Lots of stories have been floating around about the phenomenal performances that signal the end of the Extreme Mustang Makeover. These stories don’t do justice to those mustangs that participate in the programme and meltdown because of the massive pressures they’re subject to in addition to the quantum of change they’re compelled to face within a tiny time period. I do ponder whether this program requires a rethink, a revamp and a new name. Something like The Highly Risky Mustang Makeover.

It is depressing to think of the level to which man will go solely to win some money or a prize. The Extreme Mustang Makeover, though a well meaning affair, is starting to look like a sworn statement to the rapacity of man.

You can’t ignore the rather obvious fact that when man, cash and animals enter the same room, money rules, man manipulates and the animal loses out. Where is the humanitarian side of getting an animal to jump into a ring of fire or ride a cycle when he isn’t given an opportunity to head out and get some freedom and some unpolluted air? It would seem wild animals need to be treated wildly. ‘Domestic’ horses are given 2 weeks to conform seamlessly to a new owner and a new home. I can remember one of the horses I rescued that took a complete year to ‘feel at home’ it was only after this he could get going on some sort of bonding process.

Mind you, he was a show pony of 7 years old.

I know a large number of first generation mustang owners, and I keep hearing from them about how much time it needs for their erstwhile ‘wild’ babies to adapt to life in captivity. We are talking about infant animals that haven’t yet finished a year of life in the wild. They are comparatively speaking extremely flexible. So how much more time would breaking in an adult mustang take? Those mustangs that wandered the wilderness as part of a herd, that have breathed the sweet air of freedom for such a long time and now have their inherent rights to freedom trampled on?

Having mentioned that. I express my appreciation of the folks that set up the program to adapt animals from a life of hardship to a domesticated one within 90 days. At least they are more humane: they work within the true purposes of this program and stay far from the circus training rackets. The programme helps mustangs adapt for relocation to new homes, where their new owners can relax in the deep pleasure of owing a living, gorgeous and intelligent extract from American legend.

The next time you see a mob relishing a good animal show, give thought to the source of the entertainment. The animal didn’t ask his gods to take him away from his natural environment of happiness and liberty just so he could jump thru burning hoops and thrill men. The quantity of abuse these animals take from their trainers leaves you with a sense of irritated amazement; you would probably feel much better if you managed to see what those animals that are saved do for their next owners. It’d be educative to study the way the trainers have prepared these animals for the remainder of their lives. Hopefully, the mustangs will not be made to do tricks that do not come naturally to them just so folk can get kicks out of it all. Hopefully, they will find owners who give them a permanent and a good home.

I have had to deal with a lot of mustangs that were reduced to quivering jelly by neglect and abuse. Mustangs are really impressionable animals. When they come at a tender age into man’s world, they come as unprocessed raw material. Their earlier years lead the way for the remainder of their lives. If they are nurtured well, they become lifetime and constant companions. If they’re abused, they lose their spirit, their confidence and their joy in life and spend their lives getting shunted from one home to another, earning a name for being uncontrollable and dangerous and ultimately, being left to live out their remaining days in a stall somewhere.

Extreme Makeover explains it all.

Horses are Heather Toms passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of articles with other horse lovers, like all things about tack room

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