Last Updated on February 26, 2022
Mustangs are a symbol of freedom and the American West. Sadly, hundreds of Mustangs are rounded-up each year and forced into small pens. Knowing how to adopt a Mustang can give them a fresh start and a wonderful forever home.
Mustangs can make wonderful horses to own and have played a part in American history. These stunning creatures deserve to have a loving home, as they are often rounded-up by the use of helicopters and separated from their herd. This can be stressful and traumatic for the horses, as they are forced to leave the only home they know.
Different Options To Adopt A Mustang
When it comes to adopting a Mustang, there are different options available. No matter how you adopt your Mustang, whether, through a non-profit rescue or the BLM, there will be certain qualifications you must meet in order to own one to ensure you are going to provide a good home.
What To Consider Before Adopting
Every adoption agency for Mustangs has requirements that must be meant in order for you to adopt a horse. Before you adopt a Mustang, you must consider what you are looking for in a horse to make sure you have the capabilities and facilities to properly handle a rescue. You need to take into consideration the temperament, training level, and age of horse you are looking to adopt.
Most non-profit organizations and rescues will train the Mustangs they receive. This training includes anything from groundwork to riding. Adoptable mustangs come straight from the wild and often have little to no handling experience.
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What To Consider After Adopting
Once you choose to adopt a horse, you need to make sure that you have the time, money, and dedication the Mustang deserves. Whether you adopt a Mustang with no handling or one that is trained to ride, they will still need lots of care and work in order for the adoption to be successful.
Horses that have been rescued from mistreatment need lots of time and patience, so it is key you have both. They need safe shelter, access to clean water, food, exercise, regular grooming, visits from the farrier, and routine veterinarian check-ups.
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Non-Profit Organizations And Rescue Groups
There are several non-profit organizations and rescue groups that have Mustangs available for adoption to qualified homes. Many of these organizations and groups rescue and rehabilitate Mustangs from abusive and neglectful environments, or from previous adopters who are no longer able to take care of them.
Strawberry Mountain Rescue & Rehabilitation Center
Strawberry Mountain Mustangs was founded in 2005 after rescuing several Mustangs from the Sheldon National Antelope Refuge in Nevada that were in major need of help. They continue to rescue and rehabilitate horses in need. Those who have an interest in adoption may contact them to see the available horses for adoption.
Over the last several years, they have been key in developing owner assistance programs, founding the Oregon hay bank, sponsoring equine health fairs, providing educational opportunities for law enforcement and help with creating a law to make equine abandonment illegal in Oregon. They provide services to rehabilitate abandoned and neglected horses in need and match them with those looking to adopt.
Ever After Mustang Rescue
Ever After Mustang Rescue rescues and rehabilitates previously adopted Mustangs. The horses are either adopted out to new homes or given lifetime care at their facility. In addition to traditional adoption, they offer in-house adoption and sponsorships of their rescue horses.
In order to assure the right fit, they provide educational programs and mentoring to potential adopters. A placement agreement and application must be filled out in order to be eligible for adopting a Mustang.
Wild Horse Rescue Center
Wild Horse Rescue Center rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes Mustangs. They take in Mustangs that had been adopted from the wild and ended up in abusive and neglectful situations. After rescuing the horses, they nurture them back to health and then tame and train them to prepare them for a new life.
The horses that are not in a place to be trained and adopted are given a forever home at the center. For those interested in adopting, an appointment must be made in order to make sure each horse goes to the right home.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Though the BLM often manages horses by the use of helicopter round-ups and cramped pens, which is not ideal, at the end of the day the horses still need a safe home. In order to adopt a Mustang from the BLM, you must first meet their adoption requirements. Once approved, adoptions can be made online by bidding or done at an in-person event.
Mustang Adoption
Adopting a Mustang is a great way to own part of American history. These magnificent animals deserve to be given a home where they will have care, love, and respect. Though adopting a mustang takes patience, time, and money, it can be very rewarding.
Can you adopt a Mustang stallion?
The BLM maintains an online horse sales catalog that includes information about available horses. To adopt or purchase a wild horse from the BLM, you can visit an off-range corral near you, bid for a horse on the Online Corral, or attend an offsite event. The BLM holds adoption and purchase events at different locations throughout the United States.
To adopt a horse from the BLM, you must have a valid and current Equestrian License. You can apply for a license online or by mail. If you want to adopt a horse that is not in a corral, you can go to an off-range corral near you and look for horses that are available for adoption.
If you adopt a horse, you must take the horse to a licensed horse dealer. The dealer will give you a USDA identification tag and paperwork that you need to fill out. You must fill out a Horse Sale Contract and sign a Release of Liability before you can take possession of the horse.
How do you adopt a Kiger Mustang?
You can find all the info, and a complete schedule of events and photos of the Kigers available for adoption at the BLM website: www.blm.gov/or/resources/whb.
The BLM currently manages about 10,000 acres in the Riddle Mountain HMA. The BLM also manages a smaller area of about 200 acres in the Burns District. The BLM has established two different management plans for the Kiger and Riddle Mountain Herd Management Areas. These plans were developed in the mid-1980s.
Are Kiger Mustangs good horses?
Kiger mustangs are a rare breed of horses. They have a rich history and have been around for a long time. Some of the famous ones were used by the Spanish conquistadors in the 1500s. Today, there are about 3,000 mustangs living on the ranges of Southwestern US.
Kiger mustangs generally stand 13.2 to 15.2 hands (54 to 62 inches, 137 to 157 cm) high. They are compact, well-muscled horses with deep chests and short backs. They are known for their agility and intelligence, as well as for the stamina and sure-footedness common in many feral horse breeds. They can be bold but also gentle and calm.
What’s so special about mustang horses?
That is a question I am often asked. The answer is that the mustang is widely considered as a wild horse native to North America. The truth is the mustangs descended from Spanish domestic horses brought by the Spanish explorers and soldiers during their invasion of the New World. Many of those horses escaped, became feral and started free roaming in the area.
A mustang is a horse with a white face and chest, a dun color on the body, and a deep chestnut mane and tail. Mustangs have a white blaze on the face, and a broad white forehead. They also have dark, medium-sized, wedge-shaped ears. The mustang is considered a very friendly and gentle horse, and the breed is known for its affectionate nature.
Michael Dehaan is a passionate horse owner, horse rider, and lover of all things equine. He has been around horses since he was a child, and has grown to become an expert in the field. He has owned and ridden a variety of horses of different breeds, and has trained many to compete in shows and competitions. He is an experienced horseman, having worked with and competed many horses, including his own. He is an active member of the equestrian community, participating in events and teaching riding lessons.
