The scene is the last half-mile of a 50-mile endurance race. Two horses are neck in neck for first place; Zane Grey, a record-holding Arabian endurance horse, and Hawk, a relatively unknown Mustang. The general consensus amongst endurance riders is that Mustangs are known more for stamina than speed. But when Hawk’s rider asks for more speed in the final sprint, he sails past the well-known, international competitor and wins the race.
Hawk wound up as a great endurance racer, but he didn’t start that way. His story is one of many that illustrate the virtues of the American Wild Mustang. Many believe they should run free forever, but modern realities make that impossible, at least for the time being. For many Mustangs, a loving home is far better than a government holding pen and these horses can provide many rewards to their owners.
Wild horse trainer Earl Maggard of Idaho has “one hell of an eye for conformation,” says horsewoman Donna Snyder-Smith. On this particular visit to a government holding center, he’d selected a young Mustang out of a group of wild horses about to be put up for adoption and submitted his bid. But a representative of the federal prison program, which funnels wild horses into various prisons in the West, stepped in and snatched the good looking colt out from under him.
The federal programs, where prisoners under supervision, gentle and start the wild horses under saddle, have a general history of success. Earl’s Mustang choice, later known as Hawk, was one who fell through the cracks. A few months after Hawk was shipped to the prison, Earl got a call. Hawk was being returned to his home range to be turned back out into the wild because he was considered unmanageable and dangerous. After a 14-hour drive and a bit of negotiation, Earl had his horse.
A year later, Hawk arrived at Donna’s barn. When Earl told Donna about Hawk’s history with the prison program, she assumed he was just a tough bucker. Other than being extremely suspicious of a human’s touch when Hawk arrived at her barn, he never put a foot wrong. And although he remained, as Donna calls it, “emotionally distant” for many years, Hawk could always be counted upon to do his job exceptionally well. But when he was done for the day, he wanted to be left alone.
At least five years into owning the horse, a casual conversation between Donna and Earl revealed that Hawk hadn’t been kicked out of school for bucking riders off. He’d been sent home because he was trying to “slice and dice” his handlers with his front feet and his teeth. “I couldn’t believe it when I heard that!” exclaims Donna. “I said ‘Hawk?’”
To this day, Hawk has a scar on his neck. “It’s the type of thing you’d see if a horse had been choked down by a rope for a very long time,” Donna muses. “It’s my guess that Hawk’s handlers at the prison had failed to make an emotional connection with the strong, young, self confident horse and Hawk had taken their efforts to subdue him personally. He was simply defending himself,” says Donna.
Hawk went on to have a hugely successful endurance racing career, which he continued with his new owner Ruth Hoddinott, M.D. Hawk’s endurance record shows over 1,900 successful competitive miles. Both Ruth and Donna describe Hawk as having a “highly developed sense of self respect.” Donna likens him to Cary Grant; quiet, confident, intelligent.
And he can trot like no other horse. Ruth is putting that natural talent to use in Hawk’s latest discipline, dressage. Ruth’s dressage trainer, Deborah Thomas, says that if Hawk had started in the discipline earlier in his career, he’d go far. Deborah will ride Hawk in his first official dressage test later this year. Ruth is Hawk’s biggest fan. “I love that he’s this amazing horse,” she explains, “yet I can feel that he still has his wild instincts even after all these years. And he’s smart, healthy and completely reliable. What more can you want?”
BLM Adoptions
Hawk was adopted from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), where there are now an estimated 2,000 wild Mustangs living in BLM holding pens in California. There are 32,000 wild horse in government holding pens throughout the country, most of which are in the West. This number has grown from 22,000 just two years ago. With more horses being removed from the wild than are being adopted, the program is on a dangerous path. Adoption is part of the solution that can be a win-win.
There are several ways to adopt one of the 2,000 plus wild Mustangs in California. In addition to visiting either BLM location (Ridgecrest or Litchfield) by appointment to adopt, there are 14 adoption events throughout California this year (see sidebar for dates and locations).
Mindy Odom, the BLM State Adoption Coordinator, says that many of the animals have been at least “halter-gentled” by volunteers. But if adopters need additional help, there are trainers who work specifically with wild horses and the BLM can help people find them. She adopted her own Mustang when he was 6 months old and 18 years later says with a smile, “I wouldn’t change him for the world.”
More Mustang Tales
Donna has coached riders in the equestrian arts for more than 40 years and is the author of several books, including The Complete Guide To Endurance Riding & Competition (www.donnasnydersmith.com).
