The Continuing Friendship Between Dawgs and Mustangs
Knowledge about the American Mustang is not common among the American People. More than a symbol, the Mustang is an integral part of not only American history but also the American infrastructure. For centuries Mustangs expedited travel and helped settle new lands; they helped build towns, cities, and states; they pulled the plows and carried the harvest. The mustang’s hoofprint is forever imprinted in the American soil and the American identity, yet a small percentage of the U.S. population is aware of mustangs’ significance…but thanks to an evolving partnership between Wild Mustang Ranch and the University of Georgia, awareness is growing.
In August of 2023, Professor Cameron Berglund of UGA’s College of Environment + Design reached out to WMR in hopes of learning more about the ranch. The information was to be referenced in a class he was teaching about how to build a theoretical tourist ranch in Colorado which would incorporate mustangs as part of the build. The lectures would also cover history of American Mustangs and their current management by the Bureau of Land Management. It was inspiring to see mustangs getting this kind of focused attention in a prestigious university setting, albeit surprising (attention from a design class rather than an agricultural or veterinary class seemed pretty random!) Chance encounters often become an essential connection. As it happens, this random correspondence was the beginning of something special.
Two years later, we just welcomed our third group of UGA students to the ranch. Although the faces change with each semester, the eagerness, attentiveness and empathy from each student and staff member is constant. In 2023 we had apx. 20 students visit the ranch for that inaugural visit, in 2024 there were a handful more, and in 2025 we welcomed 34 wide grinning bulldogs to our slice of equine-paradise. The number of students has grown, and so have the ideas for the class project. What began as a theoretical assignment has become a practical one– this year’s students have been given creative freedom to design a variety of projects that would be useful at Wild Mustang Ranch. Projects include: storm shelters in the pastures (a need which was made very apparent due to the damage of Hurricane Helene in 2024), water reclamation devices, and renewable energy sources as part of ranch infrastructure. Of their own volition, the students have also come up with a variety of creative ideas related to marketing and spreading awareness about WMR to the general public, these include amazing infographic posters, mustang stickers and temporary freezebrand tattoos! The students’ enthusiasm was palpable during their class visit, and the positive energy was felt by humans and horses alike.
In addition to the opportunity to learn about ranch infrastructure and operations, the students (and UGA staff) enjoyed time out in the pasture with our mustang herd as well as experiencing our equine-assisted coaching. During the second half of the day, the students formed small groups and took part in a variety of coaching sessions that included leadership, team development and personal development exercises as well as one-on-one round pen sessions with three of our half-tame mustangs. Whether in the round pen or out in the pasture, the students’ reactions told how special the experience was. Some had never touched a horse, let alone a once wild horse before; many learned something about themselves as well as about horses; there were profound moments spread amongst a generally pleasant day; watching our herd of mustangs cantor through the pasture inspired awe; getting to touch the neck of a once wild horse in the round pen brought a wave of emotion; there was as much laughter as there was learning, and with every somatic moment was borne a memory to be forever cherished.
Awareness is a precursor to action. The fate of American Mustangs is very much in the hands of us people. How much we as a society care about mustangs influences their fate. The latest Bureau of Land Management wild horse population census estimates there are ~73,000 wild horses roaming the western United States[1]. There are currently ~68,000 mustangs in off-range Government Holding facilities (corrals + pastures)[2] looking for a loving forever home. At Wild Mustang Ranch, there are 35 formerly wild mustangs happily grazing, some of which are still looking for their forever home. And at UGA, there are at least 34 amazing students who are champions of the American Mustang and who will carry and share their story wherever their life’s journey takes them. It can be overwhelming to look at the total number of wild horses in holding facilities and to question being able to make a difference…but one is reminded of the starfish story, where an adult finds a child on the beach amidst thousands of starfish that have been washed ashore and which will likely die as the tide goes out and the sun comes up . The adult says “little one, what are you doing, can’t you see there are thousands of starfish on this beach, you’ll never be able to save them all.” The child does not hesitate to pick up one more starfish, carries it back to the water’s edge and drops it in, then looks back thoughtfully and says “it made a difference to that one.”
We are grateful to Professor Berglund and so many at UGA for their active involvement with what we are doing here at Wild Mustang Ranch. Our services allow us to do good for the future of mustangs, and having friends like those at UGA increases the good we can do. Thank you to UGA for their continuing support, and we are excited to see what the future between bulldogs and mustangs brings.
Explore More:
Donate to the care of WMR Mustangs
Mustang’s Hautnah (Oct. 13 – 18)
Elsa Sinclair Workshop, (Oct. 25 – 28)
References:
[1]https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/about-the-program/program-data#:~:text=Fiscal%20Year%202025,Fiscal%20Year%202021[2]https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2025-01/Off%20Range%20Highlights%20Sheet%20for%20AB%20-%20FINAL.pdf
