Thunder the Mustang

Thunder the Mustang Horse in the Desert

Thunder the Mustang by a line of Trees

Mustangs are horses that are or once were wild and living in the USA.  Their ancestors were feral horses or in other words, horses that once were domesticated but escaped or were let go in the wild.  This has led to a serious overpopulation of Mustang Horses.  Mustangs, after they were left to themselves, were and are a product of Natural Selection.  .   . and therefore evolution.  It was, for hundreds of years, survival of the fittest.  So Mustangs are very fit and very hardy.  They can go for miles and many can be trained and grow to be quite gentle.  

I rode Thunder, here in the photograph and did my best to draw him when he was wild.    He is now the most gentle horse in my Niece's and her husband's herd in Wyoming.  Thunder  is very easy to ride and very mellow.  When he was first captured and then in training he was grumpy, but that has changed.  He has been very gentle for many years now.  

The reason Mustang Horses are rounded up is because they are hard on the ecosystem.  Horses are not native to the American West.  So feral or wild horses are taking forage from native mule deer, elk, etc.  So the US government is trying to cull the herds by capture and hopefully adoption by citizens. 

Thunder in the Corral photo

Thunder with Bridle

NOTE:  Printable versions of the drawings are found by clicking on the "All Printables" button and / or the "Animals" button.  Buttons are located at the top of the blog page.