Wild Mustang Adoption-Pros/Cons, and opinions of others who've adopted

[High Roost Ranch]

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I've heard several people with success stories. The hardest part is I'm going through online adoption, so I can only see what I can try and read from the photos. Such as, when taking photos, are they curious of the camera & human taking the pic, or are they hell bent on trying to get away from the one taking photos making it hard to get a photo. I'm basically using that theory, with conformation, on making my decision on which I'd bid on.

Did your friend do the training on them? From halter breaking on up? Or did she send them out for professional training and handling?

 

[Bunnylady]

You might like to check this site out:

http://www.kbrhorse.net/pag/train.html

 

[Elite Silkies]

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I've heard several people with success stories. The hardest part is I'm going through online adoption, so I can only see what I can try and read from the photos. Such as, when taking photos, are they curious of the camera & human taking the pic, or are they hell bent on trying to get away from the one taking photos making it hard to get a photo. I'm basically using that theory, with conformation, on making my decision on which I'd bid on.

Did your friend do the training on them? From halter breaking on up? Or did she send them out for professional training and handling?

No, she done all the ground work and her father usually rides them for the first time. I had a paint mare that I paid good money for as a year old, and she was down right crazy!! I should have spent alot less and got a mustang!! I also done all the ground work on all of my horses, but a friend of mine got on them for the first time. I can't do that part, I had a bad experience with a race horse and ended up with a concussion, and I can't get over the fear of coming off and hitting the ground anymore

It seems to hurt alot more that I'm older, lol. I've only managed to ride one out through a buck, and that was enough for me!!

The walmart sacks are really good to work on calming them down. We tie our's to the end of whip. You have to calm them down and let them trust you, that's the hardest part in my opinion. I wouldn't bid on one any older than 2, but it's best to get one around a year old.

She has 4 right now, and one that passed away that was 25 years old. He was an amazing horse. He also gave my girls rides. He was their favorite, but Dollar really is just as good. But, Dollar has leg issues and is unable to do alot anymore.

Her Mustangs have been easier to train than any horse I have ever had. Out of 5, she only has one that is high spirited, and he just loves to run........... and he is hard to stop!! So, one out of 5 isn't bad.

 

[itsachicken]

You're going into this with your eyes open and with a lot of experience with difficult horses. I think you'll do just fine. A lot of the problems with mustangs seem to stem from newbies caught up in the "romance" of owning a wild horse. Years ago, I led trail rides out in Colorado and there were a couple of mustangs on our string. Not particularly pretty animals, but good solid horses, even with inexperienced riders.

Like you, I've spent a lot of time rehabbing "problem" horses, and there are a LOT of them in the world. Abuse and neglect can really mess up a horse's head but some of the worst problems came from well-meaning, but clueless horse owners. One of the most memorable was a woman who taught her weanling to play tag with her. It was awfully cute until he grew up. At a year and a half he stood over 15hh and was nearly unmanageable.

As far as mustang adoptions bringing down the value of domestic breeds--fah! Closing the last meat packing plant in the US that handled horses has had a greater impact on prices and the number of abandoned horses.

I think you should give it a shot.

 

[jmhappycowboy]

I have adopted 5 BLM Mustangs in the past years and I must say that it was the best experience i've ever had with horses. My very first adoption I got 3 of them a 9 pinto gelding (Chief). This horse was rounded up, gelded and I adopted him all within 90 days he was never held in a holding yard for a long time so basically he still had a lot of the stallion actions about him when I got him and truthfully he always was the protector of my herd of horses. But let me tell you it took me about 2 weeks before I could touch him, but after that first touch it wasn't long before I could hold the lead rope and brush his neck, shoulders and back. I spent a lot of time in the pen with him just standing or sitting on a barrel and talking with him letting him get used to me. I learned to trust that he wasn't going to hurt me and he learned the same that I was a friend and not going to hurt him. He was probably the best friend I ever had, once trust was established between us it was all much easier than dealing with horses I had raised and handled from birth. I was riding Chief within 90 days of bringing him home, we rode many many miles of trails and another thing about Mustangs they are the most surefooted animals you'll ever ride. I will also tell you that when they bond with you they are pretty much your horse, they will tolerate others riding them but they don't trust others quite as well as they do you, until they get to know them. Chief went on to become one of the best roping horses i've ever ridden and another thing that horse never kicked, bit or pawed at me or anyone else while I had him. After several years there was a man from Florida had saw him several times and he came up with his young son and the son rode Chief and wanted him for a roping horse. So I sold him and Chief went to live in FL and lived with this young man until he died of old age.

