| Wild Mustangs are a legendary part of Historic | | | | After you have run the horse a couple of times, begin |
| America. They represent the very essence of | | | | placing a horse blanket on its back and secure it with a |
| freedom and times when life was simpler and less | | | | cinch strap. You do not want a lot of weight on the |
| hurried. Despite some myths, they come in all sizes, | | | | horses back but it will not be ready for a saddle just |
| shapes and colors. They are also one of the most | | | | yet either. Be certain not to leave any loose strap or |
| affordable methods for people to own a horse when | | | | anything else hanging down around the horses feet. If |
| other options fail. | | | | anything flashes quickly in front of its face or dangles |
| Almost every child has dreamed of owning a horse at | | | | across its feet, your mustang may bolt. Take |
| one time or another. However, for quarter horses, | | | | advantage of this time to get your horse used to the |
| thoroughbreds and many other "popular" breeds, it is | | | | curry brush as well. After a good run, your horse may |
| not at all uncommon for prices to start in the | | | | even get to enjoy the brushing almost as much as it |
| thousands of dollars. Mustangs can be had for a | | | | does running. Again, you may want to try this while |
| fraction of that cost. Unfortunately, many people have | | | | your mustang is in a small stall. The two main reasons |
| misconceptions about the Wild Mustang and often, | | | | for doing this are so you are not in danger should your |
| ignorance and a little bit of work is the only thing that is | | | | horse panic and so that if it does panic, you are safely |
| truly preventing these people from owning their very | | | | outside where you can get away until it quits fighting |
| own horse. | | | | you. |
| Some people think that it is necessary to break a | | | | After your horse becomes used to the blanket, you |
| horse. This may be true if you just want a horse that | | | | will want to try a saddle. After you run your horse and |
| knows how to do nothing more than play follow the | | | | it is good and tired, place the blanket on its back and |
| leader in a long string of horses. However, if you want | | | | then while still in the stall, place the saddle on its back. |
| to really experience the full joy of riding on a horse | | | | Place the stirrups up over the saddle at first so that |
| rather than just warming up a saddle while it happens | | | | they will not be bouncing off the horses side. You and |
| to be on the horses back, try training the horse instead | | | | the mustang will both fare much better. After you |
| of breaking its spirits completely. | | | | have the saddle firmly cinched, let the stirrups down. |
| Training a horse may take a little more effort than | | | | Do not worry about cinching it up too tight as you will |
| simply breaking it but it has many benefits which many | | | | not be riding it just yet. |
| riders otherwise miss out on completely. If you truly | | | | After you do this a couple of times you will be ready |
| want a magnificent horse and a piece of Americana | | | | to start the final steps in getting your horse ready to |
| all at the same time, follow these simple steps and you | | | | ride. Try putting the saddle on the third time with the |
| will find yourself with much more than just a | | | | horse in the stall as usual but before you go running. |
| magnificent ride. Be ready to work but do not despair, | | | | You should still be using the hackamore at this stage |
| within a week, you should be able to ride your | | | | and now more than ever, it will be important not to |
| newfound friend just about anywhere. | | | | wrap your rope around anything you are not ready to |
| Make sure that you do not give the Wild Mustangs | | | | lose. Take the horse out and let it walk with the saddle |
| any oats before you begin working them. In all honesty, | | | | the first time. Do not run it as the stirrups may very |
| you should not even give them too much alfalfa at | | | | well cause the horse to panic. |
| first. The reason for this is that in their natural | | | | Continue this way until your horse is comfortable with |
| environment, most truly wild mustangs do not enjoy a | | | | the saddle on its back and then run it a little. You will |
| diet overly rich in proteins. Giving a wild horse nothing | | | | not have to run it as hard as before but you do want it |
| but timothy hay or even alfalfa too rich in proteins will | | | | running with the saddle on before you ever attempt to |
| cause the horse to suffer from colic and suffer | | | | go riding. After this though, you are almost there. Make |
| unnecessarily. A good blend of alfalfa with a little straw | | | | certain to curry down the mustang after each ride. By |
| is often the best diet for your wild mustang ... at least | | | | now your horse should be more familiar and more |
| until it gets used to eating well. | | | | comfortable with you and the entire experience. |
| You may need to place your wild mustang in a small | | | | After you have done this a few times, you should |
| stall to get the bridle on at first. Once you get the bridle | | | | notice your wild mustang calming considerably and |
| on, use nothing more than a hackamore at first and | | | | perhaps even looking forward to the time you are |
| attach about thirty feet of soft rope to it. Never rap | | | | spending together. Increase the protein intake slowly as |
| the rope in your hand or around your hands or you | | | | you work the horse more but remember that it will |
| may lose more than you bargained for. Keep the rope | | | | need time to adjust to the food as much as to the |
| loosely in one hand so that you can drop it or release it | | | | saddle. By doing everything in this way, it may take a |
| quickly if your wild mustang bolts or panics. | | | | little more time but your mustang will retain much of its |
| A round corral is preferable but not an absolute | | | | wild spirit while befriending you and learning to trust |
| necessity. Take your wild mustang out and run it in | | | | you. |
| circles. Do not just run it one way but be sure to | | | | Once you can do all of this with your horse |
| alternate directions so that the horse does not develop | | | | comfortably outside of the stall without fear of reprisal, |
| problems with its legs. Keep it running around in circles | | | | you are ready to begin riding. The wild mustang is a |
| until it is hot, sweaty, tired and just beginning to foam at | | | | wild, mystical and marvelous animal. Work with your |
| the mouth. After two or three days of this, the horse | | | | wild mustang a little slower and with a bit more |
| should be used to you placing the bridle and | | | | patience and you will have a ride that is the envy of all |
| hackamore and will be ready to run some more so will | | | | your friends. |
| likely fight you much less. | | | | |