i'm looking for my first horse. will the BLM gentle a rounded up mustang if you pay for them to do so?

Question

are BLM round ups good options for first time horse ownership, or should i look elsewhere?

Answer 1

There are lots of discussions on this subject.

Its a resounding NOOOO and if anyone tells you different, they own a breyer for their 'horsey'.

BLMs are horses with issues. Experienced horse ppl can bring the horse around easily, but someone without that, absolutely cannot.

As far as BLM gentling them. We have honor farms here, where the prisoners train the horses and they are sold.

The training involves a round pen, horse accepting a saddle and run around at a high rate of speed and sold as broke.

THese horses aren't broke, they are only backed and unsuspecting first time owners buy their friend Flicka there and get whomped within a short amount of time

Just because a horse is cheap, doesn't always mean you get what you pay for, but with BLM's, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR....

Do yourself a favor, buy a older gentle well broke horse that knows what its job is and have someone knowledgable go with you to evaluate the right horse for you.

Answer 2

BLM will not break a horse for you. In order to get a broken mustang, you will have to get one that has gone through one of the Prison training programs. I have a Mustang and he is the most gentle horse I've ever seen. However, I have also seen Mustangs with attitudes and bad ground matters. The way that the horse turns out depends on the training that it has had. I know that my horse had awesome training and now he doesn't kick, buck, rear or bite. However if you get a horse that has not had good training you may end up getting hurt. If you have your heart set on getting a Mustang, then by all means follow your heart. But make sure that you are thorough in your searches and that you see the horse and spend time with it before you buy. If you are not an experienced horse person yet, and you still want a Mustang, I would consider a Mustang that is already trained and buy from a private home, rather than the BLM. Good luck in your horse search. I hope this helps.

Answer 3

Definately not. All the BLM does is care for the horse and sell them. They do nothing to train the horses in any capacity.

A mustang is a tricky horse, especially for a first time owner but if you are a secure rider, then it can work. The first thing you need to do is find yourself a good trainer that has experience working with difficult horses, and mustangs in particular. Mustangs are great horses, but they are very intelligent and have had little if any human contact for most of their lives. A knowlegeable trainer who has worked with horses like this before is a must.

If you don't have access to a good trainer, then I would not pick a BLM mustang for a first horse. I love mustangs and have riden quite a few of them but they do need a knowlegeable hand to get them started.

Answer 4

We send out children to playschool, kindergarten and then 12 grades of school, then many go off to college. Why? Because skills take many, many years to gain.
A horse is no different. The skills of learning to respond to a bridle, to stop, turn, bend, backup - all the skills that a well broke and experienced horse learns, come with time, time and more time. Even the quietest horse is not trained in a year of riding, even if they are rode constantly by a talented professional. There are just too many things to learn - how to respond when a noisy motorcycle goes by, how to hold up your hooves for the farrier, how to stand quietly when someone uses a mounting block, etc.
Do not by a horse of any breed if it is not well trained if you are a first time horse owner. Buy an older, experienced horse, preferably a horse that's been hauled to 4-H or someplace so it has extra experience.
A gentled mustang will be in kindergarten or playschool level. You need a horse that's finished grade 12, then you can have fun, enjoy yourself and be safe!

Answer 5

No they do not do any type of training on the horses at all. All of that isleft up to the new owners.
This is not a first time horse owners horse. They are wild and they are terrified of humans. This is not the horse you want to be looking at for a first horse.

Some of the prisons have programs where the inmates work with the BLM horses and you can buy on from them after it has had some training but they are still considered green broke and that is not a good thing for a first horse owner either.
You should be looking for horses labeled bombproof or kid safe as they have had lots of training and are not easily spooked. Green broke horse are started but have not had much experience and they can get spooked easily.

Answer 6

Definitely look elsewhere. It takes a special person with a lot of experience to make a good horse out of BLM horses. Not to dis them at all, they can make fine horses in the right hands, but just not suitable for a beginner. You might consider looking more into older, as in mid teen + horses that have "been there/done that". A much safer, enjoyable alternative. You can learn, and the older horse will probably be more tolerant of your mistakes (and you will make them, we all do) and you will be able to have fun.

Answer 7

A BLM horse in not a good first horse and looking for a bomb proof horse is good except they are few and far between, What you should find first is an experienced horse trainer or horse person that gives lessons. Most people that are of any character will take the time to help you find the best prospect for you. take your time and find some one that seems knowledge able and honest.

Answer 8

Don't get a fresh-off-the-range Mustang if you don't have much experience with horses (and if you are looking for a FIRST horse, I can assume that you don't).

They're WILD. It's like getting a five-year-old WILD hyena and trying to domesticate it. They might come when they're called, but that wildness will still remain.

No, the BLM will NOT break them for you.

How old are you? Are you aware of what horses need? Have you taken lessons? Are you planning to just stick the horse in a stall all day, every day? Keep in mind that a horse needs 2 acres OF GOOD GRASS to itself.

You'll need to buy it hay, blah blah... Please, just do your future horse a favour and get lessons first.

I cannot stress this enough- DO NOT BUY A WILD MUSTANG, OR A WILD ONE THAT HAS BEEN 'TRAINED' IF YOU HAVE NEVER OWNED A HORSE BEFORE.

I know it may seem romantic, 'owning a piece of the Wild West', but horses are DANGEROUS, especially wild ones, and a first-time rider doesn't need one.

I'd say go with a child-safe Quarter-Horse, because Mustangs do NOT put up with mistakes (if you accidentally hit it, it'll hurt you).

Answer 9

I own a mustang,we bought him at a Native American herd reduction sale,he was young,about 16 months and he would have been considered crazy if you didn't know he was a wild mustang,it took eight mounts to get him to let you touch him and four to five more months before you could lead him,it has been a challenge but now we have a horse that is as good as any horse we have ever owned,he still surprises people when they learn he is a mustang,but I would not advise it to anyone unless you set a goal to own one and refuse to quit,they will try you and test you every step of the way.

Answer 10

Unless you are an advanced rider, which (not to be rude) you probably aren't if you've never owned a horse before, DO NOT go with a mustang. They are very tempermental horses and if you don't have to experience, this can be very bad both for you and the horse. As much as new riders would like to get a green, or rescued horse, and learn with them, this is very rare. You or the horse could get seriously injured. Your best option is an older horse. If you could get a "bomb-proof" one, that's even better. Once you have a couple years under you belt of taking care of this type of horse, and are ready for the challenge and necessary financial resources, go right on ahead.