When Donna moved out West she had an idea to create business taking groups for pleasure rides on high quality horses. At the time she didn’t have much knowledge about Mustangs, but her perception was that she wouldn’t find an animal of any substance or size. Her friend Naomi Preston, bronze medalist at the Pan Am Games in endurance riding, lent her a nice 15hh black Mustang gelding cob that changed her mind. “He was an absolutely superior horse,” she says. “After I had acquired several of my own Mustangs, I had some people out on a ride and they said, ‘We’re watching our horses enjoy the country.’ That is so true. Mustangs are always aware of their environment.”
Since then, she’s adopted 10 Mustangs in the past 15 years, though she’s quick to point out that she hasn’t started any of them from scratch. She credits Earl as the go-to person, having worked with wild horses for over 30 years. Earl would put about 90 days on her horses to get rid of any buck tendency and then Donna would do the “polishing,” teaching them to be clipped, lunged and more.
Drummer, so named because he followed his own beat, is yet another Mustang success story. Donna explains that the rest of the pack could disappear and Drummer wouldn’t worry for a minute; just go along his way. Over the years, he carried an 11 year old boy through to his first 50-mile finish in an endurance race and a 67 year old woman to her first 50-mile finish. He’s now with a rehabilitation riding program.
“As a whole, these are the smartest group of horses I’ve ever worked with in my 47 year professional career, and I’ve worked with a lot of breeds,” says Donna.
The Western States Wild Horse & Burro Expo in Reno, Nevada on Aug. 17-19 (www.wildhorseandburroexpo.com) is a great opportunity to see the talents and abilities of Mustangs and Burros. Donna will be there giving a clinic on both dressage and endurance riding and Hawk will be her star pupil in both events.
The Adoption Process
The guidelines for qualifying to adopt a wild horse are fairly straightforward. Adopters must be at least 18 years of age and have no prior conviction for inhumane treatment of animals. They must also demonstrate availability of adequate feed, water and facilities to provide humane care for the number of animals requested.
Completing the Application for Adoption of Wild Horses or Burros and mailing it to the nearest BLM office is the next step. The BLM will be in contact to verify that the facilities meet the minimum requirements for the number of animals to be adopted.
Up to four wild horses or burros can be adopted by an individual within a 12-month period. The minimum adoption fee for each wild horse or burro is $125. Most adoption events use competitive bidding to establish the adoption fee. Today, the average adoption fee is about $185 for horses, $135 for burros, and $160 for mules.
Finding the wild horse that suits the adopter’s particular interests is the next step. The wonderful thing about Mustangs is the wide variety of colors and builds. Donna explains that in the early 1900s, purebred stallions were sometimes released into a wild herd, creating offspring who show tendencies towards Morgans, Thoroughbreds, Andalusians and other breeds.
There are 14 adoption events thorough California this year (see sidebar for dates). Some are simple one and two-day events that operate as a one-hour silent competitive bid. Bidders can see the other bids and counter the offer. The rest of the time it’s first come first served and adopters pay their $125.
A couple of weekends are matched up with Wild Horse and Burro special events. Turlock, for example, is held in conjunction with the Annual Backcountry Horsemen Rendezvous (www.bchc.com/rendezvous) which features such fun events as packer scrambles and a Dutch oven cooking competition.
Adopters are also always welcome to make an appointment to visit either Ridgecrest or Litchfield Monday through Friday. Staff will take people around the facility in a golf cart and adopters can take their horse home the same day.
The BLM vaccinates, worms, and freeze marks all of the wild horses and burros it offers for adoption, while a veterinarian provides necessary medical care. The BLM provides adopters with a record of the adopted animal’s medical history, including a negative Coggins test (indicating the animal does not have Equine Infectious Anemia).
History of Wild Horses
The BLM, an agency of the Department of the Interior, is responsible for managing the nation’s public lands. Under 1971’s Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, it became one of the BLM’s responsibilities to preserve and protect wild horses and burros and to manage for healthy rangelands. When an overpopulation of wild horses and burros exists on the range, the excess animals are removed and offered to the general public for adoption.
“Mustangs are known for their incredible endurance and stamina,” says Mindy. “They are sure-footed, nimble and hardy. But, most of all, adopted wild horses are known as loyal and willing equine partners.”
For information about the BLM’s wild horse and burro adoption program, see
www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.

Adoption Event Schedule

• 3/10-11: Victorville
• 3/24-45: Turlock, held in conjunction with the
Annual Backcountry Horsemen Rendezvous
• 3/24: Ridgecrest Corral
• 4/13: Litchfield Corral
• 4/14-15: Norco
• 4/28: Ridgecrest
• 4/28-29: Medford, OR
• 5/12: Clovis
• 5/19-20: Palmdale
• 5/25-28: Bishop, held in conjunction with Mule Days
• 6/2: Ridgecrest
• 6/9: King City
• 6/23-24: Chico
• 9/29-30: Bishop