Wild horses have been a part of American culture for centuries. Right from the mustangs of the West to the ponies on Chincoteague Island, these majestic animals have been known for being a symbol of strength and freedom for years. The volunteers of ISPMB mention that even though there are laws meant to protect these wild horses, a number of them are currently at risk. A lot of wild horses and burros fight for their freedom, and choosing to adopt them can be a great way to help them out.
Wild horses and burros adapt well to the changes in their natural environments, and the same holds true for their transition to domestic life. There are selected institutions like the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros, from where one can get the opportunity to adopt wild horses. It is the oldest wild horse and burro organization of the United States, and is fully committed to the safety and security of these animals.
A number of programs designed and developed to protect wild horses and burros on public lands were initiated by ISPMB for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This basically is a governmental agency responsible for carrying out the provisions of the Wild Horses and Burros Act. The successful adoption program of the NGO additionally has placed more than 200,000 wild horses and burros into adoptive homes.
According to the volunteers of International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros, with a bit of expert helps and guidance, one would have no problem in adopting a wild horse and making them a part of their family. Here are a few tips offered by these volunteers in this regard:
- Install strong fencing: Horses like Mustang would require a proper fencing. Wild horses are habituated to run around the large expanse of land. Hence, without a proper fence, they are bound to steer outside the property boundaries and stray away, which can be dangerous for them. It also is important that people remember that mustangs are quite clever beings that can get through weak fencing and other impediments. Therefore, one must select an adequately strong and tall variety of fence that they won’t be able to impede.
- Be careful about diet transition: Wild horses are not used to eating grains. They are generally used to feeding themselves on forage only. As a result, it may take them time to get accustomed to grain, treats, and other items people feed to the domestic horses. Their diet transition should be done gradually, so that it does not hamper their health. Abrupt diet changes may cause stomach upset, and colic among domestic horses itself, and hence the problem can be even bigger for a horse that has been used to eating a certain way its entire life.
People adopting wild horses should take care of their de-worming and vaccination as well.