Wild mustangs still freely roam on U.S. public rangelands. Yet, readers may be unaware that these living symbols of America’s rich, Western pioneer and frontier history also live around Jacksonville. They were obtained through a U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) federal program that manages wild herds. Wild mustangs and burros (or donkeys) are defined by federal law as unbranded, unclaimed, free-roaming animals found on U.S. public lands. The BLM regularly rounds up these excess animals for immediate sale or adoption.
Wild mustangs and burros only survive today because Congress passed the 1959 Public Law 86-234, known as the Wild Horse Annie Act, and the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Before those laws, they were routinely captured on public, state and private lands by ranchers or “mustangers” for sale or shipment to commercial slaughterhouses for pet food. They were also shot and poisoned by ranchers, hunters and landowners who considered them pests competing for water and vegetation.
In 1950, Velma Johnston was a Nevada secretary driving to work behind a truck overloaded with visibly wounded mustangs. Horrified, she documented that mustangs were commercially harvested, rounded up and sold to slaughterhouses for 6 ½ cents per pound, regardless of injuries or suffering. Alive and mobile were the only requirements for sale.
“Wild Horse Annie,” as Johnston became known, launched a national publicity campaign, successfully mobilizing students across America to flood Congressional members with letters demanding federal protection for mustangs and laws banning inhumane treatment. The Wild Horse Annie Act was the first federal law to prohibit using aircraft or vehicles to capture or kill mustangs or poisoning water holes on federal land. Later, the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act prohibited the capture, injury or disturbance of free-roaming mustangs and burros on federal land.
Those familiar with mustangs say they differ from domestic horses. Mustangs are curious, sensitive and hyper-wary with a sixth sense for danger – necessary for survival in their open-range homelands.
The late Florida horsewoman/trainer Ashley Rose Stevenson, who founded Downtown Mustangs Florida Adoptions and saved thousands of mustangs, said, “Mustangs are like ninjas. They can see, hear and smell danger miles away and are the best trail horses, quiet as can be.”
Mustangs are also highly prized for their unusually robust health and sound feet, strength, sure-footedness and adaptability. Their athleticism, intelligence, trainability and quick learning distinguish them in pleasure riding or competition: barrels, dressage, reining, jumper, endurance, cross country, drill team, mounted shooting, Western or English riding and all-breed horse shows. They also successfully work in therapeutic equestrian programs.
Amanda Flynn and Leo
Jacksonville’s Amanda Flynn and her Bay Mustang Leo’s story is unique compared to typical mustang owners. Flynn did not grow up in a saddle and boots but learned to ride as an adult. A corporate sales executive, she traveled between Miami and Atlanta, far from the equestrian life, until hers took a painful turn.
In 2018, Flynn’s husband, Steve, 30, died, leaving her grief-stricken. A lifelong animal rescuer and shelter volunteer, she was a Friends of Jacksonville Animals board member. Flynn began volunteering in a new capacity, serving others at the Trinity Rescue Mission Farm as she coped with her loss.
“My friend, Barb, volunteered there, had horses and got me riding. It felt completely natural from the start,” Flynn said. “I adopted an older, rescue quarter horse, Aspen, and then bought Serah, a Morgan, who helped me win my first barrel race. Barb and her husband had adopted a BLM mustang; that’s how I first learned about mustangs.”
In May 2022, Flynn heard that County Line Equine Rescue had adoptable BLM mustangs. There, she saw a Nevada mustang, Leo, 5. It was love at first sight.
“I knew as soon as I saw him; what a beauty!” Flynn said. “He’s so smart, he unlatches doors and lets the other horses out. If anything is scary, Leo is the brave one who investigates,” Flynn said.
Already boarding two horses, Flynn adopted Leo, sold her home, bought property and grew her herd to six horses, five rescue dogs, emus, alpacas, goats and pigs. She is now happily engaged to Shane Tedder.
Seth Samples and Lincoln
Unlike Flynn, Seth Samples was born a cowboy, but horses, especially mustangs, changed his life, too. A former rodeo and competition-professional-turned-renowned-horse-whisperer, Samples says his greatest life lessons came from mustangs.
Samples can ride a wild mustang within a few hours, and he proved that by winning many rodeos, mustang-breaking and colt-starting competitions, despite the danger to himself and the horses. However, he no longer believes in timed competitions or the win-at-all-costs mentality for himself or his horses. His attitude toward training dramatically changed as he saw successful, more humane methods emerge and experienced his own personal trials.
