15/05/2023
What Wild Horses Have Taught Me
I was asked a very smart question several weeks ago, and thought I'd share my view points and experiences with mustangs and what they’ve taught me, along with working with domestic horses....
I have had horses much of my life I’ve been around them since I was little but being among the wild horses for so many years now, watching behaviors and dynamics of horse, band, and herd - over the seasons as well, I have learned more about finite behaviors and social structures which I can also apply to domestic horses. I am much more understanding of their responses or lack of responses, and much more patient rather than reacting to them as though they were overgrown toddlers, so to speak. The less pressure and the less pain applied the better... the gentler a handler is the less resistant and more responsive a horse will be when learning what is being taught them. And the quieter one works with them, the harder they try to listen, and the faster there is a connection. With gentler handling, they actually look forward to interactions and activities such as riding. Understanding is optimized when we take time to see things from the horse's point of view.
The nuts and bolts of what I've learned from wild horses..
Forage- I am not a vet and everyone does what works best for their own horses, but it’s been eye-opening how well mustangs do in the wild on what to some looks like very little if any sustenance. We’ll walk between sagebrush on literally nothing but dust and dirt and some may find it alarming. But in the dry summer and autumn months one can find forage growing in the shadows of brush and juniper. They graze literally most of the day, and travel to water sources for miles. The feed has really opened my eyes that sometimes simpler is better and that perhaps supplements are not as necessary or somewhat over-rated and may even cause problems whether in hoof growth or development, foundering, or various internal ailments. The mustangs are often observed digging out and licking natural mineral holes on the mountain, and testing at OS revealed significant levels of potassium among other minerals and the horses think it tastes like candy. I tried it, and it does not taste like candy lol . Overfeeding, or not enough feeding throughout a day, rich feeds and some supplements may cause problems for some horses, including internal distress (horses cannot vomit, and some have painful or lethal bouts of colic). Consistency, or regular grazing, or more frequent meals are beneficial to the equine digestive tract.
Parasites- Mustangs are less likely to eat soiled areas as they are not concentrated in a paddock or other enclosure and have room to roam, and one of the reasons we never see their piles with any internal parasites, and I’ve kicked over my share of mustang and stud piles to inspect forage consumption and worms…. never ever have I found evidence of parasites in their waste. Not only that, but as a side benefit their biproduct re-seeds the range. In addition, wild horses also nibble sagebrush, even will snack on it when forage is poor in the winter. Sagebrush we've learned is natural internal parasite control. Domestics need to be wormed every 8 weeks or so in contrast.
Hooves- I have also learned about horse hooves in nature, when they are able to move on rough rocky ground often rather than stay standing in a paddock or stall with soft bedding or ground cover their hooves self manicure. Rough ground and movement is a great benefit, keeping their hooves neat and tidy. Mustangs are always moving, whether running, chasing, battling, walking, moving on rocks or wading through water- all very good for their "wild feet".
Biology- Hormones are the ruler of the horse. In the wild they rule the individual horse, the band, and the herds as a whole- essential for natural free-roaming wild horses. We tend to be more patient knowing this with our domestic mares and stallions, and on the flip side, even understand more the occasional listlessness, lack of energy, or even docile manners of some of our altered animals such as domestic geldings. It has been especially fascinating to see how well stallions get along together in the wild as well (when they're not "talking" about mares 😉 ). Sometimes I'll think about domestic stallions in their confined spaces.
However, in a domestic situation, it is never advised to suddenly turn out a stallion (which may be accustomed to isolation) with others. I am merely sharing that in the wild, mustang stallions often grow up together, interact, and enjoy one another, run in bachelor bands, play together, and groom each other (again, that is until one of them says “mares lol ). Further interesting is not all bands are structured with one stallion as is popularly believed- we have dual or partnering co-stallions, both overseeing a harem in which they are equal in hierarchy (though each with their own mare alliance). Both stallions work together to protect their complete band. There are also bands with one dominant band stallion but has a “Lieutenant” stallion who will submit, but works hard tending to the band such as keeping them all together or running off intruders. Then there are bands with one dominant band stallion but has got a rogue stallion stalking or trailing, or a bunch of hopeful young bachelors following. Bottom line, in nature, there are many scenarios of stallions which are used to and good at… and some rather enjoy, interacting with others and other stallions.
Blanketing- I am also less likely to blanket my horses in the winter unless it gets in severe cold below 20°f as that would impede them to grow good thick heavy coats to keep them warm through the rest of the cold season. I’ve seen this over the years the winter coat growth on horses both with blankets and those without. There is a difference.
I looked through vet materials that have stated that equines are comfortable between temperatures of 55-15f degrees. That cold end tolerance was a surprise to me.
Movement- I also am much more aware of the area that my horse is contained in, and prefer stall use with open access to outdoor areas like paddocks or pastures. From watch horses, their daily movement and interactions, I am much more aware of horses standing in stalls for days on end or more, and those without other horse interactions. My hope for those is that if there aren’t other horses, that their humans are interactive with them and have stimulating things, activities, or toys to occupy long days. I also am much more aware of how often we feed our domestic horses where wild horses will forage all day long, so I have become sensitive to that as well... where some domestics may be fed 3, 2, or just 1 time in a day. Smaller more frequent meals are likely easier on the equine digestive systems. There is much more, but some of the main things off the top of my ballcap.
Some of my background: i have had horses much of my life, showed on occasional in my kid years (when I wasn’t riding rogue over golfcourse- yes, there is a story), did team roping, but mostly did trail and riding for pleasure. Most recently I had four horses and sold them a few years ago. In college, I also bought/rescued thoroughbreds off a race track and trained for trail and roping, to rehome them instead of the alternative, and as a bonus it paid my way through college at Oregon State University. I got rid of all my domestic horses as it was a transition in my life with growing two-legged colts of my own. But I am developing my life in such a way that in the future when we complete building our barn and fencing that I would like to bring a mustang or more home that are already captive and give them a chance. Grateful for the knowledge the wild ones have given over the last couple decades, since I first "discovered" them out on the range by mere chance in 1994... wild horses of every color and age ran across the rutted road kicking up dust in front of me. I've been smitten ever since and love this journey learning about wild mustang society… grateful for what they've taught me.
To read more of my field notes, here's the library:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10158717834863956&type=3
Keep the Wild in our West and our west WILD!
Sonya, aka Mustang Meg
www.roamwildfund.com
A recent interview I had with Animal Passions: https://youtu.be/-p0HgsjwYFU
Hope you Follow me on my YouTube video channel www.mustangjourney.com
