User talk:Montanabw/Mustang

Capitalization of "mustang"

 * And I'm groovy with it sitting here for now.  Montanabw (talk)  01:57, 26 July 2014 (UTC)

Formal definition of "mustang"
I'd be interested in knowing about how the term "mustang" (or the appellation "Mustang") is formally defined—in other words, specific criteria by which the question "What is a mustang?" can be answered. I'm talking here about sources more specialized than a general-purpose dictionary, such as notable equine-related organizations, scientific papers, or relevant state or Federal legislation and regulations. I would guess that there are different authorities who define the word in somewhat different ways, and perhaps also that the definition might vary slightly depending on the context in which the term is used. Can you give me an overview of the subject, or point me to one? Thanks, — Jaydiem (talk) 20:31, 30 July 2014 (UTC)


 * You will find multiple definitions, I suspect. The most "logical" source is rather useless, the statute, because it uses the misnomer "wild horse" which is now a term of law (just like the archaic "Indian" is used in US law for Native Americans)  - the BLM acknowledges that there were no surviving extant truly "wild" - as in never domesticated - equines left in America until they were returned with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.  So all "wild" horses are technically feral.  As you can see from Feral horse, there are multiple breeds (for lack of a better word) of feral horses in different parts of the country, including on the east coast (Banker horse, Chincoteague pony, etc...).  The Mustang is the free-roaming "wild" horse of the west, but for some sort of political reasons (probably due to publicity but also linked to the reality that some bands are of more mixed breeding than others) the more romantic "wild horse" is enshrined in federal law.  The individual bands are by now pretty clearly identified in each of the HMAs where they live.  On top of that, there are the Mustangs adopted off the range, which are freeze-branded, assigned recording numbers and so on. There are also multiple registries, some pretty professional, others less so. Some are for wild-caught, adopted BLM Mustangs, others for specific bloodlines or types (See, e.g. Kiger Mustang, Spanish Mustang, Pryor Mountain Mustang and so on.)  Even with tamed animals, the definition of what makes a horse "breed" can get really fuzzy sometimes. (See, for example, color breed, some of which are ludicrous)  Montanabw (talk)  05:55, 31 July 2014 (UTC)

Assorted dictionary definitions and such here:
 * http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mustang (That one drives me nuts that they list bronc as a synonym)
 * http://www.thefreedictionary.com/mustang (this one also has some clunkers, such as "pony" as a synonym)
 * http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mustang (This one at least didn't drive me to distraction with errors)
 * http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=mustang


 * All that said, here is some material. The grandfather of all Mustang study was J. Frank Dobie's The Mustangs: http://books.google.com/books?id=ogEoCDJbX68C  Dobie romanticized a bit, but for his time (I think the 1950s) he was pretty thorough and made good use of what little research had been done at that time, but he also did a lot of guessing.  There's been a lot more research since, the the thing that has kept this article from a GA push is the sheer amount of research out there!  The Pryor Mountain Mustang band has documented DNA that traces them to the original Colonial Spanish Horse (I think the source for this is noted in the Pryor Mustang article). Most sources that discuss origins agree more or less on the derivation from mestengo" or mesteño"  You will find these sources useful:


 * http://books.google.com/books?id=pXxYpn1JDdsC&dq I have this book in hardcopy somewhere in a box, it's old, but not overly romantic and fairly well researched for its time (1963).  Some of the research and conclusions have been superceded by modern studies, but this was a respected work in its time.
 * http://books.google.com/books?id=h9EqWKDi9eAC&vq A newer book (2009) I find it a bit overwrought and romantic, but they have the benefit of more recent research if you can wade through the waxing lyrical to get there.

BLM stuff: (Note their reluctance to say "Mustang" even though that's the acronym for their toll-free hotline)
 * http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/whbprogram/history_and_facts/history_of_the_program.html
 * http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/whbprogram/history_and_facts/quick_facts.html BLM
 * http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/whbprogram/history_and_facts/myths_and_facts.html

Journal and web pages:
 * http://www.amnh.org/explore/science-bulletins/bio/documentaries/the-last-wild-horse-the-return-of-takhi-to-mongolia/article-when-is-wild-actually-feral This is a cool article, short and sweet
 * http://www.depauw.edu/site/humanimalia/issue02/pdfs/Dalke.pdf This article claims the word can be traced to Zebulon Pike.
 * Sponenberg is a VERY highly respected genetic researcher. I'd give my eyeteeth to get the full text of this article: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8236550&fileId=S1014233900000122
 * http://jhered.oxfordjournals.org/content/97/2/107.short Another genetic study that included the Sulfur Mustang strain (Which I don't think we've done an article on yet).

Sorry for the core dump. You asked! LOL! Montanabw (talk) 05:55, 31 July 2014 (UTC)


 * No apology needed—I did indeed ask! And thanks for taking the time to share all this! I look forward to reviewing the linked material as I have time. — Jaydiem (talk) 06:41, 31 July 2014 (UTC)


 * Enjoy!  Montanabw (talk)  23:36, 31 July 2014 (UTC)