I recently acquired a mustang from a friend. He’s a 12 y/o NWHR gelding. He was rounded up as a 3 y/o. He was gentled, broke, and then in later years used as a lesson horse and barrel horse for kids. Then he wasn’t ridden for 2-3 yrs.
I got him and we do seem to have some sort of connection. He will now approach me in the field or meet me at the gate. He doesn’t seem interested in many other people. He lets me pet all over him, pick his feet, lead etc with minimal issues.
But we are having some issues with things like riding and standing tied. He has sweet itch and yesterday I was bathing him. He was getting impatient being tied and mad at me for trying to spray his rearend and keep circling (our boarder doesn’t have cross ties unfortunately). A few times it seemed like he was trying to turn to threaten me with a kick. At one point when he was drying I turned to check on my toddler who was across the lean to and he did swing around and attempt to double barrel me. That’s been the straw that broke the camels back, in a sense. I’m not sure if it’s the itchiness making him pissy or what.

I’ve only rode him twice so far and that’s been a struggle as well. He won’t listen. Runs me along the gates. He’s never offered to buck or rear, but I still don’t feel comfortable riding him in the open because of the way he doesn’t listen. Last time, though, I did learn he was trained off thigh pressure and I’m used to calf/foot pressure so after we figured that out it did seem to go a lot better and quit most of his antics.

I’ve been trying to rule out pain/irritation. Could this all be related to being itchy? Could that really be causing him to act like this? We’ve tried a few supplements that haven’t worked, fly sprays/masks, stalling as much as needed, etc. He just recently started some allergy meds, so I’m hoping he’ll start feeling better soon.

All this to say, I’m getting really discouraged. I feel like I can’t trust him when I was told (and have witnessed) he’s kid-safe, broke as hell, etc. I don’t want to get rid of him and I don’t want to give up.

I really just needed to vent but any advice/encouragement etc is greatly appreciated.

I'm wondering, what podcasts are you all listening to? Would love some recommendations.

Tyr needed to check for himself that I ran out of treats. I was a bad, bad human.

And I’m pretty sure he’d trade me for a banana given the opportunity.

(Milo, my 2010 Twin Peaks mule)

I'm hosting a mustang makeover in kentucky. I was extremely excited . I had over 50 people message me and say they were going to apply to compete. We've aquired over 30 untouched mustangs, sponsors, ordered a custom saddle for the winner, etc etc etc.

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Applications close tomorrow and I currently have only 7 applications for the adult division and ONE for the youth. Ideally we'd have 20 for adult and at least 5 for youth.

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We decided to put this on because there were SO many people that told me they'd do it, but now that it's come down to actually applying they all disappear.

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I don't know if i should keep going and just let these 7 people do it anyway, but lose even more money, or cut my losses now and cancel the event 🥲

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I'd love thoughts. Or your applications if you're local/semi local🤣😭

How many people have Mustangs that not only adapted to domestic life, but revel in it? My mare, Bitsey, has discovered her inner Princess 👸 She seems to appreciate her new fly sheet.

Won a sorrel filly at today’s auction within 10 seconds of close. She’ll be ready in August and I’m so excited and already have her trainer picked out. Obviously she won’t be able to be ridden for years but any tips are appreciated outside of the obvious! I have an older gelding and I’m wondering when they can be introduced

This is my Devils Garden Mustang right before being sent to the colt starter. Sadly they don’t get to hang in the pasture anymore because someone is a fattie

I have learned this can be a problem for a lot of mustangs, when going from out west to, say, where I am in the southeast. We have lots of bugs, higher parasite load, high heat and humidity levels, and wet ground. Do any of you have experience with certain populations which may adapt better to these conditions? If so, which HMAs were they from? Did they seem like a general HMA population thing, or an individual thing? etc.

I got lucky and fulfilled a lifelong dream - these two yearling fillies came home with me yesterday. They were born at the Devil's Garden corrals and spent the last 8 months with a local mustang trainer who needed to move them on because she's moving. So they have all the basics of being good citizens and are well socialized and I'm not starting from ground zero.

My question is this - given that I have several years before they're ready to be ridden, what are some fun things to do with babies? I'm 50 and realistically they'll be my last horses. On the "useful life skills" side of things we'll be doing lots of hiking in the chaparral together; I'll be teaching them about hobbles, high lines, and picketing; my whatever weird lightweight things I come across on their backs so that a human seems downright normal; introducing the idea of a bit and also a bosal; ground driving, etc.

But since I'm a clicker trainer I was also thinking that it might be fun to teach them things that are more like canine freestyle than equine groundwork freestyle? Maybe a bunch of liberty work generally? One of them in particular has a busy little brain that reminds me of my border collie, so if there's a book out there of "101 tricks to teach your baby horse before she can have a real job" please point me at it

We absoutely love mustangs - but there are definately some parts of mustang ownership that are difficult. Living in a metro-area I struggle with finding a barn that is mustang friendly. It is difficult when there are all of these preconceived ideas about mustangs and barn owners not willing to learn and grow as equine professionals.

What is the hardest part about mustang ownership for you?

A while back, I met a mustang who is part of a sheriff's mounted division. Which was cool!

Of our three mustangs, the two geldings were always intended to be trail horses. But I'm toying with trying liberty training with one. Our mustang mare is intended for English show events, potentially a bit of jumping.

What do you do with your mustangs? Anything formal/fancy? I just registered one with AMBA but I'm not sure it'd matter for our goals with him.

(A picture of the two geldings as tax, haha.)

Found this and thought it was great!

Despite the lack of photog skills figured I’d share a few snaps from visiting Hazel & friends this week at her “barn.” Everyone is mid-winter shed and when I say the fur was flying during brushing - we could have probably knitted together a whole other horse 😂

(sound warning!)

