[Muttsi]

I bought my horse Artemis back in October and she is a mustang. The guy I bought her from caught her himself, along with the rest of her herd. She is not branded, obviously. He caught her illegally and I was wondering if the government could take her away from me even though I have the bill of sale? She's my absolute everything and I hadn't reallly thought about this until today.

 

[LoriF]

First of all, they would have to go through the expense of proving that she actually is a mustang. Secondly, why would they want to take her when they have thousands in holding pens that they don't know what to do with.

You have a bill of sale, good enough I would say.

 

[Muttsi]

I figured but someone asked me why she didn't have the brand today and it just gave me anxiety, since it is illegal.

 

[QtrBel]

Stop calling her a mustang. Just call her grade whatever.

 

[Cordillera Cowboy]

Stop calling her a mustang. Just call her grade whatever.

There is your simplest solution.


The horse appears healthy, well cared for, and trained. Enjoy your horse, and don't dig a big hole for yourself.


And keep that bill of sale.

 

[horseluvr2524]

I figured but someone asked me why she didn't have the brand today and it just gave me anxiety, since it is illegal.

FWIW, I call my mare a mustang, mustang cross more specifically. But usually I just say 'mustang'. No one has ever questioned her lack of brand, which is kind of odd now that I think of it. My mare was born captive bred out of a BLM mustang mare who had been privately owned, out of the holding pens for several years. The sire was unknown. Thus the lack of brand, so my 'mustang' isn't really a true mustang. Not sure if there is such a thing as a 'true mustang' because mustangs are all mutts, but nevertheless.

Just go with 'mustang cross' or grade if you keep getting asked about the lack of brand. You can tell people who question about the brand that she is a mustang cross, not a true BLM mustang. :wink:

Interesting to hear that some mustangs are/have been caught illegally. Unless they are being immediately sent to slaughter (which is going to happen to the legally caught mustangs eventually anyway), it kind of seems like that could end up being a better end for them, better chance of a good home, than those in the holding pens.

 

[horselovinguy]

Not all mustangs are branded...


My friend had a mustang mare who was branded come to her ""unknown" pregnant.
Baby was born...no tattoo.
Baby was trained and sold as a 4 year old...bill of sale and because of birth condition was legally sold.
She now also has ownership of the mare legally as the "holding time" or whatever it is called has passed.
Paperwork in order for proof of that too.

Your horse is of unknown parentage...grade!
Leave it at that and don't invite trouble...:|
:runninghorse2:...
jmo...

 

[SilverMaple]

You have a bill of sale, and the government is not going to go to the effort over a horse when they have thousands sitting in pens they are trying to get rid of. Enjoy your horse.

 

[QtrBel]

You just never know what (g) paper pusher that is bored with their government job and aspires to other things that sees an opportunity for capturing the bad guy for theft of government property then goes after said property. Stranger things have happened. Putting the info out in a public space and sharing it with those you know and meet especially if you use social media spreads the info much further and wider than you think.

 

[Cordillera Cowboy]

You just never know what (g) paper pusher that is bored with their government job and aspires to other things that sees an opportunity for capturing the bad guy for theft of government property then goes after said property. Stranger things have happened. Putting the info out in a public space and sharing it with those you know and meet especially if you use social media spreads the info much further and wider than you think.

I suspect any problem would come more from some overzealous animal rights folks rather than some bored burocrat.