How to Train a Wild Mustang Horse

Every year the Bureau of Land Management rounds up hundreds of wild horses from the plains of the western United States. These horses are then auctioned off to interested horse lovers who promise to train them and take care of them properly. While training a horse that has lived its entire life in the wild can be a challenge, training a previously unhandled horse can be very rewarding as well.

Things You'll Need

  • Halter
  • Lead rope
  • Round pen
  • Corral
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase a young foal instead of a full grown horse if at all possible. Young horses are generally easier to train than older ones, and this can be particularly true when it comes to mustangs.

    • 2

      Allow the horse sufficient time to settle into his new surroundings before attempting any type of training. The time needed will vary from horse to horse--the important thing is to look for signs of discomfort and fear in the horse. If the horse is still running wild in the corral and showing the whites of his eyes, it is best to back off and give the horse more time to settle in.

    • 3

      Feed the horse on a regular schedule to establish trust and a predictable routine. Call the horse over at feeding time and pet and reassure her. Gentling the horse can take time, but having the horse see you as a source of food and comfort is a good start.

    • 4

      Carefully place a halter on the horse. One of the best ways to get a halter on a wild or unhandled horse is to place the nose loop of the halter in the bottom of the feed bucket. Have a helper hold the bucket while the horse eats, and when his nose is in the loop carefully pull the halter on and buckle it.

    • 5

      Allow the horse to move around the corral with the halter on. Most horses, even mustangs, learn to accept a halter rather quickly. Keep an eye on the horse while he has the halter on, and be sure to remove it before leaving him alone.

    • 6

      Attach a long cotton lead rope to the ring on the bottom of the halter. Hold the lead rope in your hand as you approach and pet the horse. Do not be surprised if the horse jumps back--just reassure him and gently pull on the rope to move him toward you.

    • 7

      Lead the horse into a round pen or other enclosed area. Do not allow the horse to charge ahead--carefully stop her and move her back a few steps if she attempts to charge ahead.

    • 8

      Remove the lead rope, but leave the halter on. Stand in the middle of the round pen and allow the horse to move around you. Let him move around the round pen on his own for awhile, then use your body language and hand signals to direct his movement. Move carefully and slowly as you work the horse in the round pen. Pointing in the direction you want the horse to move is an important signal, and one that most horses will pick up on fairly quickly. Move toward the horse when you want him to move forward, and step slightly back when you want him to slow down. This mimics the behavior of horses in the wild, where the lead mare moves her subordinates with subtle movements of her body.

    • 9

      Introduce new pieces of equipment slowly and carefully. Waiting a few weeks between halter training and the introduction of a bridle gives the mustang time to adjust and learn what is expected of him. Place the bridle, without the reins, on the horse and allow him to move around the round pen or corral. Do the same with the saddle to allow him to get used to the sensation of something on his back.

    • 10

      Wait until the mustang is accepting the bridle and saddle before attempting your first ride. Place your foot lightly in the stirrup and bounce up and down. Step back down and repeat the process several times before swinging up into the saddle. Take things slow and easy as you introduce the horse to riding.