Fading Hoofbeats
Where Wild Hearts and Open Trails Meet
Fading Hoofbeats follows two wild-born mustangs across the American West—real training, real miles, and trust built the honest way, always horse-first. Along the route, we plant native trees to give back to the landscapes that shaped them, leaving a living legacy for mustangs and communities, improving the landscape as we go.
Updates From the Trail
The road is long, the miles are real, and the mustangs are leading the way. Stay tuned for trail updates, field notes, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the ride as it unfolds.
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Do Horses Feel Empathy?
If you’ve ever asked, “Do horses feel empathy?” online, you’ve probably met this comment: “Stop anthropomorphizing.” And sure — I understand the caution. Humans can project motives where we don’t have proof, and horses don’t think in words the way we do. They aren’t building moral arguments in their heads. They aren’t writing explanations for…
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Do Horses Feel Empathy?
By Keeper of the Quiet Miles • February 14, 2026If you’ve ever asked, “Do horses feel empathy?” online, you’ve probably met this comment: “Stop anthropomorphizing.” And sure — I understand the caution. Humans can project motives where we don’t have proof, and horses don’t think in words the way we do. They aren’t building moral arguments in their heads. They aren’t writing explanations for… -
The Moment Trust Is Broken: A Trap Isn’t Training
By Keeper of the Quiet Miles • February 12, 2026There’s a video making the rounds right now that I can’t shake. A woman stands with a horse on a lead rope. A pan of feed sits on the ground a few feet ahead. She backs toward it a couple of steps with the horse following, then shifts her body and “opens a path” like… -
Trail Break 6: Packing the Quiet Miles — Word Search
By Keeper of the Quiet Miles • January 7, 2026If you’ve ever packed for a ride where the next town is “whenever we get there,” you know the feeling: the quiet panic of forgetting one tiny thing that becomes a big thing later. This word search is a peek into that “packing the quiet miles” list mindset—horses, humans, weather, and the little gear that… -
Consent-Based Haltering (First Touches to First Buckle)
By Keeper of the Quiet Miles • January 6, 2026There’s a moment in mustang work where everything gets quiet and your mustang is standing there thinking, and you can feel the decision happening behind liquid chocolate eyes. They begin to realize that they aren’t trapped; they can say no, and they can even leave instead of doing what’s being asked. That’s the moment I’m… -
Quiet Miles Route Spine: From the Desert to the High Country
By Keeper of the Quiet Miles • January 3, 2026Some routes look clean on a map—straight lines, tidy turns, a beginning and an end you can tap with a fingertip. Ours doesn’t.The Quiet Miles route spine starts at the desert edge in San Luis, Arizona. From there we reach for the California coast, swing inland toward Devil’s Garden, climb into the high country around… -
The Road to Devil’s Garden
By Keeper of the Quiet Miles • December 19, 2025I didn’t plan on building a long-ride project. I just wanted a Devil’s Garden mustang—then Lagertha and Floki rewrote the whole story. This is where Fading Hoofbeats begins.
From the Arena to the Open Trail
Upcoming Events
Join us for upcoming rides, clinics, and shows celebrating the spirit of the mustang. Whether you’re in the saddle, on the rail, or following from afar, every event connects us through the sound of fading hoofbeats.
There are no upcoming events at this time
Our Friends and Associates
We’re proud to share the trail with a growing circle of friends, small businesses, and organizations whose values reflect the same heart and spirit that guide Fading Hoofbeats.
