About Wild Horse Training

Training a wild horse such as a mustang is an exercise in patience. These are tremendously powerful animals that will frighten very easily and may hurt you in their fear. Unless you have years of experience with many different kinds of horses, do not attempt wild horse training without the direct supervision of a professional horse trainer experienced with mustangs. Adopted mustangs tend to have halters already on them.

Equipment Needed

You need a round pen. Round is best because the horse can't get caught in a corner and then kick out when you try to approach the horse's head. You also eventually need a halter, lunge line and gloves.

First Steps

Use the round pen technique developed by Monty Roberts (see Resources). Walk quietly towards the horse. Let the horse run around until it tires. Then turn and begin to quietly walk away. Repeat until the horse follows you. Stay still and let the horse sniff you. Keep sessions under an hour.

Moving On

Always move slowly and deliberately around a horse. Over time, which could be days or weeks, let the horse approach you and reward it with food.

Lungeing

Eventually, attach a lunge line to the horse's halter and exercise him in circles around the round pen (pictured above). Before any attempts at a first ride, lunge with the saddle on until the horse quietly accepts this.

Time Frame

All horses take their own time to warm up to a kind, quiet trainer. Being alone in the round pen makes a lonely horse seek out the trainer for companionship.

Considerations

Colts and stallions should be gelded to help them be less aggressive and pay more attention to training.

Resources

• Monty Roberts: Join Up
• Adopting a Wild Horse or Burro
• Wild Mustangs Teach Patience to Inmantes Who Train Them
• Round Pen Training Concepts
• Lungeing--The Basics