07/07/2026
Recently I saw a post from a young lady with mustang problems...or what I refer to as, a mustang with people problems. This person adopted a BLM mustang without prior experience or a trainer but with a lot of good intentions.
Fast forward a year. She says the horse is friendly but not halter trained. 😒 After deciphering her idea of what "halter trained" means, it turns out that the horse is indeed halter trained. She leads, backs-up and allows haltering. The woman's hang up is that the horse gets the halter off in the field. My solution? Don't leave the halter on in the field... easy-peasy. Next issue, she can't get anyone to "dart" her horse for a hoof trim. (God Help me) Since she can't get her horse tranquilized for a trim, her next step is euthanasia!!!!!!!
This post made my brain spin almost out of control. I reined it in the best I could and offered to take the horse if she could get it to me. I doubt she will because of the distance, but it looked as though several other places were jumping on board to help.
It upset me that "death" was the 1st back-up plan. I'm not going to concern myself with people's "feelings" on this matter, I'm just not going to. When we bring home a horse, no matter from where or what circumstance, we look to help it. Yes, it's extremely costly...I don't care. Yes, it's at times exhausting physically and mentally...I don't care. Yes, we find ourselves in impossible situations...I DON"T CARE. What I do care about is the animals well-being, both physically AND mentally. What I do care about is trying everything I possibly can before saying there's nothing more I can do but keep the animal comfortable until it's "time". I've had to make that call before, more times in my years than I care to think about right now. It was devastating every single time, and I DO NOT take it lightly. So, when I read a post that an animal should be killed because her hooves are long in the toe, I feel complete rage. Instead of appreciating her strengths, she was called difficult. She leads, grooms like a champ and is in amazing physical condition...but because she takes a halter off in the field (that should not be on her at all times anyway) and won't pick up her feet yet...kill her. That's when people become the monster folks.
Mustangs are so very capable of most any equine discipline! They are intelligent, strong and willing...they just speak a different language. You are asking too much for them to speak your language. You MUST learn to speak theirs. It takes TIME, CONSISTANCY, AND PATIENCE...MORE PATIENCE...AND MORE PATIENCE!!!! We've had a horse or two in the past that literally went to pasture for a year before they trusted us enough to work with them. All I'm saying is, if you're not in the perfect situation to fix, pay, and wait...maybe a mustang isn't for you. Most really don't require that much, but then a few will. If you find yourself in over your head, look for help until you find it. Don't let euthanasia be your "go to" solution.
