able to battle on a regular basis.

I wasn’t even positive if I may do it. I used to be the primary human interplay this horse has ever had. So I had to ensure he was okay with a human being that near him. Basically, I had ready him the perfect I may, however I additionally didn’t have a complete lot of time, like 30 days. I’d normally take lots longer for that complete course of, however I solely had a month there.

I don’t contemplate myself a horse coach, however I’ve skilled horses. And I’m at all times nervous for that first journey, simply because you possibly can put together them as greatest as you possibly can, nevertheless it’s additionally a extremely unpredictable state of affairs. It’s frankly harmful. And I knew in my head that I used to be eight hours from a hospital on the opposite aspect of the world, and that basically added to the nervousness. But I knew that it was one thing I needed to do.

I bought on him and sort of began going via the motions of what we had been working towards on the bottom, which is like, transfer your hind finish for me, flex your neck round, be tender within the halter. Then we labored on ahead motion. It was going rather well, however he simply spooked at one level after I pet his neck whereas I used to be on him. That’s one thing that he must get used to, so it was mandatory to the touch him and get him used to every thing occurring above him the place I’m out of his line of imaginative and prescient. But for a wild horse whose primary predator is a leopard, their first thought is, oh, a leopard is attacking my neck. So he spooked, and I simply flew off and landed proper on my tailbone. I instantly knew it was fractured. But I feel general it was nonetheless actually good first journey.

Getting Back on the Horse

I bought on him once more the day earlier than I flew out as a result of I didn’t need my final journey on him to be me getting harm.

It was a type of classes that taught me that I can do actually laborious issues.

I used to be by no means even one to wish to journey that a lot as a result of I simply bought so in my head about it and didn’t actually wish to take dangers as a result of I didn’t belief that I’d be capable of deal with numerous conditions. And not that I hadn’t been in them essentially, however I by no means even let myself strive in numerous circumstances: attempt to determine it out, attempt to get myself out of these conditions. I used to be at all times simply ready for any person to avoid wasting me. And it’s the identical sort of factor as the place I used to be ready for any person to go along with me and to start out touring the world.

We’re all able to far more than we predict, and far more than we give ourselves credit score for. That’s one thing that individuals say to me on a regular basis. They’re like, no, I may by no means try this. I’m like, you’d be amazed at what you are able to do in case you simply give your self the chance.

I don’t like take into consideration the poetic phrasing of the issues that I take advantage of to hype myself up lots, however I simply at all times inform myself: it’ll both be nice or it received’t. It’ll both be the perfect expertise ever or the worst expertise ever. And both means, I’ll determine it out. I adapt. That’s what I do now.

Emmie Sperandeo is a ranch hand and Western cinematographer. She lives in her horse trailer and goes coast to coast along with her horses, canine, and at the moment a bison calf. She additionally travels internationally to discover agriculture all over the world. You can discover her on TikTok @steadyrein or on Instagram @emogoatmom. 

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