The mustang, North America’s original horse, descends from Spanish horses brought in the 1500s. Their population once peaked at around 2 million but declined to about 17,000 by the mid-1900s due to habitat loss and capture. The 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act tasked the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service with protecting these free-roaming horses on public lands. Today, mustangs are found across 34 territories in the western U.S., and their numbers have grown, leading to adoption programs like the BLM’s “Adopt-A-Horse” to manage populations.
Training mustangs requires building trust, as wild horses have never been handled by humans and rely on self-preservation instincts. Trainers like Kit Hietala and Kalyn Dixon emphasize that mustangs are intelligent, tough, and quick learners once a bond is formed. Mustangs are versatile and capable in various disciplines, with strong hooves and unique temperaments shaped by their wild heritage. Adoption offers an affordable option for experienced horse enthusiasts willing to invest time in training and building a connection with these spirited animals.
