BLM will pay you to adopt a horse:

[Bluey]

Interesting:

http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/wil...Incentive.html

[Bluey]

Wow that is cool. Hopefully this will help in placing them. I wonder how they will do with various climates and diets. I also wonder if Europeans will get some of these mustangs.
They are still useful 4 research without being necropsied. Genetic tests need to be done! I would love to see comparisons of their gene sequences, snps etc. with modern horse breeds as that would tell us a lot, especially about health and soundness traits.

Today's mustangs are really feral horses, most turned out in the past century and a half by the settlers.
I don't think that, in that time, you will have seen much genetic differences with regular domestic horses, any possibly older genes or genetic drift.

Just plain old regular, everyday horses, that happen to be born and raised without human intervention.

Now, as individuals, they deserve someone owning, caring for them and using them as much as any one other unwanted horse out there today, feral or domestically raised, that is true.

[Foxtrot's]

Slightly off topic - but up in the Nemiah Valley in the Brittany triangle in BC there are some wild horses, mostly loose ranch horses from years back - but archival research indicates some of these wild horses maybe descendents of the Colonial Spanish Horse. Blood, hair and bone mrrow samples have been sent to the U of Texas for DNA analysis. No word of the results. (Think I'll try and find out).

[Pirateer]

I want one!
(Granted, I'm pretty sure that if I can't stay on a normal horse I should probably not go for a Mustang )

[CHS]

My daughter is doing the extreme yearling makeover. She gets her yearling on the 18th and she'll have it for 90 days. After the competition we can either buy it for $125 or let it go through the sale. It should be fun. They're coming up with a lot of great ideas to help get the mustangs adopted.

[Foxtrot's]

Heard back from the Friends of the Nemiah - the initial hair samples did not prove a lot but several of the blood samples showed a tentative link. Further out in the Brittany Triangle there are more horses, very wild and difficult to reach. They are different from the other horses, but require a five day packing journey to get in and out. Might be very interesting if they have ties to the original horses. Reports say that when the first explorers came through the local inhabitants already had horses.

[Ridge Runner]

Heard back from the Friends of the Nemiah - the initial hair samples did not prove a lot but several of the blood samples showed a tentative link. Further out in the Brittany Triangle there are more horses, very wild and difficult to reach. They are different from the other horses, but require a five day packing journey to get in and out. Might be very interesting if they have ties to the original horses. Reports say that when the first explorers came through the local inhabitants already had horses.

I've heard of that herd also on our breed's discussion forums. It would be interesting to know how they got that far north. Native Americans perhaps? Truly though..in the US, with the exception of the Sulphurs and arguably the Kigers (depends on who you ask), there are no Colonial Spanish horses left roaming wild in the West. The herds that are out there are thoroughly mixed with domesticated stock and look nothing like the Colonial Spanish horses in domestic herds taken off the ranges a century ago.

You know..as an aside and a little OT...there are people who seriously believe that horses never died out fully in North America. I've spoken to a Sioux Indian who was adamant that his people never were without horses (before the Spanish.) If you really think about how fast the plains indians had to totally assimilate the horses into their culture (they supposedly got horses in the mid to late 1700's) and become the finest light cavalry in the world...you do wonder how they did it in less than 100 years....and forget their own "history."

An interesting graphic.

http://www.thefurtrapper.com/images/Horse%20Map.jpg

There are people who are actually trying to prove it. It's not inconceivable that Viking horses could have been left in small herds either and they way predated the Spanish. We may never know but I will say that the Mongolian Taki's are shockingly similar to some of the strains we think of as Colonial Spanish....Choctaw horses in particular. Indians were also very fond of the loud colored horses and the Spanish were/are not. Does make you wonder.

[Renae]

Daydream Believer- I read an article once about Baskir Curly type horses found in Mustang herds in North America and speculation in that article about Russian fur traders bringing horses as far south as the Pacific Northwest, thus the introduction of that trait. Perhaps if this is true that is why you see some Asian traits in some Mustangs.

[Ridge Runner]

Daydream Believer- I read an article once about Baskir Curly type horses found in Mustang herds in North America and speculation in that article about Russian fur traders bringing horses as far south as the Pacific Northwest, thus the introduction of that trait. Perhaps if this is true that is why you see some Asian traits in some Mustangs.

That would make a lot of sense. I wish somehow we could figure it out...but until they find horse fossil evidence older than the Spanish conquest, the Native Americans and those who believe in native American horses will struggle for credibility. I personally would not mind that at all...finding out my horses share a genetic link to Mongolian ponies. They are already very unique and special and that would only make them more so to me.

One of our breed's more influential people, John Fusco (screenwriter of Spirit and Hidalgo) visited Mongolia a few years ago. He showed the herdsman pics of his pure Choctaw horses and they wanted to know how he'd gotten Taki's to America! The Siberians believed they were the same breed. Here's a link to his journey..it is fun to read.

http://www.horseoftheamericas.com/Mongolia.htm

An excerpt:

"Around a fire and the passing of the copper vodka vessel, I took some pamphlets from my duffel. I passed around the HOA information replete with pics, and then some Red Road Farm brochures featuring the Choctaws. I quietly watched the nomads’ expressions as they huddled and pointed out certain horses with approval. I must say with some pride that they really liked Little Fox in his purple corn coat. “They want to know,” Byambaa translated, “where you found such fine Mongolian horses in America.” When I communicated the history, they still seemed confused. “These are Mongolian horses,” Boar said, almost troubled. He took a brochure, folded it and put it carefully with his few belongings."

