Mustang Adoption Process, pt. 1
As someone who has adopted and trained Mustangs for myself and others, I have learned that there exists a myriad of nuances and level of timing that accompanies the process of bringing a Mustang from unhandled to handled. I’d like to share my experiences with others who are interested in the process of adopting Mustangs, as well as what the initial week and month look like after bringing a Mustang home in this three part series.
Facility
Before you even consider filling out that application–do you have the ability to house a wild horse?
Corral with appropriate fences
Shelter
Forage
Water
The facility guidelines for housing an unhandled horse from the BLM are listed on their website numerous times and you will also see them when you fill out an application to adopt.
Horses need a minimum of 400 sq. ft. with 6 ft. tall fences for greater than one year of age and 5 ft. tall for yearlings and younger. Depending on which state you reside in, shelter requirements differ. So, you will need to make sure what you have or what you’re planning to build meets those specifications.
As far as forage and water, the general guideline for forage is to feed 2% of the horse’s body weight per day, preferably broken into 2-3 meals per day or fed in a slow feed scenario, and access to fresh water 24/7.
Trailer
Types of acceptable trailers
Bedding
Considerations when finding a trailer
Whether you are going to a facility to adopt, or adopting via an online auction–you still have to get the horse home safely.
There is an option of hiring a professional hauler–please make sure to vet these folks thoroughly. DOT numbers, registered business, quality trailer, horse experience, experience with commercial hauling, experience with hauling unhandled horses, timely and responsive. Oftentimes facilities will have a list of approved haulers that have picked horses up. The last thing you want is to lose a deposit or have something happen to your horse enroute.
If you have your own trailer, there are a few expectations the BLM has of the trailer you decided to bring. The BLM will not allow any straight load trailers. Your best option is a livestock trailer with adequate height for a horse, but you want to make sure that there are no excessive gaps. Think of it like this–could a horse stick their leg or head through that gap and break something or quite possibly end their terrestrial life? When we were looking to purchase our own livestock trailer, we made sure that the cut gates did not have large gaps on the top or bottom. The first few times a mustang experiences a semi passing going 70 mph traveling the opposite direction can be quite shocking and we’ve had a horse spook and attempt to spin, but fell down. She got up and was fine–we did pull off and check on her a few miles later. A gap under a cut gate could've been disastrous for a horse that doesn’t understand pressure and only knows to fight for their life.
A slant trailer is another viable option. The dividers will need to be secured in the open position or removed completely to provide an open box for the horse or horses. This also means that if you have a rear tack, you’ll need to either collapse it or remove the panel completely.
I am also a fan of bedding the trailer with large flake shavings or hemp bedding. They blow around less and provide excellent cushion for their legs. Also, if you are traveling through freezing temperatures, bedding will prevent urine from turning to ice on the floor of the trailer. If you have a very open stock trailer, you may consider a heavier type of bedding that blows around less.
Granted, the BLM staff will have the final say if they will load horses on to your trailer–but it’d be a real shame to make the trip and be denied because your trailer wasn’t fit for hauling wild horses.
Be Honest with Yourself: Time, Skills and Money
Time
How much time do you have?
Length of time spent at the barn or with horse
Do you have the t i m e to work with a wild horse? We all see it all the time–the Facebook posts “Rehoming: horse has sat due to no fault of their own” complete with picture of a mustang with their tag still on, horrendous feet and the halter they had put on at pickup rubbing their face raw after being on for months. Adopting a mustang (or any animal, for that matter) is not an act of rebellion or self care or need.
If you have a full time job, will you be able to dedicate hours of work throughout the week to the horse’s training and well being? Owning a horse, let alone gentling a wild horse, does not fall into the “Weekend Warrior” type of project category. In a boarding situation with a domestic horse, typically, you’ve got about two hours of work ahead of you to catch, groom, saddle, ride, cool out, groom and feed supplements or hand graze before putting a horse away. With an unhandled horse, sometimes you’ll end up spending more than two hours at the barn–not “training” them for more than two hours (or more than 20-30 min at a time), but just being present and getting them used to you and their new routine.
Skills
Your own skill set
Plan to bridge gaps in your skill set
Now, I don’t care if gentling a wild horse is a “bucket list item” or that you saw a picture of the horse and now you’re so connected and have to have them or they’re a color you’ve always dreamed of owning or you just want to “save a wild horse.” I, and a whole bunch of other people, care about whether you're able to give the horse a quality start while keeping the horse healthy and sane, as well as keeping yourself out of the hospital. This means that you’ve either put in the work for yourself over the years and are ready to take your horsemanship to the next level after dealing with colts and restarts–not just the gentle do-gooders in most lesson programs. OR, you’ve put in the work to find a trainer you get along with, respect and can pay to work with the horse to get them to the appropriate level where you, as the owner, can take over OR you’re a committed student that plans to have the trainer gentle the horse and then continue lessons once the horse is a functioning member of society.
To make a long story short–how do you plan to bridge the skills gap if you’re not in a place to get the horse going on your own?
Starting an unhandled horse is a commitment to a being other than yourself that requires wicked and abundant honesty with your skillset or capabilities.
Keep in mind, professionals worth learning from are lifelong learners.
Please, be honest with your skills and capabilities.
Money
Are you capable of paying for, caring for and training a wild horse?
Money–sure $125 is cheap for a horse and that AIP money along with a title after a year may look extra enticing–if the program is ever reinstated, because it is on pause as of March 2025, but can you:
Pay for regular farrier work every 6-8 weeks–all signs point to yes that they’ll need a skilled professional to get their feet on the right track
Pay for a spring and fall vet appointment for vaccines as well as a dental–in addition to any emergencies that may come up
Pay for and store hay for said horse
Pay for board on time every single month, if you cannot keep the horse on your own property
Pay for all of the consumables of owning a horse; fly spray, supplemental feed, salt, gas to get to the barn, etc.
Break down of costs–
*Disclaimer on these estimates: These are the very bare minimum of costs and assuming that you already have grooming supplies, tack, panels, trailer, truck and other horsey infrastructure. It also does not account for paying for training, lessons nor clinics.
Application
Application
Where to view application progress
Perhaps the most straightforward aspect of this whole process?
https://wildhorsesonline.blm.gov/HowToGuide
The above link explains the process for an Internet Auction (IA). However, if you’re planning to visit a facility or adoption event to adopt in person, Step 1 tells you how to create an online account and submit an online application. Being approved ahead of time makes the entire process much easier for all parties involved.
Once you complete the application, you’ll be able to log in to your account and see the progress of your application and how many are in line to be reviewed ahead of yours. Once approved, the application is good for one year. So, even if you’re not planning to adopt immediately, it’s good to check off your list if you're planning to adopt within the next twelve months.