Types of horse classifcation, an overview of horse classes including the major groups, types by physical characteristics, and types by training for show horses
Evolution of the horse from Eohippus to the oldest breed of horse, primitive wild horses that including Prezewalski Horse, Forest horse, Tarpan, and Tundra horse
Information about light horse breeds, backgrounds and history of hot-blooded and warmblood light horses with horse class, equestrian discipline, and horse training by body types: stock type, hunter type, saddle type and others.
I just lost my Arab two weeks ago. He was 27 1/2. My best friend for over 26 years. By far the smartest horse I have ever met. Rode him two weeks before I had to put him down due to colic. Miss him so much. At 59 I thought that I may not get another horse but have started looking for another Arabian. I have a 16.3 ottb but want another small go to guy like my old Traveller. kay yeager
i want buy a horse .pls help me at low price Sher khan
Billy Appaloosa gelding for sale £1000 He is a lovely natured 13.1 pony he is 9years old,I have had billy for a year and to be honest it’s a sad sale due to not enough time and my experience not being my strong point.Selling due to lack of time to reach her full potential. I would like billy to go to a loving caring experienced home where he is going to get the work and schooling he needs, he hasn’t been in work much in this last year either. He has a fantastic temperament, personality and bags of potential I have a 3year old and he is amazing around her and other children in my family. Morgan
I am looking to purchase a haflinger gelding for english riding on trails and ocean. Hopefully 15 hands with an age between 6-12. calm disposition of a 1-3 out of ten. janet
Looking for a Bay Gelding to drive with our Black Gelding thank you! Chris
I have a 10yo rigistered Pintabian gelding (99.21% Arabian) for sale. Stunningly beautiful black and white shiny coat with a few spots of grey and bay. Asking $3800 US dollars. He is trained and has been shown lightly in hunt seat. However he could go any direction. Serious inquires only please. Located in central Minnesota, USA. Alix
The American Mustang is descended from the Spanish horses that were brought with the Conquistadors in the 16th Century. At one time over one million Mustangs roamed over most of North and Central America. A hardy animal, the Mustang has survived in the wild for several hundred years.
The Mustang is the embodiment of the spirit and freedom of the early development of the United States. It is often thought of as a symbol of the American West and is considered one of the native American horses. Free roaming Mustangs are primarily wild horses, but they are quite often captured and gentled. The American Mustang is favored for its rugged toughness and endurance. They have an independent spirit and will do as they please, but they are highly intelligent. With good treatment and proper training they are quick to learn.
The American Mustang is a light horse breed. Light horse breeds generally weigh under 1,500 pounds. They are typically used as riding horses for leisure and trail riding. Being agile and swift, many are also used on the racetrack, in the show ring, and for work on the ranch.
Light horses are grouped in a couple of different ways, one being the continent or country where they originated from. They are also grouped according to training, classified as either a stock type, hunter type, saddle type, or 'other'. A body type is generally attributed to each class, with the 'other' classification being a bit of an odd ball. It includes those that are color breeds or those that may fit a body type of one of the training classes, but not be used for that type of training. The 'other' types can also include those that may fit into more than one of the type groups.
The horse class the American Mustang fits into is the 'other' class.
Horse Backgrounds
Some of the Spanish horses brought by the Conquistadors in the 16th Century escaped and began to form large herds that spread from Central America up into the plains of the present-day United States. It is estimated that at the beginning of the 20th Century over one million wild horses roamed the mountains and plains of the United States. By 1970, due to hunting for meat, the number of native American horses fell dramatically so that fewer than 17,000 mustangs remained.
A wild horse lover named Velma B. Johnston, who was later nicknamed ‘Wild Horse Annie,' became aware of the ruthless slaughter of wild horses and began a grassroots campaign to protect them. Her efforts led to a bill being passed in 1959 (known as the ‘Wild Horse Annie Act') which prohibited the use of motorized vehicles to round-up horses on public lands. It was not until 1971 that the American Mustang was declared an endangered species and was protected by law under the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act. The wild herds have recovered under government protection and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) estimates that there are currently around 50,000 Mustangs living in the United States. The BLM conducts its own round-ups in some areas to help prevent overpopulation and these horses and burros are put up for adoption.
American Mustang enthusiasts have created several breed registries and organizations to preserve and manage Mustang stocks. Some of these are the North American Mustang Association and Registry, the Spanish Barb Breeders Association, and the International Society for the Protection of the Mustang and Burros.
Description
Mustangs come in all sizes, shapes, and colors, with the average height being around 14.2 hands. The most common colors are bay and sorrel, but they come in buckskin, appaloosa, zebra striped dun, grulla (slate gray), roan, palomino, and paint.
Horse Care and Feeding
The Mustang's ancestors ran wild in the Americas, and they developed into a hardy breed with simple nutritional requirements. Mustangs had to survive on small amounts of grass and brush so they tend to be easy keepers and maintain weight on fairly low amounts of feed.
The Mustang is a fairly low maintenance breed that does well in most settings. The breed does equally well in pasture or in a barn or box stall.
Horse Training and Activities
Mustangs usually have an even temperament. They are very intelligent and willing to learn. These horses can be used for a variety of disciplines, from pleasure riding to endurance.
Common Health Problems
Mustangs are known to be very sound and have good, strong hooves. Hardy and robust, the well cared for Mustang should not be prone to any special health risks.
Availability
Mustangs are readily available and very inexpensive through the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro facilities. It is best to adopt a Mustang as young as possible so that they become used to being handled and trained for ground manners. Even older Mustangs can be trained to be good riding horses, but it requires patience and a knowledgeable person.
kiersten - 2009-02-24 Hey, I am really glad that you have this website because I am using it for a book report. Anyway thanks, I really appreciate it!
Katie - 2010-09-18 I am also using this for a this for a class report. My teacher is making sure we find facts with numbers over 100. This helped me a lot. Thanks. I chose the american mustang so this was a good site.
Katlynne - 2014-10-01 I am also using it for a 9-10 minute speech for the state FFA speech convention!
Anonymous - 2017-05-26 my teacher is making us write a how-to-care book on horses
Olivia - 2011-11-10 There is a place in South Dakota where they give mustangs to kids and they can show them but after a couple of years they have to give them up and they are sold to work at ranches or stockyards. It was amazing!!! The kids learn so much from it.
Cathee - 2012-01-26 Catch one!
Charlie Roche - 2012-01-27 I am ot sre you are just allowed to go'Catch them' as in many areas theyre protected. There are many indivduals who home these amazing creatures' to prevent them and foster them. The last time looked they ran around $300 but that is unbroken.
Christina - 2012-04-11 Check the BLM website :) I'm probably getting one from them. They're lovely horses!!