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How do you tell if my horse is a mustang?

Determining if a horse is a true mustang, meaning a wild horse descended from those brought to North America by Spanish explorers in the 16th century, can be a tricky endeavor. Mustangs are sturdy, intelligent horses with distinct conformational characteristics and behaviors that set them apart from domesticated breeds.

Examining Conformation

A mustang’s conformation provides many clues about its ancestry. Compared to most domesticated breeds, mustangs tend to have:

  • Smaller, more narrow bodies
  • Shorter, thicker necks
  • Large heads with broad foreheads and small ears
  • Sloping shoulders
  • Straight backs
  • Powerful, muscular hindquarters
  • Shorter legs with dense bone
  • Tough, durable hooves

These characteristics reflect the hardy, utilitarian nature of the mustang, honed by generations of surviving with minimal human intervention in the rugged landscapes of the American West. Their smaller stature and sturdy legs allowed them to thrive on sparse vegetation and traverse rocky, uneven terrain. Large heads contain big brains and show intelligence. Necks and shoulders are strong from foraging over large areas. Hindquarters display athleticism needed to escape predators.

Examining Color Patterns

Mustangs come in a diverse array of color patterns, many quite distinct from domesticated breeds. Some colors and markings to look for include:

  • Dun – Yellowish coat with darker points and a dorsal stripe
  • Grullo – Gray or mouse-colored coat with black mane, tail and lower legs
  • Buckskin – Yellowish coat with black lower legs, ear rims and mane/tail
  • Bay – Reddish brown coat with black lower legs, ear rims and mane/tail
  • Blue/red roan – White hairs mingled with bay or brown hairs throughout the coat
  • Leopard complex – White coat with reddish spots or rings
  • Dorsal stripe – Dark stripe down the center of the back from mane to tail
  • Zebra stripes – Faint dark vertical stripes on legs and shoulders

These primitive color patterns are related to those seen in wild equines and signal little human manipulation of color through selective breeding.

Assessing Brands and Markings

True mustangs derived directly from wild herds will often bear brands, tattoos or freeze marks that identify the specific herd they came from. Major mustang herds in the western U.S. include:

Herd Location Brands/Markings
Pryor Mountain Montana/Wyoming Freeze brand on left side of neck
Kiger Oregon Double bend brand on left shoulder
Cerbat Arizona AZ flank brand
Sulphur Utah TACT hip tattoo

The presence of registered mustang herd brands or markings are surefire proof of true mustang ancestry. However, lack of a brand does not rule out mustang heritage.

Evaluating Temperament

Mustangs that grew up wild exhibit behaviors and temperamental traits distinct from domesticated horses. Typical mustang temperament includes:

  • Wariness – Wary of humans, difficult to catch and handle
  • Independent – Able to self-sufficiently find food, water and shelter
  • Intelligence – Assess situations thoroughly before acting
  • Toughness – Resilient, able to tolerate extreme conditions
  • Agility – Nimble and surefooted over rough terrain
  • Curiosity – Interested in exploring new objects and environments
  • Free spirit – Difficulty accepting confinement or restraint

With patience and proper training a mustang’s natural intelligence and endurance can be channeled into an excellent riding horse. However, their wild instincts make them less naturally submissive than domesticated breeds.

DNA Testing

For definitive proof of mustang ancestry, DNA testing can compare your horse’s genetic makeup to mustang herds. Laboratories like the University of Kentucky Equine Genetics Laboratory analyze hair samples using up to 200 genetic markers. Results are matched against a database of mustang DNA compiled over decades of wild horse studies. A high percentage match confirms mustang lineage going back many generations.

The availability of DNA testing has resolved many longstanding questions about presumed mustang ancestry. Horses thought to be mustangs due to appearance or temperament sometimes turn out to have minimal genetic ties when tested. Conversely, unassuming horses prove to be full-blooded mustangs.

Registry Enrollment

Several registries track and document mustangs gathered from Bureau of Land Management (BLM) roundups of western wild herds. Examples include:

  • The Mustang Heritage Foundation Freedom Registry
  • The Wild Horse and Burro Program’s BLM Branded registry
  • The Mustang Association of America registry

Enrollment in one of these registries is an authenticated way to verify your horse as a BLM-gathered mustang. Registries record details like the original herd, roundup date, freeze brands and adopted name. Some registries also allow half-mustangs with one documented mustang parent.

Conclusion

Determining if a horse has mustang blood requires examining physical attributes, natural behaviors, brands and DNA when available. Look for the distinct conformation, colors, temperament andPrimitive markings of America’s wild horses. Patience and trust are required when training mustangs, but their rugged resilience and intelligence make them excellent partners out on the trail. With the right approach, the mustang’s legendary strength of spirit and connection to its ancestors can carry on in horses living far from their wild roots.