The Adventures of Maximus

Max is a five-year-old miniature horse that came to us from the Travis County Sheriff's Department. They dropped off an almost feral two-year-old stud that had no idea how to behave like a well-mannered citizen. We were unaware at that time what kind of exciting future he would have. As he began to integrate into life at the ranch, we saw his fearless and curious personality displayed. He loved to be in the middle of anything going on and greeted every visitor at his gate. Seeing his passion for life and activity, we hoped that he would be a candidate for making visits to veteran hospitals and nursing homes, as well as other outreach opportunities.

Early into his training, it was obvious that Max was smart, especially if he found the activity to be fun. We began with leading, grooming, and posing on the mounting block. Getting on the mounting block was his favorite. He became so good at it that he started to stand and pose on objects when trying to get someone’s attention. During all this, we also started going indoors to practice hanging out without the need to taste countertops, tables, and couch cushions. Max adjusted to being indoors quickly, so we decided to take a field trip to expose him to places outside the ranch. After constructing a ramp, we loaded Max into the backseat of a truck and took him to Petco. He had a blast! We couldn’t walk by people without stopping and allowing him to meet everyone. The trip was a success; we enjoyed air conditioning and shared a bag of snacks on the way home.

In October of 2024, Max had another outing on his agenda. He was invited to The Colony to greet the neighborhood trick-or-treaters at the community center. Dressed as a cowboy, he spent the evening posing for photos with princesses and superheroes. We discovered Max absolutely loves cotton candy. Additionally, he expects everyone to share it with him. While we still have room for improvement on public behavior, Max did very well with all the children and the commotion that surrounded him throughout the evening. Going forward, we planned to continue taking him out in public so that people and places aren’t quite as new and exciting.

Between outings, this busy fella spends his time coming indoors for small ranch events, providing training experiences for veterans, or rough housing with his roommate, Romeo. On occasion, he also visits an obstacle course that’s not far from Restoration Ranch. He is fearless with every obstacle that’s in front of him. Whether he’s going over bridges and teeter totters, or through obstacle curtains and narrow spaces, he moves forward without a moment of hesitation. It is usually during a luncheon or caregiver’s event when he makes an appearance inside. We stay in the open area by the couch while everyone takes turns meeting him. During the week, volunteers and veterans who have spent time in the horsemanship program are able to spend time working with Max. They practice standing quietly for grooming, wearing a surcingle (as learning how to ground drive is next on the agenda), and walking all over the ranch, including in the main building. In Max’s free time, he enjoys “mowing” around the arena and playing chase with Romeo.

Earlier this summer, Max participated in the Smithville Jamboree parade. He worked well amidst the new sights and sounds, including trains that went by twice. Throughout the parade, he stopped to greet the many children who ran up to meet him. He even posed for photos with the high-school band.

The most recent event on Max’s social calendar was his visit to Consuela in Smithville. While shopping, he made video footage that will promote a give-back event on August 9th. Our lovely host gave Max his own swag to wear on his many outings. Although Max enjoyed his Consuela tour, he does think their refreshment counter should be lowered to accommodate his future visits. Make sure to be on the lookout for your favorite miniature horse in upcoming local ads!

Max will continue to thrive and pad his resume with more skills at Restoration Ranch. As he builds connections in the community and surrounding areas, he believes in maintaining a healthy work-play balance (lots of play, intermittent work in his humble opinion). We invite everyone to follow his exciting journey via Facebook and future blogs.