American Mustangs

Prehistoric horses roamed the North American continent before becoming extinct 10,000 years ago. It was Spanish explorers who in the 16th century brought horses to North America, once again.

Native Americans, pioneers, farmers, miners, and the Cavalry all depended on horses to help with daily work as the American West developed.

The word "Mustang," comes from the Spanish word, "Me steno", meaning "wild horses" or "strong". Originally these were Spanish Horses, but over the years they become a mixture of numerous breeds. These were the horses that changed lives of the Native Americans, pioneers, farmers, and others.

As European settlers came further west they brought their breeds of horses. Some were lost to Indian raids, others were freed as wild stallions tore down fences and took mares back to their herds. Wild horse herds from the eastern United States were forced west by civilization, crossing the Mississippi River and joining the western herds. The large herds of wild horses or Mustangs did not pose a problem in the west.

Pioneers brought other grazing animals such as cattle and sheep with them when they came to settle the west. The lands of the west could support a large population of grazing animals.

Some ranchers disliked the Mustangs however; and feared they would steal their good brood mares, so they shot a lot of them.
The population of Mustangs in the twentieth century was near 30,000 and in 1926 the population was nearly half.
See Adopt A Horse Program

• The Dominguez-Escalante Expeditions Journal:

Through Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico in 1776

• I Walked to Zion:
- Young Pioneers on the Mormon Trail

• The Gathering of Zion:
- The Story of the Mormon Trail

• National Geographic's Guide to:
- Lewis and Clark Trail

• Hiking Historic Trails
- Utah's Favorite Hiking Trails

• Scenic Driving - Travel guides
- Scenic Driving in Utah

• Historical reading
- The Old Spanish Trail

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