When Ned Twinning III and his wife Diana of Bull Run Farm in Aldie made a commitment to preserve wild horses, they created a new paradigm for the preservation of one of the most fragile elements of the American West.

The wild horse is descended from Spanish colonial bloodstock, combined with bloodlines that Western ranchers contributed when they released their stallions to breed with wild mares in the more than 180 management areas where herds now roam free in the West.

With the guidance of Patti Colbert, Executive Director of the Mustang Heritage Foundation in Texas, the Twinings designed a greatly enhanced wild horse training program. They were determined to create an entirely new model for wild horse adoption and to ensure that the characteristics of the wild horses were well understood and appreciated.

Ned and Diana made a major financial commitment to build a new training facility at The 88 Ranch, their home near Savery, Wyoming and undertook to train eight wild horses for adoption in 2009.

All they needed was a gifted trainer.

Fortunately, at The King Ranch, Ned met Gerry Gesell. A Texas-born, polo-playing cowboy who had handled horses from Montana to California to Florida to South Carolina and back to Texas, Ned knew right away, he'd found his trainer.

Gerry's mother, Carin, a San Antonio horse trainer, had her triplets (Gerry, his brother, Tommy, and his sister, Wendy) all in the saddle by the age of three.

Gesell (pronounced Ga-zelle) is a soft-spoken young man who exudes kindness and a love for wild horses that more than equals the commitment Ned and Diana have made to re-introduce them to the world beyond the West.

"For years, I followed the jobs and the sun," Gerry explained. "The horse world is closely connected across national and international boundaries, so it was a perfect profession for me. I wanted to travel and see the world."

After years of training polo ponies, Gerry felt the need slow down and spend his days working ranch horses and chasing wild cattle. Good fortune took Gerry back to Texas and to the legendary King Ranch with a focus on training ranch horses. Ned came down to purchase one of Gerry's three year old working cow horses.

They understood each other and the need for a new adoption model immediately and Gerry accepted Ned's offer to manage training for The 88 Ranch Wild Horse Program.

Although Gerry had spent much of his life on ranches and in hunt country, he had never "messed with" a mustang. But he knew that, without changes, this aspect of the American West's heritage would be compromised and lost.

"I love the West as much as Ned and Diana do," Gerry said. "I wanted to contribute to the West and helping the Mustang was a perfect way to do it."

Deciding to create a new model for the Bureau of Land Management's Wild Horse Adoption Program was no small thing. Convincing the powers that be required a detailed presentation and the creation of a high level of confidence.

Gerry formally went to work for Ned on The Wild Horse Program in February of this year.

"We thought it would certainly take a year to get started," Gerry said. "But Patty Colbert encouraged us to begin right away. We choose eight Mustangs, four geldings and four fillies at BLM Palomino Valley Pens in Reno, Nevada on May 26th. We moved them to the ranch on May 27th and I began a three-month training program with them the next morning."

Ned's new model for the adoption of wild horses is both simple and extremely effective.

Rather than an individual adopting a Mustang directly from the Nevada pens, Ned and Gerry actively search for individuals who want to adopt a Mustang. They learn what their clients want their horse to do, and they train the Mustang for that purpose before the horse goes to its new home.

Wild Horse Program clients come to 88 Ranch to meet their horse under Gerry's supervision once the horse is trained and have an opportunity to get to know their animal in a calm atmosphere that is supportive for everyone involved.

"This is the first year of our contract with the Bureau of Land Management," Ned explained. "And it is the first time nationally that an individual who wants a Mustang is getting a fully trained horse. It makes the adoption process so much more pleasant and gives both the horses and their new owners a real chance to build a successful relationship."

"I'm simply an agent for the BLM. When our clients take possession of their Mustang, they pay the Bureau of Land Management $125 as an adoption fee. We do however charge a training fee for performance horses such as polo prospects."

Describing the first Mustangs he trained at The 88 Ranch, Gerry smiled and said, "I have to be honest, I was just as prejudiced as anyone about Mustangs."

"But I knew immediately which horses we wanted as we began the selection process. People do not realize the potential and the quality that these horses possess. They carry a discipline and can have the configuration to perform beautifully as hunters, ranch horses, competitive jumpers, polo ponies or eventers. Within three days I had all eight horses haltered, tied and looking for work. They have a natural respect for us."

"We did some of our training at the Nevada State Penitentiary in Carson City and it was very rewarding for the inmates and the horses and ourselves. We expect to enlarge this aspect of our program," Ned added.

Gerry believes that The 88 Ranch Wild Horse Training Program will give Mustangs their much-deserved identity.

"These horses don't have an identity, they just have a government brand under their manes. They deserve legitimacy as a fundamental part of American history. They deserve respect and admiration. Just because they are not expensive doesn't mean they are not good or even great horses."

"Mustangs come in every shape size and color. You can pick from the pony type, the glorious thoroughbred conformations and even the hunt field type warmbloods. All of the types have potential and train impeccably."

"People glorify their wildness, but once trained, Mustangs are elegant, intuitive animals that have exceptional quality."

One of the Mustangs Ned and Gerry trained this year for adoption named Tan Tivy is a beautiful three year old gray filly who now rides in the Aiken, South Carolina hunt and has already won ribbons.

"She'll ride in the Christmas in Middleburg Parade this year," Ned said. "She's a beautiful example of what wonderful horses Mustangs really are," Ned said.

"We've committed to train 15 fillies in our 2010 program. We're going to change the horse world's mind about Mustangs, and we're honored to do it."