Is anyone going to any of the upcoming adoption events? What are you looking for? I keep seeing the photos and dreaming of more 😍

This is the first exercise we recommend doing with a very reactive mustang. Set up a snack drop location away from his normal hay and water. Make sure the pen is big enough that he can walk away and still feel safe. Walk up purposefully, grab a chunk of alfalfa hay, toss it in the drop spot and walk away. Do not linger. Do not hover! Leave immediately. Do this randomly throughout the day. Have everyone around the farm do this.

This reprograms his brain to think “ooh! People are coming, that means snacks!” and it’s honestly shocking how quickly this helps most mustangs.

Just for fun - favorite or silly photo of your Mustang or burro?

One of mine is our compromise on wearing high-vis in the woods during hunting season. B/c of her poll injury she isn’t a fan of having her ears touched & is non-rideable, so we do woods walks - I love passing people with their dog on a leash, I usually joke that mine is just a bit bigger🤪

We’re thinking about adding another Mustang to the herd and one of the biggest issues that we keep on facing is how we will house a second horse.

I am worried about the transition from gentling to a typical New England boarding barn, near a city. Horses are expected to be on good behavior and they can be a bit of a stigma especially if the horse isn’t a warmblood or expensive show pony.

I live in an urban area so barns around here are generally small, and stall overnight. Full Board is anywhere pricey depending on location, amenities & if any training is included.

We could fence in half an acre on our property and put in a run in - but that would be it, no arena etc and would have to haul in to ride or lesson anywhere.

There are also cheaper options that offer a run in but the paddocks attache to them are around 1/4 acre or less (again, land is very limited here).

How have you all managed the transition between the gentling process (especially if you used a trainer vs DIY) and switching to a new barn?

Discussion: Should the U.S. permanently ban horse slaughter for human consumption? Congress is voting on it, here is some more info:

The bill in question is the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act of 2025 (H.R. 1661 / S. 775).

Here's a breakdown:

**What the bill does:**

- Permanently bans the slaughter of horses, mules, donkeys, and other equines for human consumption in the U.S.

- Bans transporting or exporting live equines to foreign slaughterhouses for the same purpose

- Extends existing law already prohibiting the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption

- Includes fines for violations, with an exemption for Native American religious ceremonies

**Background:**

Horse slaughter isn't currently happening in the U.S., but the ban is only in place through annual budget riders, not permanent law. Around 20,000 horses are still transported across U.S. borders each year to slaughterhouses in Mexico and Canada. The bill has bipartisan support with 100+ House cosponsors and Senate sponsors from both parties.

**Pro:**

- Horses aren't raised as food animals in the U.S. and the FDA bans 379 common equine drugs from food animals but there's no system to verify exported horses are drug-free

- Supporters say the transport pipeline causes significant animal suffering

- Rescues and sanctuaries reportedly have capacity to absorb horses displaced from the pipeline

**Con:**

- The AVMA and some veterinary groups oppose it, warning it could lead to horse abandonment if owners can't afford euthanasia as an alternative

- Some argue it infringes on property rights and individual choice for livestock owners

- Concerns remain about what happens to old, injured, or unwanted horses if all end-of-life options are limited

What's your take? Animal welfare win, government overreach, food safety issue, or something more complicated?

TL/DR: The SAFE Act would make the current U.S. ban on horse slaughter permanent and also ban exporting horses abroad for slaughter. It has broad bipartisan support but faces opposition from some vet and livestock groups who worry about unintended consequences for horse welfare.

Just an excitement post from the mods - we’ve hit over 100 members in this community since we first started!

Thank you all!

Either in person or YouTube/social media, who are some of the mustang focused trainers that you like? Or who have you used to help with your mustang?

I’ve switched Hazel to mostly R+ for now and am always curious as to how others look for trainers, and determine who / what style, is the right fit for them and their horse.

Side Note: we do have pinned threads if anyone is a trainer and wants to list themselves there.

Hi everyone. I’ve shared some educational content here before, but I wanted to properly introduce myself and the nonprofit I run, Wild Ride Mustang Sanctuary in eastern Connecticut. I also co-run a R+ Mustang Training program - The Mustang Collective (my Reddit user name).

We are a hybrid facility with a clear priority: adoption first. We gentle mustangs and place them into private homes whenever possible. Sanctuary is reserved for the horses who genuinely need long-term placement.

We work cooperatively with BLM and USFS and support responsible range management. The people tasked with managing these herds carry an enormous responsibility, and we see our role as helping create successful transitions from holding facilities to educated, prepared adopters.

Today we care for nearly 30 mustangs on 150 acres, including 30 acres of wooded paddock with trails, natural water sources, and space to move in ways that support physical and mental wellbeing. We are open to the public six days a week because transparency builds trust.

Where we may differ from traditional models is in how we sustain the work.

Rather than relying on emotion driven fundraising, we built a sustainable revenue model rooted in education and experience. On the property we host immersive programming designed to deepen people’s understanding of mustangs and behavioral science. We have three fully furnished, insulated geodomes for overnight stays and a large transparent geodome in the forest where we hold yoga, sound healing, and educational retreats.

Guests can watch mustangs move through the woods at dawn as they sip tea in a wood stove-lit dome. They can walk the trails, see the herd dynamics, and understand these horses not as symbols, but as sentient animals adapting to domestic life. That connection creates informed adopters, thoughtful advocates, and long-term supporters.

-MacKenzie

Horse in the picture is one of the other Mods’s (NotToday’s) mustang, Hazel. We met when she reached out for training board and then invited me to help her start this community on Reddit!