Floki’s Trust: A Quiet Moment in the Pasture

Earning the Heart of a Mustang

This story first appeared on our Facebook page, where so many of you shared your own experiences with trust and connection. I wanted to expand on it here on Fading Hoofbeats, because it captures a turning point in Floki’s journey — one that speaks to what it really means to build a partnership with a mustang.

A Mustang’s Instincts

The other day, I had one of those rare, quiet moments with Floki that stopped me in my tracks. A trainer had come out to work with Lagertha, and as I was leading Floki up from the back run-in, she entered the pasture. Instantly, Floki tensed — ears pricked, muscles taut, body alert to the new presence.

For a wild-born mustang, this reaction is survival itself. Floki lived free on the McGavin Peak HMA in northern California before his capture, and in the wild, a stranger would almost always mean danger. That instinct never fully leaves, no matter how much time a mustang spends in domestic life.

The Check-In

But instead of bolting or bracing as he once would have, Floki turned to me. He reached over with his nose, brushed my cheek, paused — then nudged me again. Floki — my little dragon — wasn’t looking for treats or play. He was asking, “Is this safe? Do you have my back?”

I always tell him, “I gotchyer back, Jack.” This was my chance to prove it.

I wrapped my arm gently around his jaw, stroking his cheek while whispering reassurance. After a long moment, his body softened. He exhaled, his head came down, and with one more touch of his nose to my cheek, he was ready to walk forward at my side.

Trust in Layers

A few months ago, this would not have been possible. Floki’s instinct would have been to retreat. His world, until recently, had taught him to depend only on himself. But trust builds slowly, layer by layer.

For Floki, those layers have looked like this:

• Allowing me to touch his face.
• Standing quietly for haltering.
• Walking past unfamiliar objects.
• And now, choosing to check in with me when another human entered his space.

Even the way I lead him reflects this trust. Floki doesn’t like to be micromanaged. I give him three feet of slack on the lead, and he respects it. He may switch sides behind me if something makes him nervous, but even when he spooks, he no longer “hits the end of the rope.” I respect his choices, and he respects my fragility as the squishy human in his world.

Why It Matters

Moments like these may look small from the outside, but they are monumental in the journey of a mustang and his human. They form the foundation of a relationship — creating not just a horse that obeys, but a horse that partners.

For me, this is the heart of horsemanship. It isn’t about control or forcing compliance. It’s about listening as much as leading, and becoming a place of safety in a world that can still feel threatening.

When Floki touched my cheek that day, I felt the weight of every small choice that led us here: every time I stepped back instead of pushing, every time I rewarded the try, every time I waited instead of rushing. It all added up to this one quiet moment where my mustang chose me over fear.

And that choice is worth more than any ribbon, title, or milestone. It’s trust — real, living trust.

Closing Thoughts

This is why I share our journey. Every mustang, whether from Devil’s Garden, McGavin Peak, or another HMA or WHT, carries with them both instinct and resilience. With patience, respect, and consistency, they can choose to trust us. And when they do, it changes everything.

When Floki touched my cheek that day, I felt the weight of every small choice that led us here: every time I stepped back instead of pushing, every time I rewarded the try, every time I waited instead of rushing. It all added up to this one quiet moment where my mustang chose me over fear. And in that choice, my little dragon showed me the true heart of Mustang training — trust over instinct, partnership over fear.

Thank you for walking this trail with us. If you’d like to follow more stories of Floki and Lagertha, and our preparation for a 4,000+ mile long ride, you can Subscribe Below.