Different horses have different temperaments and attitudes, and some can be so energetically proud that getting a handle on them is left to pro trainers, and even they have difficulty coaching the horse. Take the Mustang for instance.

The Mustang is perhaps the horse breed that may best embody American ideas of freedom and pride. When brought into an equestrian training pen, most trainers would admire the creature, but at the same time back away from being obliged to coach it. Mustangs are wild steeds, that’s definite, but like how other types of horses can be trained for equestrian sport or other functions, so are they able to. But whoever’s coaching them should be aptly talented and justly qualified. Herein lies the problem.

Owning any horse, even a Mustang, can cost as little as $130 plus a trailer home. Due to this, many would dare buy themselves a proud steed and try to train it themselves. Being all but complete beginners with little or even no qualification to train horses, they are fortunate if they can basically train the steeds to do something that looks like horse riding. In reality if they are able to do that, it only means the horse would then need to be retrained in the right demeanour for it to be suitable for equestrian sport. Making the poor animal un-learn nearly everything it was ‘taught ‘ is a tedious and prolonged process in itself.

So if nothing else but to avoid the hassle, it’s only proper that an excellent equestrian coach handle a breed like a Mustang. But what qualities of a coach would make her a great choice?

Experience and experience matter, especially when handling Mustangs, but beyond that the trainer or breeder should really care for the horse. This suggests she has the patience to whittle down the Mustang’s pride and stubbornness until he becomes a cooperative partner. The eagerness to spend a lot of time on the steed to consistently meet his aggressiveness patiently is most probably the foremost characteristic you would want in a coach.

The Mustang is kind of powerful willed, and will not follow a hesitant or unskilled hand that poses to steer it. But given sufficient time, patience, and the right coaching regimes and practices, even Mustangs become trustworthy and safe mounts. All they want is a compatible home and a leader.

The initial few barriers to break down are the hardest ones: replacing a Mustang’s flight or fight nature with proper replies to cues, removing the fear that makes the mighty steed bare his teeth or lash out, and essentially training what once was a wild animal.

More on the techie side of coaching though: horses should be well capable in foundation coaching. When beginners try their hand at coaching Mustangs, they tend to skip foundation training for many varied reasons, and this is never advisable nor acceptable.

Horses are Heather Toms’ passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100’s of articles with other horse lovers… like all things about horse rugs.