mustanger

A mustanger is a person who captures, handles, and trains mustangs, the free-roaming horses of North America. The term derives from mustang, itself from the Spanish mestengo meaning stray or roaming animal, and refers to someone who rounds up and domesticates such horses, often for sale or for use as working animals.

Historically, mustangers operated across the American West, supplying ranches and settlers with horses during the 18th through 20th centuries. They used methods such as lariats, corrals, and drives to gather herds. In the modern United States, mustanging is regulated within the framework of wild-horse management, and many mustangers now work under contracts with government agencies or as private buyers and adopters.

Current practice is shaped by legal protections and conservation goals. The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 recognizes mustangs and burros on public lands and directs management to maintain healthy herds at sustainable levels. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and partner organizations conduct roundups, gather horses, and arrange for adoption, sale, or long-term care in sanctuaries when appropriate. The practice remains controversial, with debates over animal welfare, ecological impact, and the ethics of removing wild horses from public ranges. Proponents argue that mustanging helps manage herd health and land condition, while critics highlight risks to animal welfare and unintended environmental effects.