About the Little Mustang Program

The Little Mustang Program is a realistic and structured opportunity for young horsemen to attain ownership of a wild horse (hereafter referred to as a mustang) and create their own positive and educational horse owning experience. This program is organized in accordance with the requirements set out by the Mustang Heritage Foundation's Trainer Incentive Program and the BLM's Wild Horse Program.
Humble Hairpin Land and Livestock, Inc. receives horses from the BLM on a regular basis and enters those horses into a 120 day adoption program. This 120 day program is administered by V.E.T.S. Livestock Management Services Organization, Inc..

They are really just mustangs that we quiet and prepare for adopters but we request the smaller ones so that we can pair them up with younger horsemen. Our program is tailored at helping young people develop into horsemen by developing a relationship with a Little Mustang!

  • The first phase of this program is the gentling process and lasts for about 30 days. Horses are worked 6-10 times over the first half of the 30 or so days with the concentration being on gentling. Initially this is done from horseback with pens getting smaller and human contact increasing as the animals settle into their new environment. They are moved from pen to pen frequently with gentle methods thus creating a relaxed acceptance of changing environments and external stimuli. As quieter animals are identified they are promoted to the ground-work phase of the program where they are introduced to halters, ropes, trail obstacles, trailers and the concept of a kind human leader. This initial phase requires a team of quiet, observant and measured horsemen utilizing our well designed facilities and the right equipment. We encourage the public to come out and watch this fascinating phase but please be aware that the high points come quietly. When working with livestock it can be said that "The slower you go, the faster that you get there" and our pens can get pretty boring at times. We work long hours but we don't move so fast. The next half or so of 30 days or so entails another 6-10 sessions putting the animals into draft. We start out with repaired harnesses and make trips over bridges and hills on the trail course. Once our partners have accepted the presumably unnecessary accessories that we have encumbered them with we introduce them to pulling ropes, then flags, then tires, then drags and finally a cart.
    • Click Here to view the Phase 1.A process
    • Click Here to view the Phase 1.B process
    • At the end of this first phase the horses are available for adoption but call us at 713-825-5997 to check on their progress as certain pens go a little bit faster than 30 days and some just take a bit more time and we will start the adoption when the time is right because horses don't use calendars.
    • If you want first pick of the horses that will be ready in 30 or so days, you may preview the pen and see if there is a horse that you "just can not live without". To reserve a specific horse all you have to do is pay a prorated hold-fee of $150 to V.E.T.S. and send in an application and payment to the BLM before your horse's phase 1 is complete.
    • You are adopting the horse from the BLM. Please follow the steps below.

      A. Download the Adoption Application.

      • Click here to download the application.
      • Click here to learn more about the facility and adoption requirements.
        • We can help you evaluate your needs and meet these requirements.

      B. Fill out the Adoption Application.

      • We can help you fill out the application.

      C. Mail your completed adoption application to the Bureau of Land Management.

      • Click here to see where you need to send the adoption application.
        • If you are in Texas the address is:
          BLM
          221 N. Service Road
          Moore, OK 73160
          fax:(405) 790-1050, phone:(800) 237-3642
      • We can help you with the paperwork and evaluating your facility. Just call 713-825-5997 and come by and see the available horses.

      D. V.E.T.S. has a couple of documents that we want you to review and sign also please.

      • Click here to download the V.E.T.S. assumption of liability and care for BLM horse
      • Click here to download the V.E.T.S.recognition of cost of return of BLM horse
  • The second phase of the program is optional but non-participation is definitely discouraged. We are strongly attentive toward the long term care and needs of the animals that we have been entrusted with and believe in providing an animal with which you can build a strong relationship. We intend to give both our adopters and their animals the best introduction that we can. Phase 2 is vitally important to the young rider as we start them on a path down which they can be empowered to self define with success. The 90 days of training that V.E.T.S. provides as a service to the new adopter entails better than 75 hours of additional riding of your horse by V.E.T.S.' hairpin riders and a 90 day, 36 lesson Introduction to Equine Ownership course for your Little Mustang's new partner. The cost of this second phase is $45.00 per day with the total for the full 90 day program being $4,050.00.
    • Click here to download the 90 day, 36 lesson Introduction to Equine Ownership course syllabus.
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