Different horses have different temperaments and mental attitudes, and some can be so energetically proud that getting a handle on them is left to professional trainers, and even they have trouble coaching the horse. Take the Mustang as an example.
The Mustang is probably the horse breed that can best embody American concepts of freedom and pride. When brought into an equestrian training pen, most trainers would admire the creature, but at the same time keep away from being obliged to train it. Mustangs are wild steeds, that’s true, but like how other strains of horses can be trained for equestrian sport or other functions, so can they. But whoever’s coaching them should be aptly talented and justly qualified. Herein lies the issue.
Owning any horse, even a Mustang, can cost as little as $130 plus a trailer home. Due to this, many would dare buy themselves a proud steed and attempt to train it themselves. Being all but complete beginners with little or even no qualification to coach horses, they’re lucky if they can essentially train the steeds to do something that looks like horse riding. In reality if they can do that, it only means that the horse would then have to be retrained in the right manner for it to really be satisfactory for equestrian sport. Making the poor animal un-learn nearly everything it was ‘taught ‘ is a tedious and prolonged process in itself.
So if nothing else but to circumvent the bother, it’s only correct that a brilliant equestrian trainer handle a breed such as a Mustang. But what qualities of a trainer would make her a great choice?
Experience and experience matter, particularly when handling Mustangs, but beyond the trainer or breeder should truly care for the horse. This implies she has got the patience to whittle down the Mustang’s pride and stubbornness until he becomes a cooperative partner. The willingness to spend lots of time on the steed to consistently meet his aggressiveness with patience is most probably the premier feature you would need in a trainer.
The Mustang is quite powerful willed, and won’t follow a hesitant or inexperienced hand that poses to steer it. But given sufficient time, patience, and the correct coaching regimes and practices, even Mustangs become trustworthy and safe mounts. All they want is a compatible home and a leader.
The initial few barriers to break down are the hardest ones: replacing a Mustang’s fight or flight nature with proper replies to cues, removing the worry that makes the mighty steed bare his teeth or lash out, and fundamentally domesticating what once was a wild animal.
A bit more on the techie side of training though: horses should be well versed in foundation coaching. When beginners have a go at coaching Mustangs, they have an inclination to skip foundation coaching for many varied reasons, and this isn’t desirable nor satisfactory.
