Mustang horses are a special breed of horse that was originally found on the American frontier in the mid-to-late 1800s. Mustang horses were originally known as wild horses, meaning they were not domesticated and had never been tamed by humans.
However, over time, some of these wild horses have been captured and domesticated, though some may still be considered wild by today’s standards. Due to the unique history of these animals. It is important to know what causes mustang horse health problems in order to properly care for them so they can live happy and healthy lives.
Introduction
Whether you’re breeding your mustang mare or stallion to create a new colt or filly, make sure you have a solid plan in place for its long-term health and well-being.
Mustang horses have prone to illness and injury as any other horse—perhaps even more so due to their hardy nature. Preventative measures can save your animal years of suffering, though; learn about common mustang horse health problems, what causes them. And how to keep your horse healthy for years to come.
Factors That Cause Mustang Horse Health Problems
Proper nutrition is one of the most important factors in keeping Mustang horses healthy. Mustang horses require a balanced diet, as they are ridden and used for work several hours a day, every day. If they do not receive enough nutrients, their joints will become weakened and they can develop any number of painful diseases.
Other factors that cause Mustang horse health problems include improper stabling, lack of exercise, and overfeeding. Overfeeding can lead to obesity in any species; it is particularly common in domestic animals like Mustang horses because people want them to look pretty. Incorporating at least an hour or two of grazing time into each day will help them maintain proper weight while providing good overall health benefits.
Mustangs in Captivity
You’ve decided to keep mustangs in captivity for show. You have options regarding how you care for your mustangs—how long they remain with you, what types of training and medical treatment you’ll use, and more.
There are pros and cons to each method that can help inform your decision about what’s best for your particular situation. The following information will be helpful when planning. No matter which option is best for you, consider contacting a veterinarian that has experience working with mustangs.
Living Conditions
Mustangs live in harsh, dry conditions. They are easily susceptible to malnutrition and dehydration because of their diet and lack of water. Without proper care, they can develop issues such as colic, ulcers, or other digestive problems which may result in a slow death. A healthy diet and access to clean water are very important for horses who live out in wild environments.
Poor Nutrition
Horses are grazing animals, so their diets should be high in fibrous foods such as grasses. And low in energy-dense foods. This means your horse may need to eat a lot of food to get what he needs (though most wild horses eat about half of what domesticated horses do).
If your horse’s diet is too rich, his body will store excess calories as fat; over time, that excess fat can cause health problems like laminitis or colic. Grazing pastures are best for most horses; hay makes up only 25% of their diet.
Herd Life
Wild horses typically live in close-knit herds and depend on one another for protection. Since they’re not domesticated. Their bodies aren’t as well-suited to dealing with many of the common human ailments that plague humans and domestic animals alike.
For example, wild horses often have poor vision, which makes them easy targets for predators like mountain lions or wolves. On top of that, their heart rate is naturally high since they have to be constantly wary of attack—in some cases. It’s up to 35 beats per minute! In captivity, however, these issues can start to add up and cause problems such as colic or laminitis.
Parasites and Infections
Parasites, particularly Giardia and Cryptosporidium, often cause diarrhea in pets (particularly horses). This is one of those instances where prevention is a lot easier than treatment. Make sure to wash your hands before touching your pet and make sure that you don’t walk through horse or animal feces. To help prevent infections. Also, keep your pet’s stall clean, feed him a high-quality diet and provide lots of clean water to drink.
Most parasites are spread by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water so avoiding these things helps prevent infection. If your horse does contract an infection such as Giardia, it can be treated with medication.
Limited Access to Medical Care
Many mustangs do not have consistent access to veterinarians and other care professionals. The BLM relies on volunteers for much of their mustang health monitoring, which can result in inconsistent care or an overall lack of prevention programs.
In addition, many owners are unaware that certain practices are bad for their horses’ health—such as excessive use of fly spray, clipping hooves too short, or infrequent vet visits—and they may not know how to keep their horse healthy.
So make sure you consult a vet before doing anything you aren’t sure about. And remember: It’s always good to treat your horse like a member of your family!
The Stallion Effect
In wild horse populations, stallions do more than just look after their harem of mares and fight for them. They also act as natural surrogate mothers.
Wild mares give birth to one foal per year and must leave it alone for long periods of time in order to find food; there is no other animal (except, perhaps, another mare) that can provide nutrition for a growing foal.
Stallions, on the other hand, are often right next door or within earshot, if they’re not far away. And when a mare needs help—whether it’s food or just encouragement. She goes over to her neighbor and he takes care of her little one while she leaves to get some rest or hunt for herself and her herd mates.
Inbreeding Issues
Mustangs are frequently inbred, which means that they have similar genetics. This makes them especially susceptible to certain conditions and diseases. Additionally, their small gene pool makes it very hard for them to develop resistance to foreign pathogens.
Diseases like Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) spread easily through wild horse populations because there’s no immunity to such infections among them.
The lack of genetic diversity can also lead to heritable health issues, as with Columbian spotted fever and equine infectious anemia. Of course, breeding should be supervised by a professional at all times; when dealing with mustangs that you’ve captured yourself. It’s even more important than usual to ensure that you know where these animals come from and how they’re related.
Wrap Up
As one of America’s first domesticated horses, mustangs are remarkably hardy and have many qualities that make them popular horses. However, living in a domesticated environment often comes with health risks. To keep your horse healthy, it’s important to be familiar with its heritage and characteristics as well as the know-how to best care for a horse. By understanding what causes mustang horse health problems, you can take preventative steps to ensure your horse remains safe and healthy.
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