[Guilherme]

I've heard of that herd also on our breed's discussion forums. It would be interesting to know how they got that far north. Native Americans perhaps? Truly though..in the US, with the exception of the Sulphurs and arguably the Kigers (depends on who you ask), there are no Colonial Spanish horses left roaming wild in the West. The herds that are out there are thoroughly mixed with domesticated stock and look nothing like the Colonial Spanish horses in domestic herds taken off the ranges a century ago.

You know..as an aside and a little OT...there are people who seriously believe that horses never died out fully in North America. I've spoken to a Sioux Indian who was adamant that his people never were without horses (before the Spanish.) If you really think about how fast the plains indians had to totally assimilate the horses into their culture (they supposedly got horses in the mid to late 1700's) and become the finest light cavalry in the world...you do wonder how they did it in less than 100 years....and forget their own "history." :

I've also heard Indian advocates claim that they are not, in fact, "ancient immigrants" but evolved in North America. I don't believe there is any evidence that this is true, but the claim is sometimes made.

There were extensive trading networks among the tribes prior to the arrival of the first Spanish explorers. It does not suprise me at all that horses would be traded along with turquorse, silver, pelts, etc.

There is no evidence that any Indian tribe was mounted before they got horses from the Spanish (or other European settlers). And I'll bet there are a bunch of Mongols (and Sythians and Parthians and Arabs and Goths and Greeks and who knows who else) who'd dispute that "finest light cavalry in the world" award.

An interesting graphic.

http://www.thefurtrapper.com/images/Horse%20Map.jpg

There are people who are actually trying to prove it. It's not inconceivable that Viking horses could have been left in small herds either and they way predated the Spanish. We may never know but I will say that the Mongolian Taki's are shockingly similar to some of the strains we think of as Colonial Spanish....Choctaw horses in particular. Indians were also very fond of the loud colored horses and the Spanish were/are not. Does make you wonder. :yes

Given the design of the Viking long ship, it's highly unlikely they carried any significant number of horses. Indeed there was but a very tenous connection between the Viking outpost colonies on Greenland, Iceland, etc. and their origin in Scandanavia. The naval technology was just not sophisticated enough to support major trade (assuming that there were goods enough to support such a trade).

It's worth noting that when the Spaniards began large scale horse importation the losses in transit were quite high. And this was in enclosed ships capable of carrying a much large volume of forrage and water than a long ship. The Horse Lattidudes earned their name.

G.

[Nes]

I see allot of future abused horses...

[Minerva Louise]

I see allot of future abused horses...

AMEN to that.... I take hay to a local rescue and there are many mustangs there, starved rehabs. It is really sad to see.

[cowgirljenn]

I see allot of future abused horses...

I was starting to fear I was the only one who saw major flaws to this plan...

$500 isn't gong to make a huge dent in someone's ability to care for a horse as you can blow through $500 fairly quickly in horse care. Then what happens?

I never liked the BLM program - people can go get horses for $125. There are people who get the horses and do a fabulous job, and I'm so impressed. But $125 isn't much and too many people just saw 'cheap horse', went and got one, had no clue what to do with it. Then rescues get called into a seizure and find a group of either abused or just wild and unhandled BLM horses. And no help (and it has happened to us). If the horses are titled, then the BLM won't take them back.. and we don't have the facilities and time for wild horses. This happens too often and will probably happen even more now when people are PAID to take them..

*sigh*

[Mtn trails]

I want one!
(Granted, I'm pretty sure that if I can't stay on a normal horse I should probably not go for a Mustang )

Once gentled, mustangs aren't any different from domestic born unbroke horses. Both my mustangs were a breeze to break to ride, granted the gelding did have previous handling but huge trust issues which I had to deal with first, no previous saddle training however. Once you gain their trust though, you won't find a better and highly versatile horse. My mare not only is a great trail horse, but also competes in dressage, eventing, and hunter/jumper and does quite well too. Don't let the fact that they are "wild" deter you if you really want to go with a mustang.

[Nes]

mtn - I'd agree with you statement if you said "aren't any different from domestic born UNHANDLED horses", in which case you're entirely right. However most domestic born horses have at least seen & been around humans since they were born.

Mustangs definitely aren't for the beginner trainer/breaker or owner; but once you get them going they are just the same as any other horse (sometimes smarter ).

[Mtn trails]

Yes, that's true Nes, "unhandled" should be added. Talk about smart! My mare is the equivilent of a Rhodes scholar. She is so smart it's scary. She picked up how to stand on a highline right away, how to hobble, how to load/unload in a trailer, lead changes, etc. etc. etc.

[FalseImpression]

Anyone remember the 3 strikes mess in NE... he was getting paid to take in mustangs....

[Foxtrot's]

There were three (?) BLM mustangs trained by the inmates at Colorado State Prison that went to the border town of Oroville (oh boy, only saw the show the other night and still unsure of my facts) where the rangers rode them in the hard country along the border.
Then they took them in the local parade and they behaved like - well, like troopers. They were by nature perfect for the back country, hardy and sure footed.

[Guilherme]

I was starting to fear I was the only one who saw major flaws to this plan...

My first thought: Non impediti ratione congitatonis.

The idea of pumping a bunch of extra horses into an already oversaturated market is just silly.

Of course, here's a money making opportunity: start taking BLM horses for $500 each. Then go out and get either giveaways or $100 "specials" and take thema and turn them out on BLM land. The BLM will then scoop them up, you you another $500 to take them, and you can repeat the process. At least until you get caught.

G.

[MSP]

My first reaction was it might make it more profitable to send them to slaughter. Did they ever reverse that rule allowing non-adoptable horses to be slaughtered?

And, isn't it much more challenging to train an older horse? How will that work out with the less knowledgeable adopter?

Other than that why not give it a try, its a mess that has no simple solution.