| Learn Why You Should or Shouldn't Consider | | | | some horse knowledge you will need to think long |
| Adopting a Wild Mustang | | | | and hard about adopting a mustang. Many people |
| When the Spanish explorers of centuries past first | | | | think they are helping when they adopt one without |
| came to the western half of the Americas in search | | | | knowing a lot about horses. Below you will find out |
| of gold and other valuables, they brought horses with | | | | about the requirements to adopt a mustang. It would |
| them in order to make their journeys easier. As time | | | | actually be a disservice to the mustang if it gets an |
| went on some of the horses escaped and created a | | | | owner who doesn't know what they are getting into. |
| new class of horse known as the wild mustang. | | | | Do you have the time to train the wild mustang? You |
| Over time other Spanish horses as well as horses | | | | must realize that there is a very slim chance that you |
| from cattle ranchers and farmers would get loose | | | | will be able to ride your pet mustang within the first |
| and would end up breeding with the mustangs and | | | | year of adoption. You will need to put a lot of work |
| creating herds of these animals. In the 1800's there | | | | into properly breaking the horse and getting it |
| were over 2 million wild horses thriving on wilderness | | | | acclimated to human interaction. Because of this, it |
| land throughout the west, but unfortunately they | | | | will take a lot of time to get the horse "rider ready". |
| were hunted for military use, pet food, and to keep | | | | So if you are looking at adopting a horse you can |
| them from eating food the ranchers wanted for their | | | | ride tomorrow-wild mustangs aren't a good choice for |
| own horses and livestock. They were hunted to the | | | | you. |
| point of near extinction and today fewer than 25,000 | | | | Are you prepared for the surprise of a new foal? |
| of them are still in the wild. | | | | There is a chance that a wild mustang who is |
| Because of this, in 1971, the United States | | | | adopted less than 11 months after being captured is |
| government passed the Wild Free-Roaming Horses | | | | pregnant so you will need to be prepared for this |
| and Burros Act in an effort to protect this dying | | | | surprise as well as be prepared for the attitude that |
| breed of horse. They later amended this act to allow | | | | will accompany the pregnant mare. |
| for the roundup of the mustangs and to allow people | | | | Do you have the proper knowledge and facilities to |
| to adopt a mustang as a pet. If you are interested in | | | | take care of your injured or sick pet? These horses |
| adopting a pet mustang, you need to take a few | | | | will be recently captured and thus a lot more |
| things into consideration before you decide a | | | | susceptible to illness or prior injuries than horses born |
| mustang is the right pet for you. Below are a few of | | | | in captivity. Therefore it is imperative that you either |
| the pros and cons of adopting and caring for a pet | | | | have medical knowledge in caring for horses or have |
| wild mustang. You are going to notice there are more | | | | the ability to hire someone who does, in order to |
| and larger cons to adapting this animal than there are | | | | facilitate any unforeseen illness or injuries that might |
| with many others. | | | | present themselves. |
| What is your patience level? In order to properly | | | | These are just a few of the cons that accompany |
| care for a pet mustang you will need to realize that | | | | adopting a pet mustang. Some of the pros to |
| up until now it was really wild. Because of this, it | | | | adopting are that wild mustangs are a testament to |
| won't be as easy to break as a domesticated horse | | | | the beauty of nature and undoubtedly these horses |
| born in captivity. You will need to learn or already | | | | with proper training can exceed the expectations of |
| possess the skills necessary to convince the mustang | | | | even captivity bred horses. They are naturally strong, |
| that you aren't going to hurt it and that you have its | | | | intelligent and rambunctious and should be admired for |
| best interests in mind. If you have less of a tolerance | | | | their benefits as well as their imperfections. Not only |
| threshold you may want to adopt a younger one | | | | will you gain a friend when you adopt a wild mustang |
| mustang as they will be easier to train than an adult. | | | | but you will be helping to preserve a part of the Old |
| If you don't already have a horse or at least have | | | | West. |