In addition to training horses – without rigid deadlines or unrealistic goals – Samples helps manage 15,000 cattle within two hours of Jacksonville. He speaks reverently of famous horseman Dan “Buck” Brannaman, the trainer who inspired Nicholas Evans’ bestselling novel and 1998 hit movie, The Horse Whisperer. Brannaman still practices and teaches his gentle training methods, which are based on understanding how horses think and communicate and the critical difference that building a deep bond between horse and rider can make.
“While a horse is with me, no matter what situation it comes from, it is going to spend the best hours and days of its life,” Samples said.
On a sunny morning at his ranch, Samples introduced Lincoln, a muscular, shining copper-colored Nebraska mustang, who stood perfectly still and relaxed, as indicated by his slightly lifted back hoof. Lincoln listened intently, ears pointed toward Samples. His weathered hands groomed Lincoln’s mane as he told the story of this special mustang.
“In 2023, my friend asked me to train his wife’s BLM wild mustang. Lincoln was a real looker…coat shines like a new, copper penny in the sun,” he said. “It took a few weeks until he came close, but I never touched him. I was waiting for him to tell me he was ready. My grandson touched him first when Lincoln was following him around. I told [my grandson] Bryar to just reach his hand back and let Lincoln nuzzle him. The horse did, and that was a moment.”
Samples said it’s a considerable responsibility to train a client’s horse, but a mustang even more so because they can be dangerous and unpredictable. Removing a mustang’s fear of anything touching or being on their back is “such a big deal.” After six months of patiently working with him, Samples thought Lincoln was ready for more contact. The day Samples raised his torso onto the horse’s back, his boot awkwardly caught Lincoln’s side, spooking him.
“He reacted just like a mountain lion was on him. He whipped around and bit my leg so hard. If not for my thick leather boots, he would have ripped out my entire calf,” Samples said.
The disappointing setback meant weeks of starting over from the beginning to regain Lincoln’s trust. One day, Samples looked over and saw owners’ daughter, Peyton Norman, 13, next to Lincoln’s flank, calmly scratching his belly.
“I about had a heart attack, but that little girl had no fear of him, and Lincoln knew it,” Samples said. “He was totally free and relaxed, enjoying her attention. I slowly walked over and put Peyton up on him, then my grandsons, Bryar and Aaron. He was fine with the kids, dragging his lead rope around. Then he accepted their smaller saddles; they all rode him. In six months, I rode him. Now, Peyton rides Lincoln bareback.”
MUSTANG ORIGINS
Spanish explorers first brought horses to the Americas in the 1500s. Today’s mustangs descend from animals released or escaped from early explorers, ranchers, miners, the U.S. Calvary and Native Americans. Mustangs and burros provided the only transportation and farm labor that made survival possible for pioneers and settlers.
Wild mustangs and burros (or donkeys) are defined by federal law as unbranded, unclaimed, free-roaming animals found on U.S. public lands. Despite federal protection, the wild existence of these animals remains the cause of a deadlocked, decades-long battle between competing interest groups.
Some believe existing laws and practices favor the animals and advocacy groups, allowing overpopulation and negatively impacting limited water and vegetation. Others believe that if not prevented, ranchers, hunters, landowners and thieves will eradicate wild mustangs and burros. Cyclical government politics and policies affect funding, interpretation and enforcement of existing laws that have already been modified, with continuous lobbying campaigns that attempt to weaken or remove protections.
Population management of wild herds matters not only because of scarce natural resources in their arid Western habitat, but also because they lack few natural predators. Large predators that threaten mustangs hunt the weak, young or injured. They avoid confrontation with the teeth and hooves of 1,000-pound stallions that fight to the death, protecting their herds. Predators include cougars, bears, wolves and coyotes.
The animals are periodically rounded up because natural death rates cannot balance wild mustang reproduction; confirmed population growth statistics vary widely between advocates and adversaries. After evaluation, excess animals are transported to holding areas for veterinarian care – de-worming, tests and vaccines – before sale or adoption.
A government freeze mark identification, similar to a hieroglyphic, is painlessly placed on the left side of each animal’s neck. Each unique freeze mark provides that animal’s registration number, registering organization and birth year. The mark is made by a cold iron chilled in liquid nitrogen. Want to help wild horses directly? The nonprofit organization Spirit of the Wild Horse, founded in 2004 by this author’s friend, Judy Barnes, provides year-round protection, food and water for several bands of mustangs in remote New Mexico. The organization currently needs three, 1,100-gallon tanks (plus water and delivery fee) for the summer months, costing $5,000. All donations are tax-deductible. Visit the website: https://www.SpiritOfTheWildHorse.org for information or to donate. Donate via PayPal: [email protected], or mail: SWH, POB 100, Costilla, NM 87524. For questions or photos, email [email protected].
