BIDDEFORD — Self-described animal lovers often suffice with a dog or two ”“ sometimes a cat, if that’s their inclination. Hannah Clifford wanted to take it a step further.

In elementary school, Clifford started reading about horses; wild mustangs, specifically. With her imagination stoked by the grace and sleek beauty of these occasionally temperamental creatures, she started perusing the Internet in search of ways to get closer to them.

“And then I found this place,” she said.

“This place” is the Ever After Mustang Rescue in Biddeford, a haven for horses that have been salvaged from the wild. At 9 years old, Clifford was too young to start training them, but always knew she’d be back.

Now 16, she and her mother are both active members of Women and Horses, a group that meets twice weekly at the compound, with a goal that is twofold: to tame and gentle these grazing beasts, of course, but also to learn about themselves ”“ their capacity for patience and understanding, their ability to forge a cross-species bond.

On Saturday, members of the group, along with others who have worked with horses at Ever After, gathered under an azure sky for Mustangs in Motion, an annual event that showcases what is possible when a previously untamed mustang meets a caring and empathetic handler.

For Clifford, the event was a chance to show off her own horse, Fuego, who is no stranger to crowds. His was a crash course in domesticity; this year, he and Clifford participated in the Youth Mustang Challenge in Massachusetts, a competition run by the Mustang Heritage Foundation, which required that Clifford train and tame her horse in a tight, 90-day timeframe.

“And now he’s a totally calm, trusting, little 2-year-old mustang,” said Clifford.

Not all of the participants showcased their own horses. When Mona Jerome, Ever After’s director, started Women and Horses about six years ago, the idea was to pair a woman with a horse living at the remote Biddeford ranch, figuring that both human and animal would benefit from the relationship.

What Jerome found is that many of the volunteers became horse addicts; some have been attending the twice-weekly Women and Horses meetings since its inception.

“They get hooked into horses the way I did,” said Jerome. “They’re incredible animals, especially the wild horses. We teach them what we think they need to know, but they teach us a lot, too. They’ve taught me more than I’ve taught them.”

Natasha DeLuca echoed that sentiment on Saturday, shepherding a mustang named Captain around Ever After’s indoor barn prior to her exhibition. DeLuca grew up with mustangs, and joined Women and Horses as a way of reconnecting with the treasured animals; she has worked with Captain for the last 2 1/2 years.

“He’s taught me to see the little things,” said DeLuca. “It makes me more aware of what’s going on around me.

“He needs a little more work. The ultimate goal is to get him adopted so he can have someone around him every day.”

Indeed, adoption is the endgame for many of the mustangs, which is why their training is so important. DeLuca said events like Mustangs in Motion are an effective way to let people know the animals are there, awaiting loving homes.

“No one knows the rescue is even here,” said DeLuca. “That’s the big thing. It’s important for people to know what’s going on here. These horses need all the attention they can get.”

Michael Young, a volunteer at the rescue, said most of the mustangs at Ever After are taken in from the Bureau of Land Management, which removes them from the dangers of the wild and finds places where they may be softened and tamed for eventual adoption. He marveled at the dedication of the Women and Horses group, as well as the other volunteers who dedicate their time to caring for and training the animals.

“It takes a special person to get into training horses,” said Young. “The whole thing is a matter of trust.”

There was plenty of trust to go around as the women brought their horses into the pen to demonstrate how much they’ve learned. Trots, canters and other evidence of domestication were evident, as was the trainers’ love for their respective mustangs.

Clifford, who performed last year, said her experience with the majestic animals has been a unique and rewarding education.

“I learn a lot here,” she said. “It’s just so much fun to be a part of that. I love seeing the mustangs do what they do ”“ and to see them in great homes.”

— Staff Writer Jeff Lagasse can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 319 or [email protected].