The second Mustang adopted was a Black Stallion 6 yr old (Sam) but he came to me already halter trained and partially saddle broke (in the prison facility's) Sam was another as good as they come, like I say he came here already green broke so we went to riding him immediately and never had any problems with him. My dad decided one day that Sam would make a good plow horse to work the garden with, so he put the harness on him and within 3 days he had him in the garden plowing away. Needless to say Sam at that point became my dads horse and he lived out his life as my dads favorite horse to work the garden with. Dad said he'd never had a horse that was as good as Sam in the garden or plowing and trust me my dad had worked many, many horses and mules in the garden.\\

The third Mustang adopted was a 7 yr old Grey Mare (Queen) , now she was a different story, she would tolerate touch when SHE wanted it and not at any other time, she was never broken to saddle as I think she would have died fighting, and we tried several times but she would just never give in to anyone on her back, she had some scars on her shoulders and back so I think she might have been attacked by a cougar or something while running wild. So with her the wild instincts where just to ingrained to do much with. She would also bite and kick at you if she felt cornered or threatened. So my advice is if possible stay away from older mares.

The fourth Mustang adopted was a 5 yr old Bay Gelding (Rocket), he was also halter broke and had been ridden some (in the prison facility) before we got him. Again we got him home settled him in and went to riding him immediately, he quickly became my brother-in-laws favorite and he rode Rocket everywhere, his whole family my sister and their 2 children could do anything they wanted with Rocket and one time Tanner their son he was just a little tyke at the time slipped off from his mom and they found him in the pasture with Rocket standing over him and the child wasn't harmed at all just standing there with his arms wrapped around the horses leg.

The fifth Mustang adopted was a 3 yr old Pinto Filly (Wildfire) She was as wild as a deer when she first came here and it took a little longer with her to get her to come around than it did with the completely wild first horse but when she did come around she was nothing but a pet and anyone that could sit on her back could ride her and she was an awesome riding horse.

Sorry to have taken up so time and space here but I just wanted to let you know that if you have the time and patience to deal with a Mustang you will be rewarded as you've never been before, it is an amazing experience to gain the trust and love of one of these magnificent animals. Also in my opinion the Stallions or Geldings ARE easier to deal with and gentle than the mares but both are very rewarding.

I do have pictures of these Mustangs, but I will have to dig them out of the Cedar Chest I will get them scanned in and posted later tonight for you to see.

Oh and I have adopted a couple of Burros also and they are super great at protecting their territory, I got a pair a Jenny and she had a Jack colt, we had him gelded and they are a total hoot and so comical to watch.

 

[chickenzoo]

If you have time and patience and can gently train horses... they can be wonderful horses.They will not tolerate abuse like domestic horses will. I have a nine year old bay Mare, I got her as a 3 year old. She came from Nevada. I wasn't her first owner, but they only had her a short time. They said they couldn't do anything with her, but they treated her like a "wild horse". I bought her for $100, and never regretted it. She is short, stocky and built like a tank. I have done endurance, trail, jumping and a little of everything with her. She is very willing once she trusts you and very, very smart. Hubby tried to take her out on his own one day while I was off riding with a friend. I came home and in the distance I saw a horse stopped at the stop sign way ahead. As I got closer.... It never moved......... when I got up close enough to see who it was..... their was Destiny. Hubby had her bit on wrong, the saddle too loose and she wasn't taking that fool anywhere.... LOL Once I adjusted it, off she went....They are very smart and very loyal. I think they make better horses because there was no one to mess them up in the first place, you don't have to try and correct bad habits from other peoples training. My mare also made a great foster mom..... she loves babies. I had a 3 month old mini stallion I acquired, and she bonded to him instantly. She never had a baby that the vet could tell, but she started producing small amounts of milk for him. I thought she would never wean him, he was 2 before she realized he wasn't going to grow anymore... LOL She would also stand by my baby peafowl pen for hours looking in and watching. She let them pull her whiskers.

