Jun 16, 2024

Best Shelters and Exercise Areas for Mustangs

Amanda Whitmire
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New BLM Adopted From the Holding Pen Mustang Specific Requirements - IF you are planning to adopt a mustang straight from the corrals here is what it says you need to have:

You must provide a minimum of 400 square feet (20 feet x 20 feet) for each animal adopted/purchased. Until “fence broken”, adult mustangs need to be maintained in an enclosure at least 6 feet high. 0-18 months old horses need only 5 feet high and burros need 4.5 feet high fencing.

Here are some cool pens people have put up for mustangs! (The first one is the first pen I built!):

This video shows my favorite Mustang setup and explains why:

(Click the photo above to watch the video!)

This shows how some people have doubled up their 5' panels to make 6' panels, or used wood to make an extended rail across the top, or used metal stakes and wood to extend the bottom!:

This one above shows how you can add wood "extenders" to the top of your panels. The one below shows how they made extenders at the bottom for this pen and then attached the raised panels to create the 6' height.

This one shows a "stacking method" where 2 panels are attached together to create the 6' height needed.

For Mustangs in General (and any horse really in my opinion) - The very best option for a new-to-your-home mustang is 6’ tall fencing instead of 5’. HERE is an example of some 6’ fencing you can purchase. You can search for local fencing companies or check Tractor Supply for what they have available! They usually can deliver panels also! You can put the fencing around some trees so the horses have shade, or you can buy a shade tarp or an attached cover for your fencing.

Here are some examples. This shelter is made from pipe corral panels with an attached covering. This 12'x12' corral would fit one horse.

This shelter is made from wood and has metal siding. Notice they out wood inside to cover the siding also so that if a horse kicks the siding it doesn't slice its leg open on the metal material. This bigger shelter would be great for 2 horses.

This pen is made up of cattle rail and 100x100x 3mm duragal post. All onsite welded.

Exercise Area

Separate from their stall, it’s nice to have an area for your horse to run and play (and work with you on training things!) I believe a 40’ diameter round pen is the best size for learning to train and connect with your mustang. Eventually building an even bigger arena is even better for when you’re riding, but I would say a round pen is the minimum of what you should look for to exercise your horse.

Watch the video clip at the top of this section to see me riding in a 50’ across round pen! I love the fencing on the outside of this one, ensuring a horse can’t get their leg stuck if they fall running! And the footing was amazing! I felt very safe in this round pen!!

Here are some good pictures to get ideas (these are not my photos, just taken from google images):

This first one is made from 14 pipe corral panels and has one gate panel.

Another good one for building on a budget or with very hard ground:

This one could be made from plastic or wood fencing.

This one has rubber mats attached to the bottom so that if the horse slips running, its leg won't slide through the bottom of the last fence panel, which is kind of a nice feature. It also helps keep the sand from blowing away.

Larger Pasture - For the first few months with your horse, I recommend keeping them in a 40' round pen space until they easily come up to you to happily work and be haltered. At that point you can trust them to be let out in a larger pasture. The larger the better! Horses are herd animals and love friends and play time! They love taking naps and grazing. The more time they can be out running and "being a horse" the more they will pay attention to you when you want to work and connect.

Arena - Once you are riding your mustang, you may want to build a bigger working arena for you to practice in. Arenas are another world all together, so I'll let this article explain..

"In this article we will cover everything you need to know about designing and creating the best equestrian facilities, covering everything from riding arenas to round pens, and cross country to hacking. Whether you’re building from scratch, refurbishing existing facilities, or simply wanting to learn more and understand equestrian facilities better, we’ll cover it here…"

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE!

Have you figured out what you want your shelter and exercise space to look like for your mustang? Do you know who will build it? Do you have a timeline in mind? Does your gentling trainer have any specific suggestions on your shelter? Next thing to think about is food for your horse! More on that in the next section!

24-Page Downloadable Guide

https://www.whitmirecoaching.com/mystery-of-the-mustang-guide

Part 1: Guide to Bringing Home Your First Horse

https://www.whitmirecoaching.com/blog/mystery-of-the-mustang

Part 2: The Ultimate Mustang Mission

https://www.whitmirecoaching.com/blog/ultimate-mustang-mission

Part 3: Inspirational Stories From Mustang Owners

https://www.whitmirecoaching.com/blog/inspirational-mustang-stories

Part 4: Options For Helping Mustangs

https://www.whitmirecoaching.com/blog/helping-mustangs

Part 5: Preparing For Mustang Adoption - What To Do (and Not Do)

https://www.whitmirecoaching.com/blog/preparing-for-mustang-adoption