WHIP: The Wild Horse Inmate Program

What is a saddle-trained horse?

A "saddle-trained horse" describes a mustang that has been hand selected, brought through and graduated from the Horse Program's 90 days of training.

The training process takes several months and begins with round pen work. The first step is to use the mustang's natural instincts and behaviour to teach the horse to trust humans. Once this is accomplished, the horse is introduced to the halter, grooming, and eventually to the saddle. The first few rides are short, from 15-30 minutes, and each session ends on a positive note. As the horse becomes accustomed to a rider, it is taught to respond to pressure via verbal commands, leg cues and reins. The horse is started in a snaffle bit and remains in a snaffle bit throughout its training. As the horse becomes more trusting and knowledgeable, it is taken out of the round pen and worked in an open arena for the remainder of its training.

When finished, all saddle-trained mustangs:
Inmates Training Mustang

• Can be caught and haltered easily
• Will pick up feet for trimming and shoeing
• Will back, turn, stop on command
• Will stand to be saddled and mounted
• Are familiar with flexion and collection
• Change gaits on command
• Lunge in an open field
• Can do simple lead changes
• Sidepass to open and close gates
• Drag a log
• Will allow a lariat to be thrown by the ride
• Are introduced to a rain slicker
• Lead into and out of a 4-horse, slant load or stock trailer

What types of training methods are used at the Wild Horse Inmate Program (WHIP)?

The Horse Program uses only resistance-free training methods. The staff at the Horse Program have many years of experience and attend training clinics from professional horse trainers. They continually strive to produce confident, relaxed, willing mustangs and find that using the resistance-free methods greatly benefits not only the horses but also the inmates.

Inmates that volunteer for WHIP are carefully selected and screened for this unique educational and employment program. Each inmate will participate in approximately 200 hours of classroom and practical instruction prior to being qualified to train horses. Through hard work and dedication each inmate will develop personal pride through his accomplishments.

Upon qualifying to train horses, inmates begin by gentling the horse and getting it accustomed to people and personal handling. Trainers are taught to use the natural instincts and behaviours so that each horse willingly accepts the training process. Trainers gain new insight in what to expect from the mustang, thus alleviating the chances for an animal to panic or take a defensive posture toward the trainer. This method results in a calm, quiet and trusting horse.

Gradually, the halter and the saddle are introduced to the horse. Patience, perseverance and tolerance from the trainer instill trust with the horse. Qualified inmate riders then introduce the animal to neck reining, foot cues and verbal commands. When a horse is ready for the next training phase, it graduates from the training pen to the trail. Here the horse will encounter vehicle traffic, water crossings, fences and varied terrain.

Horses are also trained to load and unload in a 4-horse trailer.

What qualifies as a halter-trained mustang or burro?

Bringing In The Wild Mustangs

These mustangs are selected for confirmation, size, and colour. They are screened for disposition during the first two weeks of training. Those that are deemed too difficult to train are sent to a long-term holding facility. Halter-trained mustangs are usually 5 to 7 years old or are younger animals that have a blemish, making them more difficult to adopt. Older mustangs generally take longer to train and have to adapt to strangers. They are not recommended for novice adopters. In order to graduate from the halter training program, the mustang must:

• be caught and haltered in a small pen
• allow its feet to be picked up for trimming
• lead willingly, both inside a round pen and in an open field
• stand tied for grooming without pulling back
• lead into and out of a 4-horse or larger trailer
• lunge both in a round pen and in an open field.

How many mustangs and burros are available for adoption?

As far as untrained animals are concerned, there are usually 800 or more to choose from. Most mustangs range in age from weanlings to 5-year-olds and include mare/foal pairs. Most burros range in age from weanlings to 10 years old. Jenny/foal pairs are sometimes available.

With regards to saddle-trained mustangs, there are usually five available at any time, mostly geldings, and 30 more in training. Halter-trained mustangs are also available. These are usually 4 to 5 years old.