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

[High Roost Ranch]

I was hoping to get some input from others who may have adopted through the BLM as to what your experience and/or recommendation is? I've got my eye on an aged stallion, and either a yearling or a two year old filly. I already know should I end up winning the bid on the stallion that it's going to be a project and then some. I'm not too concerned about the younger fillies though, this is what I started out with as a kid almost 40 yrs ago when my dad bought some young yearling and 2 yr olds from a guy that let them range in northern MN, never having had a halter or a hand on them. He turned those over to me as a project, and they went on to be great horses. But, that was many years ago, and mustangs are still just a little differently wired as far as the fight or flight response I'm assuming since they were raised from dams who also had these instincts ingrained in them. Browsing the online gallery of adoptables, there seems to be 2 classes of mustangs. Those that they can get closeup still shots of, and those that are hard to photograph because they are on the move, still looking for a way out. Am I to assume that that's a pretty good indicator of how well they are willing to accept their new situation, humans included? I am concerned about the possibility of a filly being bred too young, but they assured me that it is unlikely the yearling mare was exposed to a stallion since they have been in holding since January, and they are still cycling now which means they are open. Health wise, what has anyone seen in their adoptive horses?

I guess I'm exploring a new phase in horses, having done the show and rodeo circuits for many years, then onto rehabbing horses who have had their minds blown, and now looking at a new project to work on with my daughter. Pros/cons, anything in between? And when I mean project, I don't mean involving her in the stallion project at all, or even the filly project hands-on until later in the training, when the filly has been settled and accepts humans. Unlike me being told there's 3 horses that need to be broke, get it done, I want her to walk through it with guidance that I can give her.

Oh, and if you have photos of your success stories, please share them! I'd love to see them.

Thanks in advance for your input.
Julie

 

[Kelly G]

I don't "do" mustangs....but here are a couple of forums that have members that might be able to help you

Good luck & have fun!

http://kigers.proboards.com/index.cgi

http://www.frontiernet.net/~sulphur/

 

[Bossroo]

I'm in California, and speaking from personal friends' or friends of friends experiences... I personally know of only one mustang that was successfully rehabed. All of the rest not so good... 1) one of those 2 year old colts from the BLM for $25 wonders will end up costing more than if you baught one for $50,000. ( friend's friend's hospital stays). 2) first get head examined , then get a second opinion. A year after getting a yearling colt, friend's wife was kicked in head by this $25 wonderhorse , now in rest home with a fried brain . 3) friends adopted a black yearling BLM filly for $25, after 2 years baording at $300 per month and daily tries to getting to know her , then another year and a half later and spending an additional $650 a month with a well known trainer for professional saddle training, She is as rank as ever.. 4) friend's friends adopted a yearling BLM yearling filly for $25. Three months later the wife entered the corral and started to go toward the filly, who wheeled around and kicked her square in the chest with both hind hooves... she was dead before she hit the ground. ETC. This, and not to mention that getting one of these cheap so called mustang wonder horses, one is contibuting to the LOSS of VALUE of the established breeds. This leads to abandoned domestic horses which are turned loose to fend for themselves and slowly starve. If lucky end up being given away for free or in a horse rescue. If someone is still considering getting a mustang stallion... did I mention to consider to get head examined?

 

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

I am not terribly horse experienced so forgive my ignorance, but WHY? These are wild horses? What, are they captured and sold? Why would you even want a wild horse? Sounds dangerous and pretty wrong, but correct me if I'm drawing an improper conclusion.

 

[High Roost Ranch]

Quote:
Thanks, I've bookmarked the sites so I can read up on them.

 

[ChickenToes]

Quote:
It is illegal in the US to kill a wild horse, even for population control. The BLM has been running out of land to place the horses for a long time, so they run an adoption program. The horses are captured and gentled, then sold at public auction.

https://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse/

 

[Elite Silkies]

My friend has several and that is all she will buy. They are all broke and rideable. One is the best horse I have ever seen. When my girls were about 5 years, I would just throw them on him and let them go. One is broke, but he is very high spirited and loves to run.

She has a nice palomino that is dog gentle. So, from my experience just from being around hers, I don't see anything wrong with buying a Wild Mustang. She will not buy one any older than 2 years old.

 

[High Roost Ranch]

Quote:
LOL on did you mention getting the head examined... I'm giving this a LOT of thought. Trust me on that. And don't get me wrong, I am aware of the current plight both domestic AND wild mustangs are in. In the last year, I have had 3 horses that were rescues that were homeless. Two I found good homes for, the 3rd we are keeping. And I have four horses now, two minis, and an AQHA & APHA. I've dealt with a lot of crazy horses in my life, but those were crazy caused at the hands of an abusive human. They were crazy because they learned that humans WILL harm them. My thought process on mustangs is their fear exists because (barring of course their capture experience), that they have not learned that humans are out to do them harm beyond taking away their freedom. I've had a few rehab horses that were on the verge of going to slaughter because they would just as soon kill the person trying to handle them than anything else, one was so bad he was a danger to himself as well as me. But I fixed him, and found the right owner for him, and that was 12 yrs ago and he's still sound in the mind. I guess you could say I was their last chance. On those few, I spent a year solid rehabbing them. And those were broke horses. So I know this isn't going to be easy. And I'm still undecided yet if this is something I want to take on. I sure don't want to be a statistic, or have anyone else a statistic because of my project. So thanks for your input. I am asking for both pros and cons, and you've definitely stated the cons.

 

[verthandi]

I've have only owned one mustang but have worked with several others. My first one came to Maine before BLM even existed. He arrived here as a two year old with his three year old brother and dam. Smartest darn horse I ever owned. Little, wiry and was like riding the wind. His brother also had a great mind. The most expensive part is having solid accommodations for them. Think telephone pole round pen and turn outs. Solid built and high, as they will go over the top if possible.

The second unnerving problem is treatment if they get physical hurt or sick before you have them gentled. You may want to check with your vet to insure that they are willing to work with mustangs. I can say that I liked working with the mustangs and also other unhandled horses more than some of the imprinted young horses that we have now. Earning a mustang's trust is an amazing thing, a humbling experience and can be very dangerous. I think I would pass on the older horse that is a stallion, a young mustang is a big enough project on it's own.

My mustang became my trail horse and one of the best barrel horses I ever owned. He taught all the other horses how to open the brook in the winter time for water. (even though they had a tub right beside the barn). He pawed for grass even when the snow was 2 feet deep. He never became the cuddly horse, like some home raised horses, but there was a respect and trust between us that I have not recaptured since. And totally unimportant, may call them stangs and that is fine....but they have earned their rightful name as Mustangs.

 

[RachelFromTheBlackLagoon]

Quote:
It is illegal in the US to kill a wild horse, even for population control. The BLM has been running out of land to place the horses for a long time, so they run an adoption program. The horses are captured and gentled, then sold at public auction.

https://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse/

Ah, I see. Thank you for the information!