How to Train an Older Mustang

Almost all horse lovers have at one time or another dreamed of training a wild mustang. In 2009, 3,474 wild horses and burros were placed with private owners. However, the new owners' involvement doesn't stop at adoption, as they then face the task of training the wild mustang they just adopted, many of them older animals. Operant conditioning, commonly called "clicker training," is a very popular, modern training method that involves giving the animal the choice to work for treats instead of forcing cooperation.

Things You'll Need

  • Proper containment facility (stall, round pen, etc.)
  • Clicker (available at various pet stores)
  • Treats
  • Halter
  • Lead
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Instructions

    • 1
      Treats can go a long way toward building trust.

      Gain the mustang's trust through his stomach. The person who ultimately trains the animal should also be the one to offer food and water. This begins to establish in the animal's mind that good things happen when that person is around, and it establishes a base of familiarity. The length of this process depends on the mustang. Some are fearless and begin to settle into their new surroundings within days, while others may require several weeks to begin to trust that nothing bad will happen to them. It is best to keep your new mustang in a small but secure and comfortable place during these early days, where he can easily see the fences and understands the boundaries.

    • 2

      Begin clicker training. Make a brief click sound with your clicker each time you offer the horse a treat. Later, click a second or two before offering the treat to test whether the horse understands the connection. Watch for behavior patterns, such as pricked ears or turning of the head to indicate that the horse recognizes that when he hears the click, a treat is on the way.

    • 3
      Wait patiently until the horse offers the right behavior, then click and reward.

      Select a desired behavior to work on, such as walking on a loose lead. Initially, sound the click and give the reward each time the horse comes close to offering the desired behavior--taking a step with the trainer while on lead, for example. Be sure to click right when the desired behavior happens.

    • 4

      Increase the level of activity needed to earn the click and the treat with each training session. Click only when the mustang does the exact thing you want to reward. It is okay if it takes a few seconds to retrieve the treat, as long as he knows it is coming. Gradually increase your requirements for treat worthy behaviors. Up the ante with each training session, as long as the horse is progressing. The rate at which each horse will catch on varies greatly. Never push beyond the level of the horse's cooperation.

    • 5

      Continue to mold or shape the behavior to resemble your desired result. Once a portion of the behavior is easy for the horse to perform, begin to offer rewards for that on a random schedule so that he will work extra hard to give you the desired behavior to earn his treat. Eventually, after the behavior becomes well ingrained, you can slowly drop such frequent reinforcements and substitute other encouragements, such as a scratch under the chin or a tasty reward for good effort at the end of the entire training session.

    • 6

      Pair a command word or sound with a behavior every time you offer the horse the chance to perform it to lay the groundwork for a voice command activated response. After hearing "Whoa!" just prior to every stop, the horse will begin to associate that word with that behavior, just as that funny kissing sound seems to always precede being asked to hurry up a bit.

    • 7
      Well trained mustangs can make great trail horses.

      Start a new behavior after the first one is mastered. Eventually, as your mustang masters a behavior, you can add another new one to that and begin to chain several of the behaviors together, such as walking on a loose lead, stopping when the trainer stops, turning smoothly, and standing quietly. Then your older mustang will be well on his way to becoming a model horse citizen, and a pleasant and safe friend.