One hundred days to train an American mustang in the Esterel

Train a wild American mustang in the Esterel in less than four months? The challenge is daunting but does not scare Maéva Mugnier, behaviorist and equine educator from Saint-Raphaël. She is one of the fifteen selected for the German competition “Mustang makeover” and has been working for three weeks now to make the mare entrusted to her a good family horse. “In the United States, there are too many wild mustangs, and it becomes problematic because they threaten the crops. In order not to kill them, they are parked in stations. Mustang makeover collects them and entrusts them to trainers for , that once the competition is over, they are adopted. It’s a great approach that helps to raise awareness of the problem”explains the equine trainer.

An ethological riding

Maéva Mugnier concentrates her efforts on learning the basics of equine education. At this time, she is teaching the mare to lift her leg. “For her, it’s not natural that we take care of her feet, she doesn’t know anything about equestrian care. So we have to teach her to stretch her leg so that we can take care of her.” The trainer practices a so-called ethological education, which consists of interacting with the animal by taking into account its psychological particularities. “The idea is to allow the horse to understand what is expected of it. We don’t use violence to foolishly force it to do things, we use our knowledge of equine behavior to work serenely with him”she says.

The company does not come without some challenges: Maéva Mugnier only has 100 days to train a horse that has not received any education until now. “My mare only knows the wild state; she ate very little and only hay. You have to teach her everything, even to appreciate carrots in order to then be able to bring her a reward.” If the shooting window is tight, it is also because the mustang must adapt to a new environment. Originally from the American West and very sensitive, she must get used, in the Esterel, to frequent human contact with which she is not familiar.

There are now only 62 days left for the equine trainer before presenting the mare in competition in Germany. If the scale of the task is colossal, Maéva Mugnier is not defeatist. “Initially, I was worried because I was entrusted with a particularly difficult mare: she took a long time to let me approach her. Today, however, we have forged a real relationship of trust and we I’m proud of her, she’s acclimated to her environment and gets along very well with other horses.”she develops with a smile.

A masterclass open to all

The trainer organizes, at the equestrian center “Les 3 fers” in Saint-Raphaël, a masterclass on the education of the horse. It takes place this Sunday, May 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. At 25 euros per day, it allows you to observe his ethological approach. “The masterclass will be really fun: there is theory on video, demonstrations with horses including the Mustang… By showing its evolution, I also show the merits of the method and that is the purpose of the operation”underlines a convinced Maéva Mugnier.

For more information, visit her Facebook page (Maéva Mugnier – Horse Education) or contact 06.85.42.51.50.

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