KBR Mustang Gallery Over 200 of "America's Living Legends" Welcome to the KBR Mustang Gallery! Mustang is a term commonly applied to feral horses found in herds on federal lands. (It comes from the Spanish term potro mesteño which roughly translates as "colt belonging to the grazers".) Since modern horses are not indiginous to North America, these herds originated from an assortment of animals reintroduced to this continent by early explorers, pioneers, miners and ranchers which got loose, or were released, and formed wild bands. In some instances the horses and burros interbred, producing wild mules. True mustangs are stout legged with short backs, 17 pair of ribs and only 5 lumbar vertebrae (which are located in back of the ribs). Some have a 6th lumbar vertebrae that is fused to the 5th but never a distinct 6th.

The herds vary as do the the horses which produced their herd foundations and the condititions in which they have to survive. For example; in desert areas, the lighter, tough Spanish type characteristics are common. In more lush areas, such as the mountains of northern California, much larger horses can be found, influenced by draft horses which were abandoned by miners after the gold rush in areas which had enough vegetation to support heavier horses. Do to overpopulation, particularly in fragile desert areas, a significant number of mustangs have been captured and made available for adoption through the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Our experience with mustangs, both those which we have trained and cared for as well as those which we have come in contact with, indicates that they are intelligent, social and athletic. We have enjoyed working with them and would like to share quite a number of these "American living legends " with you in the pages that follow.

The Little Brown Horse One day a fellow came up to my side, and asked me a question that hurt my pride. He said, "Son, why on earth would you ride that little brown horse with the scarred up hide." Well I set my jaw and looked at the sky, and I thought for a minute before I made my reply. "I can understand your confusion, of course as I, too, have owned some fine breeds of horse. "Conquistador and Cavalry mount, and some Morgan blood to round things out. While his bloodline may not be so clear, some mighty fine horses have brought him here. "Brought over in ships, without hesitation these critters helped us shape our nation. Lands to explore, wars to be won, they counted for something when the day was done. "Now, out on the range life's awfully rough. If you're going to survive you've got to be tough. He and his kind had to live off the land. They were molded and shaped by Nature's hand. "Growing up he had to make his own way. There was no one to feed him at the end of the day. Battles to fight, lessons to learn. those scars on his hide are really medals he's earned. "From the hills to the desert where the coyotes shout they live in places we only dream about. And this fellow here is well above par. Why he's walked more miles than I have on my car. "But he never needs shoes and he never gets sick when the trail gets rocky and the underbrush thick. With strength and endurance he's great of heart. This little brown horse and I will never part. "So you see my reasoning is perfectly clear why I have my four legged partner here." Yes I answered that man and I did it with pride about my little brown horse with the scarred up hide. © 2002, Willis Lamm All rights reserved Listen to the recording

Whether at work or play, it's a "mustang day!"

A few final notes before you visit the gallery: You can click on each picture in the gallery to go to a page with more pictures and information about each horse. If you know the name of the horse you want to see, you can look it up in our Quick Link Section. If you have a BLM wild horse or burro which you would like to add to the gallery, please go to our information page on Adding a Wild Horse or Burro.

BLM Burros and Mules are now located in the Long Ears Gallery

Continue to Page 1 of the gallery All material © 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 Lamm's Kickin' Back Ranch (KBR) unless otherwise noted. All submissions and images for use in this site become property of KBR unless otherwise specified. Go to Mustang Gallery Quick Index Go to KBR World of Wild Horses & Burros Go To KBR Horse Net