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BLM Mustang!

8K views 62 replies 20 participants last post by  MangoRoX87 
#1 ·
I Just adopted A BLM mustang! She is pretty new off the range, and is still at palomino valley (I pick her up in about two weeks). I picked her out because they said the mature mares usually don't get adopted. She is 3 years old, and technically a pony at 14 hh.

I have a couple questions. I would love to hear from anyone who has gentled a mustang. I would LOVE advice from anyone who has the time and inclination to share some.

I would also like to get opinions on what her color is. I cannot upload pics because it is not an option on my phone. I will do it as soon as I can, I am sure it would help ;) Anyhow, I know her base color is bay. Her whole body is covered in very crisp white dime-quarter sized white spots. The lines of her jaw are also white. I could not get close enough to see if she was mottled, and had appy eyes, but I suspect she is a snowflake Appaloosa. My only hesitation with that I have never seen one with clearly defined white blotches (like a reverse leopard), instead they look like they were dusted with snow (smaller white flecks). Has anyone seen a horse like this? I googled pictures but I could not find anything like her. Thanks in advance guys!
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#30 ·
Is there any way that the trainer could go with you when you pick her up? I would go ahead and have them put a halter on for me because I would want to start working with her in the roundpen as soon as I got home and if she already had a halter with a long lead on her, it would be that much easier to get started. HOWEVER, leaving her in the trailer or in a pen for any length of time at all with a halter and dragging lead on does pose it's risks, just so you know.

As for her feet, it would depend on what kind of shape they were in. If they look okay, not great, but okay, I would go ahead and take my time building up to working with her feet. If they are in horrible shape, I would talk to the farrier and vet to see if you could get them together and sedate her (possibly even knock her completely out) and have her feet trimmed that way the first time. Plus, the vet can preg check her for you to tell you definitively whether you can expect a foal this fall or not.
 
#31 ·
Oh... That's a good idea smrobs. I think I may just have the vet knock her out anyway. I am not sure how long my window for that shot is, but if there was any way she was pregnant, but not that far along... I would prefer that. Not to be harsh or anything, there are just lots of mustangs.

I will have to see of I can a trainer to help me on such short notice. Is there any reason they would need to be there for the pick up? What kind Of halter do you suggest?
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#32 ·
If she is positive and the shot is still a viable option, I also think it is a very good idea.

I wouldn't say that the trainer would need to be there, but it would be a plus if they could make it.

Me, personally, I would probably choose a rope halter just because that's the type I prefer. However, if you worry about the horse getting hurt after getting tangled in the rope or caught on something, you might consider a heavier duty breakaway type halter. That way, they can get loose if they really need to but it does have a bit of holding power.
 
#33 ·
1. odds are she's pregnant and probably past the point of the shot working.

2. if she's 3 and has been running "wild" i'm sure her feet are fine until you can get her to trust you enough to pick them up and work with them.

3. rope halter is best and honestly, a lot of the halter breaking that they WOULD do for you would involved a rope halter and long lead being left on the horse. they're mustangs and they (typically) have a great sense of self preservation so unlike a domesticated horse, if they step on the rope they're not likely to lose their **** like a "normal" horse would do. you'll be much better off having them halter her for you so that you already have it on her when you get home.

4. they are most certainly minimally staffed and at this point it has nothing to do with the season. it's partly sad, partly frustrating and all together just a bummer.
 
#35 ·
Crimsonsky-

Thank you for the info- I originally thought that if she was pregnant it would be for a spring foal, and it would be too late. It was the fall foal idea that threw me off. It is not ideal, but was something I had considered before adopting, and had come to terms with. I was more just hoping to get lucky. How round the mares looked to me also played a big role in my mare choice- lol

You have peeked my curiosity though, what are the real reasons for the short staff?

I am about an hour from Palomino Valley in Dayton.
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#36 ·
oh dayton! i know (basically) exactly where you are then. not like dayton is too big. haha.

they're just generally short staffed at the moment and the people who were doing the work out with the horses also now are being tasked with the office/paperwork duties as well. makes things a big difficult i would imagine.

she COULD be in foal for either a spring or a fall baby. my friend adopted a burro last year (year before? man time flies!) and she showed absolutely no signs of being pregnant. 3 weeks after she was home, friend goes out to feed and lo and behold - baby! some of the mares look pregnant and are really just built that way and carry their weight in their bellies. some NEVER show the baby "bump". it's a crap-shoot imo.

when do you pick her up again? are you trailering her by yourself?
 
#40 ·
i would love to do some LD rides but have yet to have an opportunity for such (other than riding around where i live but nothing official).

actually i'm currently on the hunt for a barn to take lessons at as i haven't had a real lesson in too long. i mainly ride trails and dressage. i used to ride the jumpers but that was when i was younger and less fragile (haha - cause i'm so old now! :P).
 
#41 ·
My SIL had a BLM mustang. It was the only horse to ever throw her. They are devilishy smart and everything everyone said. One thing I have to say about them is the fact that they LOATHE dogs. Absolutely HATE HATE HATE. Would drop a dog without blinking an eye. So, if you have dogs you should think on that.
 
#47 ·
I don't know if I have posted in this thread previously or not, so forgive me if this is a repeat, but my BLM Mustang is the BEST horse I have ever owned!

Hands down, he is the perfect trail horse!

He also comes from Wyoming and I don't recall him ever kicking at a dog.

He takes his job as trail horse very seriously and is as honest as they come. I have only good things to say about him! I have owned several horses and they have all had their faults, but my BLM Mustang is very close to equine perfection! He should be an ambassador for the breed. :D

Your girl is very lovely!

Did you decide if those were birdcatcher spots or an appaloosa pattern?
 
#53 · (Edited)
Christabelle,
I have a Mustang from the Challis, ID herd. Her pic is my avatar. Please find a trainer that believes Mustangs are worthwhile horses. I turned down several trainers once I learned that they think Mustangs are trash. Try to look for a trainer now, it took me several months to get in with the trainer I chose. Look at the Mustang Challenge site for possible trainers in your area. They are wonderful horses.
 
#54 ·
Thats a good comment! After I got my grade I was astonished how many of the good/well known trainers refused to work with him due to lack of registration. All I wanted was a bit of a touch-up too! So I can see how many would be adverse to working with a mustang... which I would want the best for!
 
#55 ·
I am up in the air about a trainer right now. I am defiantly going to gentle her and ground break her on my own (I have done this several times). The only horse I have ever sent to training is now dead. I am not saying it is his fault, but I've never had one of my horses die... I hate that he was gone 2.5 months and now I've lost him. I sent him so someone with more experience to make him better trained for my less horse savvy hubby- I don't know how to do much beyond whoa-go-turn-back. I am not saying pro trainers kill horses. I have just been too recently burned. I don't know how long he was showing signs of colic, how long he was down, what the guy did about it before he called me etc. I don't bear any ill will, but I don't see me sending a horse off again any time soon. More likely finding someone who will come to me if I need the assistance.
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#58 ·
Thanks! My dogs run around her little area (eating fresh poo *gag*) and she pays them no mind. I was a little worried at first though.

As far as trusting trainers- I've only ever hired one, and the horse I sent to him... died over there. It is difficult to consider going down that path again. Colic can happen at any time to any horse, for unknown reasons. I am not suing him, or slandering him... It's most likely that there was nothing he could have done about it anyway... I am just not liking the idea of sending a horse to a trainer again. My last experience sucked... And cost quite a bit of money too.
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