The wild American Mustang has much to offer children of all ages. From the simplicity of family structure to the responsibility of caring for the world around us, Mustangs can be a topic of great interest and educational value.

The Bureau of Land Management estimates that more than 36,000 wild horses and burros (approximately 32,200 horses and 3,800 burros) are roaming on BLM-managed rangelands in 10 Western states based on the latest data available, compiled as of February 28, 2009. Off the range, there are more than 31,000 other wild horses and burros that are fed and cared for at short-term (corral) and long-term (pasture) holding facilities. All wild horses and burros in holding, like those roaming the public rangelands, are protected by the BLM under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.

As this continues to be a growing concern for the nation, it is important that we educate tomorrow's leaders on the plight of the American Mustang. By becoming a member of The Mustang Nation you can lend a hand in supporting public awareness through the education of children, as well as the program's goal of increasing gentling and training programs, funding training scholarships and providing adoption assistance.

Use these fun and educational exercises for your classroom:

• Make a Mustang (pdf) - Let your students color and freezemark their own mustang. They can then explain to the class what region their mustang comes from and if attached to a broom or yard stick, you can even have a wild horse race!
  
• Corral the Wild Horse (pdf) - This mustang themed version of Hangman is sure to entertain and educate, at the same time.
  
• Please Pass the Wheatgrass (pdf) - Most American wild horses and burros live on public lands in the West in distinct areas known as Herd Management Areas (HMAs). They share the land with numerous species of native wildlife as well as grazing livestock. The following demonstration shows how complex the management of an HMA is and how important it is to monitor the kinds of forage available and the number and types of animals present in an HMA.
  
• Demands on the Land (pdf) - To get a feel for the difficulties involved in making land-use decisions, conduct this role-playing activity. Students will research and debate the viewpoints of different interest groups regarding the removal of horses from a wild horse and burro Herd Management Area (HMA).
  
• A Problem of Numbers - According to most estimates, the wild horse and burro population grows at a rate of around 18 percent per year. Encourage students to use their mathe-matics skills to extrapolate the population of wild horses or burros in one or more of the states listed below. The figures used show the 2008 population of wild horses and/or burros. Have students determine what the population would be in 10 years if no intervention took place. Depending on their mathematics abili-ties, students could make a chart or graph to illustrate their findings. The Bureau of Land Management intervenes in the situation by gathering excess animals and putting them up for adoption, which helps maintain healthy herds and healthy rangelands. Encourage students to consider what natural factors might limit the population growth of wild horses and burros. (Among the answers students might come up with are: harsh weather, such as drought or extremely heavy snowfall; disease; introduction of a predator.)
  
  

  WILD FREE-ROAMING HORSE AND BURRO POPULATIONS
  AS OF FEBRUARY 28, 2008

  State	Horses	Burros	Total
  Arizona	385	1,788	2,173
  California	3,112	766	3,878
  Colorado	933	0	933
  Idaho	703	0	703
  Montana	170	0	170
  Nevada	15,455	688	16,143
  New Mexico	97	0	97
  Oregon	2,458	15	2,473
  Utah	2,892	204	3,096
  Wyoming	3,439	0	3,439
  Total	29,644	3,461	33,105

Additional Resources:

• Cloud in the Classroom - From PBS, an excellent collection of learning exercises for grades 6-8.
• Extreme Mustang Makeover Trainers - Use this list to find a trainer competing in one of the many regional mustang competitions in your area. Having worked so hard with their horses, they in many cases are enthusiastic to show off their horse's talents and answer questions that your students may have about caring for and training a mustang.