horses would be a lot more useful if you could hunt from them on state land of course if they allowed horses on public hunting ground they would all turn into horse parks over night

bad enough many of them have become dog parks

OK I sent you a PM

The wife and I helped sponsor some kids to work at a wild mustang/burro rescue ranch. After 3 months or so all that was expected was for the horse/burro to be halter broke and "gentled", no saddle or bit. Those kids worked with the horses 2-3 times a week after school and then they had a show where they demonstrated what the horses had learned and that they were ready to be adopted.

Just my opinion but it seemed to me that most of those horses were pretty hard headed and none of them were over 3-4 years old.

I live in the heart of mustang country, in fact there’s a good chance every mustang you’ve ever seen came from somewhere within a couple hundred miles of my house. My opinion on mustangs, having seen them all my life, worked with them, and just being around them, the only thing a mustang is good for is grinding into coyote bait.

If you want a horse, get a horse. Most mustangs I’ve had the displeasure of being around are inbred, stubborn, dumb, and unpredictable.

It's fun to Dream then Plan
...sometimes that turns out to be the Best part.

It's a commitment

I only have experience with a few of them. My wife's uncle had one and he was incredible. Would do anything you asked of him. But that is a sample size if one. I'm also sure the ones that get showcased are the best of the best trained by good trainers( that I am not one of). Something tells me thay probably don't show and advertise the ones that are nothing but problems.

I guess could drop the coin on a Gipsy Banner or other of my wife's always wanted horse.

You mean Gypsie Vanner. Nice, small cob like drafts , easy attitudes generally, and fun to ride.

It is so worth having a horse that makes life happy …not a chore or challenge .

If you want a mustang get one , there are some good ones , certain herd areas have some really good traits.when you get closer just ask and I can point out a few.

Maybe start with a yearling and put in the time with ground work. I have had quite a few and have one that just about couldn't be bought.

They are perfect for what you said you wanted to do with them.

I will challenge the sure footed myth as ive ridden several different ones all the way to the ground when they stumbled and fell.

They need shoes like any other horse if your working them or riding them.

You DO NOT want a mustang. Listen to BOB. He speaks much truth! You need PLENTY of experience to get one.You want a family friendly trail horse-talk to some people in your area where you live. Get a started horse at the very minimum. Hunting elk with a horse requires an older well trained mountain horse. It's not the same horse you would ride in Indiana. If you want a horse for elk hunting contact an outfitter in the west who uses them on a regular basis and ask their advice. There is a certain horse I see them use. They are the scruffiest looking horse the average person would think they are trash. I used an outfitter on a 4 day special permit winter hunt once. He gave me the best gentlest scruffiest horse in corral. Then he figured out I could ride and he never gave me that horse again.

I've spent my life training and using horse for a job. The BIGGEST mistake I see novice horse people make is getting a horse that isn't for them......That is my biggest pet pevee in the horse world. My second biggest is someone selling a horse to someone they know isnt right for them. If you and your family are novices with horses BUY one suited for you. Accidents with a 1000+ pound animal can be serious.My wish for any one getting a horse is get one they can enjoy. They aren't dogs that have Accidents that can be cleaned up with a carpet cleaner.

Agree with you, Yes sir, 100%. Those who haven’t listened to me suggest the same, thinking because they get dogs as pups, will have the same result with a young horse. Doesn’t work that way, and the horse ends up a lawn ornament, to be sold later.

NVWrangler, I’ll top your experience off …I’ve ridden well trained mules right down to the ground as they’ve stumbled and fell, or nearly so. Not all fit the same description

We have a mustang in our herd of 17 she's a sweetheart never gives us trouble. The other horses take attention when she gets upset tho. They are all free range only come in once a day for feed.

Several public land places I hunt have miles of horse trails. 2 of them are both about 20k acres. One is 20 min away and the other is an hour. About an hour and 15 min I can be in part of the national forest that 200k acres and ther eare horse trails there. I'm not sure about the legality of shooting deer from a horse here. Deeer hunting gets boring it would be nice to be able to hunt from a horse. If you see a deer nice and easy drag out if not you had a nice ride.

They're everywhere around here. I've almost hit several standing in the road at night. I agree with the coyote bait suggestion.

Everyone has their own experiences and opinions but NVWrangler probably gets more experience with them in a month then the combined rest of us have total, take that into account.

As long as I don't drive more than a couple miles from the house I hardly ever see them. 5 min though and I see em every day. They're destroying an alfalfa field at the moment that the deer usually winter on.

I have three mustangs in my corrals that I use for different aspects of a horsemanship program. They are pretty varied in their training and purpose.

One is an older mare that's well trained and used regularly for trail rides and beginner riders. She is gaited and fun to ride. A bit small at 13 hands. Has to be trimmed regularly as her feet wear funny with the gaited travel. She doesn't like to be caught some days, about her only vice. I bought her trained, she had been through the adoption process years ago.

At the other end of the spectrum is a lank mare that looks standardbred. About 15 2. I adopted her on an internet auction, she never really thickened up as I hoped. I haven't pushed her training a whole lot, but use her for demonstrating round-pen work. She won't let you just come up to her and catch her, you have to earn her trust. She is super sensitive and easy to use for teaching round-pen work. Pretty close to a lawn ornament, but earns her keep. As kind as can be, she has had multiple opportunities to kill me but never even batted an eyelash at it.

Then there's the 12 year old gelding that's part percheron. Used for riding and some driving. 16 hands, so is pretty intimidating for kids to ride, and stout enough to carry the big butte. But he has a goof-ball attitude and will see what he can get away with. Feet like pancakes and has to be trimmed regularly, or he gets kind of stumble. I adopted him as a trained horse from the prison program in Hutchinson KS.

Mustangs aren't for everyone. But for soundness of limb and foot, way better than most AQHA (I know, fighting words, but your tea-cup spindle legged halter hog can't walk across the ring)

See if you can find a tip trainer, someone who has worked with mustangs and has started quite a few. Have them put an extra 30-60 days beyond tip training and you should have a decent start to a trail horse. Or find a prison program. I was impressed with how the horses were there at Hutch. It would be a long way to haul anything.

I have had 3 and I will not own another .I am sure there are OK ones . I have been a horseman all my life and I experienced something from one that astounded me (super bad ) .My sound judgement overcame my silly pride and i Quit them for good .Be careful .