 

[High Roost Ranch]

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Yesterday, I spent a couple of hours going over the BLM Mustang training program's recommendation, Least Resistance training method. And although I've never given a name to my style of working with horses, it matches what they recommend. I learned early on that cowboying a horse will get you nothing but heartache or hurt, the results are never good. And I'm one of those people who are willing to give a horse as much time as it needs, they are all individuals with different personalities. So I thank you for your vote of "Just Do It" because I really think I am going to. After the first couple, I may even look into their trainer program.

 

[High Roost Ranch]

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Thank you for sharing your individual experiences, and reiterating that each horse, while different, does make a success story. I like the one about Rocket & Tanner, sounds like me when I was a kid, LOL.

Funny you mentioned that about older mares. I called a few people at the BLM and they gave me an eyes wide open view of what I could expect, worse case scenarios included. I could tell from talking to one lady that she wasn't selling me on the horses, but being brutally honest and when I mentioned one that I was considering was an aged stallion she told me that she'd go with him in a heartbeat over a mare with some age on her. I also got that same impression from viewing the photos of how the horses were reacting during their photos being taken. Ears up-inquisitive about what was happening on the studs verses ears back searching for an exit stage left on most of the mares... so thanks for sharing that tidbit, I believe generally speaking you are on the money. Generally because as we all know, each horse is different. But you know what I mean and I know what you mean, ha ha.

 

[High Roost Ranch]

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Awww, she's such a pretty mare. Bays are my favorite color. The two that I am watching in the auction are Nevada horses. Granite mountain range. And I'm still laughing about your hubby... not taking that fool anywhere. LMBO. Your mare looks solid and well adjusted. That's one of the aspects that's attracted me to mustangs, they are built to last.

One interesting tidbit on this stallion I am considering-he is in excellent shape. There are no scars on him. Unlike the other aged stallions that are up for sale who are riddled with battle scars across their body, legs and face, this boy has not a one that I can see. So I'm curious as to how he managed to go that many years without getting marred up. And one of the hottest horses being bid on right now is a young and pretty paint mare. But, she's got a huge scar that sits way up off the back exactly where the tree on the saddle would sit, where something had taken a huge gouge out of her at one point in time. I wonder if those people bidding on her realize how reluctant she may be to taking a saddle. Surely that hunk of scar tissue is going to have to be surgically removed or it would otherwise be like riding her with a golf ball under the saddle pad, and that won't last long. I sure hope the person that gets her is horse savvy and realizes she'll need to have that corrected first before trying to saddle her.

So, one person against mustangs, and all the rest sharing their great stories. Keep them coming, I'd love to hear more!!! And thank you to those who have shared their experiences, I really do appreciate you taking the time to do so.

Julie

 

[Bossroo]

The success stories are great, but I must say that many of the so called Mustangs are only ferral horses or one generation out in the wild. When I worked at UCD Vet. Pathology dept., back in 1969 we received a shipment of 37 wild horses ( mares and geldings) from the BLM out of Montana. Most of them were wild as March hares, but 2 had ranch brands on them and were quite wild by then but gentled right down for easy handling. Seven of them had quite evident draft horse genetics in them and were quite docile and became handleable. Three mares foaled and all three foals were as wild as they come, and after 2 years were still so. The only way that we were able to catch them was by running them into a narrow chute. Then they would allow us to put our hands on them without too many objections. We were able to gentle down about half of the horses so that we were able to go into their pens and with some cornering, put halters on them. There were 9 of us ( Veterinarian Professors, Grad Vet Students and Students) that worked with them for over 2 years... 2 of us got brocken bones, one was kicked in the stomach and had to be hopitalized for 3 days, 1 was grabbed by a mare with her teeth that held on and wouldn't let go for several minutes, he had to be hopitalized overnight. and all of us had many cuts and bruises. Last year there are many posters for free horses at all of the feed stores around here... a cattle rancher in the High Sierra Nevada mountains owns over 10,000 acres of land. It seams that he was the not so proud owner of 17 horses that were abandoned on his ranch over the last prevous 2 years. He just didn't want or afford the feed bill that these abandoned horses have burdened him with. Most can be easily caught and ridden, some not so cooperative.