Ever since you were a child, you’ve ALWAYS wanted a mustang. The media portrays mustangs as fierce, loyal horses that play a vital role in the history of the American West. Maybe you’ve worked with a variety of domestic horses, or are a first time horse owner looking to fulfill your childhood dream. You find yourself a flashy, wild-eyed horse for the super affordable price of $125. You get the horse home…. Only to quickly realize you may have bit off WAY more than you can chew.
I come across this EXACT scenario regularly. An individual who lacks experience with feral horses, gets a mustang and realizes they have absolutely no idea what they’re doing. They either return it to the holding pens, sell it to another inexperienced home or let it sit in a pen for years because no one can handle it. What people fail to realize is this does a major disservice to the horse and gives mustangs a bad reputation.
So if you’re thinking of adopting a mustang, there’s a few things you should consider:
1) Mustangs are NOT like domestic horses. Domestic horses grew up around humans. Mustangs didn’t. Mustangs grew up always ready to defend themselves from predators. Traveling to find their food. Enduring the harsh reality offered by Mother Nature. The human world is completely foreign to them, and they are going to need time and patience to adjust to our equipment and our environment.
2) Mustangs have endured extensive trauma. Not only is life in the wild absolutely brutal, but a mustangs first experience with people was extremely traumatic. They were rounded up by a helicopter and forced into moving boxes that took them away from their home. We separated them from their families, ran them into chutes to be pricked with needles, branded, and more and then shoved into a trailer again when they go to their new homes. Humans traumatized mustangs, and if you don’t have experience with traumatized horses, a mustang may not be for you.
3) Training mustangs is NOTHING like the movies. There’s no instant connection or riding bridleless off into the sunset after a week. If that’s how easy it was, I’d be a billionaire. Training a mustang means one step forward, ten steps back. Some mustangs let you halter them on day one, others you can’t halter for months. It is mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting.
4) Mustangs require a skilled trainer. They need patience. Time. A handler who is gentle and isn’t going to rush them. Who understands equine body language. Who has experience with fearful and traumatized horses.
5) They aren’t as cheap as you think. $125 is certainly affordable… but that’s the cheapest part. Hay, farrier bills, vet bills, facilities, equipment, training fees and more will be added to your list of expenses. Your wallet is going to hurt. Horses aren’t cheap and every horse owner can vouch for that.
6) Your facilities MUST be different than the typical facilities for a domestic horse. I’ve seen mustangs scale six foot fences. Destroy heavy duty fencing. Escape and disappear for days. If you think your facilities are strong enough, think again. If a horse feels their safety is at risk, they will do anything to protect themselves, even if it means injuring themselves and the ones around them in the process.
7) The danger is considerably higher than one would think. Mustangs have spent their lives avoiding death. If they feel attacking you is the only way to stay safe, they will. When training a traumatized horse, they’re priority is their safety. If you aren’t careful or lack experience, the chances of you facing a career or life ending injury are considerably higher than if you were working with a horse who saw humans as something positive.
8) Mustangs HAVE to be handled. They were rounded up for their own good, and once they are in domestication, they need to be handled. You can’t just turn them out and forget they exist. They need regular maintenance for their hooves, teeth, and more. Letting them sit in a pen because you’re unable or unwilling to handle them is only going to negatively impact their overall health.
9) Mustangs have an increased risk of health issues. There are numerous horses who’s growth was stunted due to improper nutrition in the wild. They can’t always maintain their teeth and could have sustained injuries in the wild which can affect their ability to perform certain tasks. We may not be aware of these medical issues until we bring them home, which is a risk we have to accept.
10) It’s important to understand why mustangs were rounded up in the first place. Due to overpopulation, entire herds of horses are dying excruciating deaths due to starvation, dehydration, and more. While there’s tons of organizations who feel we should leave them in the wild, it’s better to round them up where they will get food and water than let them suffer.
While there are so many benefits to owning a mustang, it’s important to be responsible. If you want to adopt a mustang but lack experience, seek the help of a professional for the safety of both you and the horse. Think before you adopt.
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