Getting a mustang can be an amazing experience. However, there are some things you need beforehand.
While there are many different places you can adopt a wild horse the most popular way is through the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (also known as BLM). According to the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program the minimum requirements for adopting a wild horse or burro are as follows. First of all, the adopter must be at least 18 years old. The horse or burro must also remain in the United States until titled (which is 1-year). Must have no convictions of inhumane treatment of animals or a violation of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses & Burros Act. You must also provide a facility with access to feed, water, and shelter. You will also need a facility that meets: A minimum of 400 sq. feet of corral space per animal, i.e. 20’ X 20’ for untrained animals or a minimum of 144 sq. feet per animal, 12’ X 12’ for trained animals that are exercised daily. Suitable materials for the facility include pipe panels, wood post, planks (min. 1.5” thick), horse fence (V Mesh or 2” X 4” square). The fences must be 5’ High for yearling or gentled horse of any age, 6’ High for an ungentled horse two years or older, 4.5’ High for a burro of any age. Shelter that meets the minimum requirements for wild horses and burros based on the state or region in which the animal resides, unless otherwise stipulated by the authorized officer, Adopter must provide a stock or horse trailer with a rear swing gate and covered top. Provided the dividers are removed or folded back, slant trailers are acceptable. Drop-ramps are acceptable if there is an additional back gate to the trailer. Two-horse trailers approved on case-by-case basis. No one-horse trailers are approved. Minimum shelter requirements vary by state, but for the most part a three-sided shelter with a roof meets the standard.
Now that we have gotten the requirements out of the way, here are my suggestions for adopting a wild horse. This is not including everything ,nor is it including some of the basic horse necessities that you will eventually need. First, I recommend a 50’ round pen with a fence at least 6’ tall. I would recommend the rails on the fence be no more than 4” apart. Ideally, a solid fence or adding plywood to the inside of the panels. This would be ideal because it would prevent the horse from getting a leg through the fence, causing injury. Next, I strongly recommend, keeping your round pen opening within 8-24 feet of your horse's living stall or paddock, unless your horse lives in the round pen. Then I recommend keeping 2-7 panels, depending on your situation, near by. The purpose of this will be addressed in the next mustang series blog! I would also not recommend keeping your horse in a paddock more than 1 acre in size as it will make the training process more difficult. If your mustang is staying in a stall, I recommend if you have the option choose a stall with a view of the outside to help calm your new horse. I recommend a stall that is very sturdy and that you have the stall walls and door going to the ceiling or at least 10’ high. I would start by putting your mustang in a stall with lots of light, and in a low human traffic area. Eventually moving him to a higher traffic area. Another nice touch is turning on a radio, either on soft music or talking, on a very low volume. This will help him get used to humans as well. Make sure you have plenty of hay and grass as your mustang most likely has never seen anything but hay and grass. Make sure you have a large bucket of water as the mustang may be scared to stick his head in a small bucket and will not know how to use most automatic waterers.
When planning any and everything for your mustang always keep in mind that everything is new and scary to your mustang. He or she has just been chased out of his home where he was born and raised. Your new horse has been taught his whole life to be afraid of predators and humans, which by the way we are considered predators. He has been taught that we are bad and dangerous. Which is why the first thing you want to do with your mustang is show him that you are not there to hurt him and work to gain his trust. More on this will be covered in next Tuesday’s blog.
There are many methods for training, this is simply my method. I hope you enjoyed my article. Let me know in the comments if this helped you or just taught you something new. Be sure to subscribe, to receive our monthly newsletter and be notified when my next article comes out. If you have any questions, or need training advice, leave a comment, or send me an email and I will get back with you as soon as possible!
Jaynie Kiel
Comments