Adoption: " Col. Mustard" Mustang A Day Challenge #52

Col.Mustard was the favorite of his owner Kat Moser. She saw this beautiful silver palomino in an auction and didn't know he was a mustang until she brought him home and saw the BLM freeze brand under his mane. She was very new to horses at the time and he was one of her first riding horses. " I only had him for a couple of years" she said in her email to me. " I wish I had taken more photos and especially one of his brand so I would know where he came from."

"Col. Mustard"
5 by 7 watercolor
by LindaLMartin Artist

Col Mustard was 24 when she sold him to his new owners. "no one could believe how old he was until they looked at his teeth" She guesses that he must be about 29 now.  This wonderful mustang made a good trail and companion horse. But Kat was very clear that Col. Mustard was the strongest horse in  the "corral".

Many times people wonder how an obviously well trained and acclimated horse like Col. Mustard gets in to the horse auction sale pipeline. Generally speaking there are very strict procedures for adoption, including  specifications as to the type of housing you must have for your adopted horse, what sort of food and vetting, as well as training you are responsible for. And there are spot checks as to making sure that you are keeping to the agreement and quality of care required. Then when you have met the requirements you can decide to return the horse or the horse is titled over to you by the BLM. This entire process takes about a year. Then you own the horse outright and basically are allowed to do any legal thing with the horse,  including keep or sell the horse, once you have title. 



Col.Mustard
refrence photographry by  Kat Moser.
Used by permission.



There is a data base at the BLM of every horse that is rounded up and branded. Those brands tell how old the horse is, where its original HMA was, and what the special information there is on there horse including the first person to hold the title of the horse and/or if the horse was returned etc. However once the horse is titled to a private owner the paper trail ends. If you would like to look into adoption there are two places begin looking.

 At the BLM sight: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/wild_horse_and_burro/adoptions.html

http://www.mustangheritagefoundation.org/

Another place you can look to adopt a mustang are private rescues who sometimes rescue or have a surrendered Mustang. They will handle them and train them, then guide you through the process to learn to connect or join up with your new mustang. Search on line for a Horse rescue local to you or you can start with one of these two registered non-profit organizations.

Alder Hill Farm in Missouri: http://www.alderhillfarm.com
Mustang U in Washington State:    http://mustangu.blogspot.com/

Should you have a horse you have obtained through a public auction horse sale or private sale, and suspect that it might be a mustang, because it has a  freeze brand on its neck, you can either check with your local brand inspector or  contact the nearest BLM office to find more information on your new horse.