Wild Mustand

Question
I recently purchased a mustang fromout west.  The people before me had her a year.  She is very head shy.  Were working on that part.  She won't let me pick her feet out yet either.  I would like to start loungeing her.  Any tips.  She is docile just doesn't know anything.  They did nothing with her.  I have only had her two weeks now.  She trusts us more each day.  Her big thing is when she is threatened she either backs up or turns her butt at you.

Answer
Hi Brooke!  It sounds like you're on the right track.  Lungeing is a great way to begin creating a relationship with your horse.  It's best to use a round pen, if you have one available.  It's a nice, safe way to keep control of the situation.  I don't know if you're familiar with John Lyons' work, but he has some great videos and books on round pen work.  If you don't have a round pen, you can lunge using a lunge line, but it's a little more difficult with a new mustang.  

When you begin lunge work with her, start with small steps - like first getting her to walk on the lunge line.  Make sure that you give her lots of praise ("Good girl! Good girl!") when she does even the smallest thing you want her to do.  Gradually, she'll begin to understand that "good girl" is something she wants to get from you.  With mustangs, especially horses that are more assertive horses, it's important that you DO NOT use food to train, initially.  Mustangs see food as a life-and-death thing, and can get extremely pushy around it.  Verbal praise and pats/strokes are much safer and more effective.

Backing away isn't such a big deal, and she'll learn to stop that when she's more comfortable with you.  But turning her butt to you is an aggressive posture for a horse.  After all, most of their power is in their back legs.  You can use the end of a lead rope or a riding crop to swat her on the butt when she turns it toward you.  Then when she turns around, give her lots of praise.  Be careful that you're not in her kick zone when doing this!  

Horses learn to trust when people treat them consistently.  That's the key thing.  You have to establish really firm boundaries, like "it's not okay to turn your butt toward me", and act on it every time turns her butt to you.  Mustangs, especially, need firm boundaries and rules.  You need her to see you as the leader of your herd (the one that she's in) and the only way to do that is to maintain clear boundaries.  

Also, if you're familiar with Monty Roberts, his concept of "join-up" works quite well with mustangs.  I highly recommend his work in creating the trusting relationship with the horse.  Trust comes with time for mustangs - be patient and consistent, and keep trying.  It's well worth it!  Good luck and don't hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions.

--Susan