Mustang horses, known as wild horses that roam freely in the American steppes, but derived from domesticated horses brought to the region after the discovery of the continent, are known as small but strong animals. Let’s take a closer look at the interesting information about Mustang horses, which are an indispensable part of the American wilderness.
Even though we as humanity fight stubbornly to not leave a piece of land untapped, there are still wild lands, even in a civilized country like the United States of America. One of the countless animals living in these wild lands is the horses that we domesticated thousands of years ago. Horses that roam freely on the American steppes are called Mustangs. and in fact, they have come to the present day by descending from a domesticated species.
Mustang horses, as we all know, also inspired the legendary car Ford Mustang. These horses, which are smaller but stronger than normal horses and still roam free in herds in the thousands, are protected by some laws. Some domesticated Mustang horses It is used for horse riding or in competitions. Let’s take a closer look at the interesting facts about Mustang horses, which are an indispensable part of the American wilderness.
Interesting facts about Mustang horses:
Wild Mustang horses do not actually come from a wild ancestry:
an integral part of the United States wilderness today. Mustang horses are not actually native to the continent. They are descended from the Spanish and Arabian horses brought after the discovery of the continent. In other words, Mustang horses, which form the continent’s largest wild population today, are actually descendants of domesticated horses brought from Europe. For this reason, they were even treated as invaders for a period of time.
The US government considers Mustang horses in the wild category:
A law enacted in 1971 under the name of the Wild Free Range and Burro Act, Mustang considered horses wild and protected them from the ranchers. Capturing or killing Mustang horses is a crime under US law. This, of course, has led to an increase in the horse population and damage to agricultural lands. That’s why the Bureau of Land Management regularly collects and tames Mustang horses and gives them to farmers.
Mustang horses vary greatly in colour, height and weight:
Mustang horses are the type of horse with the most diverse variations in the world. A Mustang horse can have a boda of between 132 and 162 cm and a weight of between 317 and 680 kilograms. In every color and pattern you can think of You may encounter a Mustang, but they are mostly gray, mottled, tan, and a shade called grula. Because they mate irregularly, all these colors reveal unique variations over time.
They have much stronger hooves than domestic horses:
Wild Mustang horses have developed themselves over time to adapt to all kinds of terrain conditions and are compared to domestic horses living in comfortable fields. much stronger hooves they have acquired. Thanks to these hooves, they can travel 32 kilometers a day even on the roughest terrain. If they were not protected by law, because of these features, all of them would be quickly caught and used by domestication.
There is fierce competition among male Mustang horses:
Mustang horses, like many herbivores, live in herds. There are two types of herds among Mustang horses; first a herd with a stallion, several mares and foals. The second is the herd of young male horses that cannot stand up to the leader stallion. Of course, the young males defy and fight the leading stallion during the mating season. But they do not fight to the death. The fight continues until one side admits that they have lost and walks away. The winner grabs the mares.
Mustang horses can live much longer than normal:
The average lifespan of a domestic horse is between 25 and 30 years, even under the best conditions. In wild Mustang horses sometimes this time It can reach up to 40 years. The biggest reason for this is that horses have to run to their fullest due to their nature. Mustang horses are healthy, while the lifespan of the domestic horse that does not get enough exercise is shortened. However, Mustang horses that feed on natural grasses and bushes can die in 15-20 years when they cannot find the right living conditions. Therefore, their habitats should be protected as well.
Not everyone can own a Mustang:
United States law has strict rules about this. Not everyone can go and catch a Mustang horse to their liking. Also, when the horses collected due to population control are to be adopted, There are very strict rules. In the past, anyone who paid $125 could own a Mustang. After 2015, this situation has changed. The owner of a Mustang horse must be over the age of 18, have a large pasture and stable, and have a suitable transport vehicle for the transport of the horse. Even after the Mustang horse is adopted, the state does not let you go and comes back a year later to check the situation. If there is any concern about the health of the horse, it is taken away from the owner.
Mustang horses can survive on much less food than usual:
Even if you own a Mustang horse and give it unlimited feed and water, the maximum amount it will eat on the most tiring day will be 6 kilos. Whereas Mustang horses living in the wild with only 1 – 2 kilograms of food per day they can survive. Moreover, even with such little food, their health does not deteriorate. The biggest reason for this is of course the small size of Mustang horses, but it is obvious that the instinct to survive has a direct effect on this situation.
Mustang horses don’t always run:
Mustang horses are an extremely mixed breed. Some members of the species trot, some run, and some gallop. Each one’s running ability is unique, but Just because he can run doesn’t necessarily mean he can run. Oddly enough, a Mustang horse that runs at its own pace and not at a gallop can sometimes be much faster. This is a skill that has been acquired entirely as a result of the struggle for survival in the wild.
Mustang horses are thought to be extinct:
There are those who want the Mustang horses living in the western part of the continent to be classified as an endangered species. Currently available in the United States, according to the latest information. 50 thousand wild Mustang horses live. It may seem like a sufficient number, but it is observed that its population is gradually decreasing. For now, the Mustang horse population is being monitored and response preparations are being made in case there is a higher decline.
roaming freely on the American steppes From interesting information about Mustang horses, which are wild horse species. by sharing some of them, we talked about the details you need to know about these beautiful creatures. We wish the Native Americans did not suffer the fate of Mustang horses. You can share your thoughts in the comments.