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Re: Fwd: [RC] BLM mustangs - Jackie Causgrove

Like all the other controversy surrounding the mustangs, this seems to be another one.  On a personal level, I completely agree with you.  However, from other numerous mustang owner experiences there seems to be a lot of success for new horse owners.  I think this has to do primarily because of the gentling process involved prior to any actual training.  During the gentling process, a trust is formed.  Let's put it this way.  If a new horse owner would take up to a year to understand their horse and learn about horsemanship in that time; there probably wouldn't be as many problems as one might think.
For newbies who buy a domesticated horse, they think that they can jump right on and go.  That isn't the case with the mustang and I think that is one of the biggest differences.  There are others but this isn't a forun for that.  Sufice to say, that the phsycology of the mustang differs from the domeisticated horse; at least to a degree.
 
Jackie

Jen <horse2die4@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I would not encourage anyone who is new to horses to purchase any animal that is remotely green.  Anyone who would like to get a horse of their own and wants something green; should lease a dead broke camp horse during off season first.  This will give them the hands on experience they need with a horse that will be very patient with them being slow and not as gentle as experienced hands. And you can often get them for free.   While they are leasing they should continue to take lessons with an experienced instructor on several horses.  If after a season of working with a solid horse and taking lessons they still want a green horse.  Then they should purchase and continue to take lessons directly on their own horse.  I also highly recommend clinics as an economical way to have a knowledgeable person help you with your horse.
 
This is not for the safety of the newbies.  A green horse could up physically injured and psychologically scarred for a life-time in no time at all.
 
As for price... their are many very inexpensive older horses in the classifieds.  Several barns who stop doing lessons and liquidate their lesson horses.  And also several rescue organizations who often have well broke horses available for adoption.
 
Jen

Jackie Causgrove <fairhairwolf@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2005 22:53:48 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jackie Causgrove <fairhairwolf@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [RC] BLM mustangs
To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

I would like to add a slightly different approach on when there is a significant injury or fatal accident and a mustang.  I understand that because of the controversy surrounding the mustang, that it is easy to sweep them into a catagory.  However, if one really looks at it, there are significant accidents and fatalities with domesticated horses.  Only with the domesticated horses, it is usually thought to be about one particular horse and not an entire breed.  And there in lies the problem of saying general terms about the mustangs.  There are many, many sucess stories regarding the adoptions and the gentling of the BLM mustangs.  It is because it is a sucess that it is not heard about.  Only the unforuntae accidents gain notice.  If all one heard about were  accidents involving QH, then people responses would be the same as to the mustang (of course, this is for an example only.  I could have easily picked Morgan etc).
 
I think that a balance is needed in order to make an informed opinion.  I have handled and been around several BLM mustangs  Quite frankly, they were easier to deal with than many domesticated animals.  It has become my belief that a great deal has to do with the gentling process.  And of course, just as there are grouchy Thoroughbreds, there will be grouchy mustangs too etc.
 
And much to my complete surprise, there has been many sucesses by newbies to horses.  My first response was the same as the other posters.  However, since that time, I have learned more about the mustang and why that would work.  I am not a complete wholehearted on board with it but have talked too many people who started out with their first horse as mustang to discount it.  There certainly have been many disesters from first time horse owners from domesticated horses too.
 
Jackie
 
 

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