Mustang Heritage Foundation

Mustang Heritage Foundation

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Learning Center


There’s a lot to learn about the American mustang and burro. Read about their long history as “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West” and how the Mustang Heritage Foundation, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, helps protect these living legends. Plus, learn how to read a freezemark and how to identify the parts of a horse.

History of Mustangs

Wild horses and burros—defined by federal law as unbranded, unclaimed, free-roaming horses or burros found on public lands in the United States—mark a special place in the story of the American West. But where did this diverse group originate? Today’s mustangs hold rich heritage as descendants of horses who first came to the Americas with Spanish explorers and missionaries in the 1500s. As people began settling the West, more livestock joined the growing population, too, reaching a total of around two million wild horses and burros by the late 1800s.

However, the spread of civilization also created competition for the land that provides shelter, food, and water for wild horses and increased the need for domesticated horses and burros. The emergence of domestic and international markets for horse meat further impacted demand for mustangs, and by the mid-1900s, the number of wild horses and burros roaming the West had dramatically decreased.

In the 1950s, an unlikely champion emerged. Velma B. Johnston, who later became known as “Wild Horse Annie,” launched a campaign aiming to establish legislation to protect wild horses and burros across America. Johnston’s
“Pencil War” invited others, including many school-aged children, to join her in writing letters to Congress asking for change on behalf of the shrinking mustang population.

A bill (Public Law 86-234) prohibiting the use of motorized vehicles to hunt wild horses and burros on public land passed in 1959, but Johnston wanted more. She and her fellow campaigners continued petitioning for the formation of a program to protect, manage, and control wild horses and burros, and Congress responded by passing the “Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act” (Public Law 92-195) in 1971. On December 15, U.S. President Richard Nixon signed the bill into law, charging the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) with the task of preserving and protecting placing wild horses and burros.

Today, the BLM continues to manage the wild mustang and burro population across 26.9 million acres of public land. In addition to that responsibility, the BLM also attempts to maintain healthy ecological balance by decreasing damage to native vegetation and discouraging growth of invasive weeds that reduce natural food and water supply. This requires careful monitoring of herd size to ensure the wild horse and burro population doesn’t exceed habitat capacity. To maintain this balance, the BLM orchestrates movement of animals and preparation of those mustangs and burros for adoption to qualified homes.

Lessons & Activities

Parts of a horse

Heritage, Mustang Heritage Foundation’s official mascot, will help you learn about the parts of a horse. Download the complete packet with color and black & white reference charts and fill in the blank quiz.

Download PDF

CREATE YOUR OWN MHF MUSTANG OR BURRO

Draw a freeze mark on your mustang or burro. Get creative with color and decoration. Cut out your mustang and burro and start your adventure. Take photos. Write a story. Post online (with your parent/guardian permission). 

Download PDF

Freeze Marks

Freeze marks are an important part of a mustang or burro’s identity. Freeze marks help us identify each mustang or burro as an individual. Learn about wild mustang and burro freeze marks and draw your own freeze mark.

Download PDF

Word Search

Have fun completing this word search puzzle containing names of MHF sponsors and other mustang related words.

Download PDF

Glossary of Terms

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior responsible for administering federal lands.

Gather

The removal of wild horses and burros from public lands to protect the health of the animals and health of our nation’s public rangelands. Gathers are conducted by the BLM.

Herd Management Area (HMA)

The BLM manages wild horses and burros in 177 herd management areas across 10 western states. The herds of the HMAs are unique in history, genetics, coloring and size. 

Holding

This term refers to the facilities that house wild horses or burros removed from the wild. These facilities include short-term corrals and long-term pastures.  

long-term holding

If a qualified private owner cannot be located, horses are eventually transported to an off-range pasture for long-term care. Off-range pasture is privately-owned land contracted by the BLM to ensure these horses are provided the space and resources they need to stay healthy for the remainder of their lives.

off-range

Refers to wild horses or burros removed from the wild and in holding pens, corrals or long-term holding pastures. 

on-range

Refers to wild horses or burros removed from the wild and in holding pens, corrals or long-term holding pastures. 

range

Refers to the open land, primarily the 10 western states with wild horse and burro herds.

Wild Horse & Burro Program

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program manages healthy wild horses and burros on healthy public rangelands as required by the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. The Mustang Heritage Foundation works in partnership with the Wild Horse & Burro Program to help place wild horses and burros removed from holding in to private care. 

512-869-3225

Email Us

Mailing address:
870 Co Rd 156
Granger, TX 76530

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  • About
    • What We Do
    • History
    • Impact Report
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • News
  • Programs
    • Extreme Mustang Makeover
    • TIP – Trainer Incentive Program
    • Veterans & Mustangs
    • Youth & Mustangs
  • Shows
  • Adopt
    • TIP – Trainer Incentive Program
    • Extreme Mustang Makeover
  • Learn
    • History of Mustangs
    • Lessons & Activities
    • Glossary of Terms
  • Get Involved
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    • More Ways to Support
    • Membership
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