Bronco vs Mustang Horse: Exploring The Differences
It’s easy to get bronco and Mustang horses mixed up. Both are semi-wild, similar in size and color, and on the cheaper end. However, for trainers and potential owners, being able to tell them apart is essential.
As such, we’ve prepared this deep dive into both horse breeds, detailing their key similarities and differences. So, let’s jump right in.
History: Mustang and Bronco Horses
Broncos and Mustangs come from similar backgrounds, both being associated with rodeo and the Wild West. However, they have their own unique histories.
Broncos
The name “bronco” was initially used to describe the process of breaking wild horses. In other words, bronco doesn’t refer to a specific breed but rather a type of wild or untrained horse.
The term originally comes from the Spanish word for “rough”, which was used by the Mexican population at the time to describe wild or untrained feral horses. It was adopted by Americans and adapted into cowboy jargon.
Broncos were often found in the wild of Northwestern America. However, since then, they’ve been largely domesticated by local populations. Nowadays, broncos are kept in stables like other domestic horses and are trained for specific purposes, usually rodeo shows.
In cowboy culture, wild horses were generally respected for their bucking movements, which is prevalent in rodeo shows.
Today, different breeds are bred as “broncos”, but these horses are trained to perform and buck more powerfully. They are often selected for shows based on bucking ability.
Additionally, to be considered a bronco, the horse must look a certain way and have particular physical attributes, but more on that later.
Mustangs
Mustang horses are descendants of domestic Spanish horses that were brought to the American West from the 1500s to 1800s. Some of these domestic horses escaped and ended up in the wild. While they have descended from horses with Spanish ancestry, they’re not the descendant of one specific breed. Additionally, they have mixed other breeds within the wild.
While wild Mustangs may be from various different breeds, the now inactive American Mustang Association developed a standard for horses that could be defined as Mustangs, which we’ll explore shortly.
Size and Body Type
Let’s explore the key differences between the build and body types of these two horse breeds.
Broncos
Bronco horses are medium-sized, around 15 to 16 hands tall. They often have shorter manes and tails, as well as smaller ears than the average horse.
Mustangs
A Mustang is often smaller than a bronco horse, at 14 to 15 hands. They have a flat and broad forehead, narrow chests, and sloped shoulders. Their backs and rinds are among the strongest parts of their bodies.
Color and Appearance
In terms of smaller physical differences, broncos and Mustangs have distinct characteristics, which may facilitate telling them apart.
Bronco
As they are not a specific breed, broncos can come in any color with various builds. They are often selected based on their bucking power, so they are generally stockier and muscular.
Mustang
Mustang horses are smaller and can be characterized by their muscular build, thick manes, and strong hooves. They could also come in pretty much any color or spotting form. Unlike broncos, which are selected for a specific purpose, Mustangs are wild horses, so they share more physical attributes with other wild horses, such as being leaner.
Temperament and Personality
Both horses are often thought of as “wild”. However, this wild spirit manifests differently, which we will explain in more detail.
Bronco
Broncos are notoriously ill-tempered, which is one of the reasons why they’re selected for rodeo shows. Since they’re chosen for their reactive and wild temperament, they may not make the best riding horse.
Mustang
Mustangs are wild horses, so while they are not as reactive as broncos, they are more cautious around humans and may be difficult to train. However, due to their enhanced social intelligence, once they trust a handler, they make loyal and obedient horses.
Training
Broncos and Mustangs have different uses, and they often undergo different types of training. Broncos are trained to maintain their reactive, wild tendencies, while trainers try to “domesticate” Mustangs and get them to cooperate with human handlers. The different types of training also produce different behavioral results.
Bronco
A bronco can, and oftentimes will be trained to perform in rodeo events as a bucking horse. As such, instead of suppressing its bucking reaction, the training will try to enhance it. They are often trained in coordination, strength development, and physical conditioning.
Mustang
Mustang horses can also be trained; however, it could be more challenging. They are not as aggressive as broncos, but they are often more intelligent and independent. So, it may initially be hard to get them to cooperate. However, once their trust is gained, they could become extremely cooperative and loyal.
Riding
Since the training for broncos aims to keep them reactive, they’re not the easiest riding partners beyond the rodeo. On the other hand, training for Mustangs aims to domesticate them, and if successful, they could be a pretty decent riding companion.
Broncos
Broncos are often trained to maintain their volatile temperament, so it’s often very hard to train them for riding and other activities after that.
Mustangs
Mustang horses can be trained to do pretty much anything, once their trust is gained. If you succeed in training them for horseriding, they could potentially be one of the most clever and convenient kinds of horses to ride.
Disciplines and Skills
These highly intelligent horses are often raised and trained differently. As such, they bring different skills to the table.
Broncos
Broncos are not trained in a standard, disciplined way like other domesticated horses. They are encouraged to act on their bucking instinct and trained for strength to produce powerful movements. As such, they are often used specifically for rodeo events.
Mustang horses
Mustang horses are a lot more versatile and can be trained to do various things such as tracking, navigating rough terrains, long-distance riding, or pretty much anything else. They are extremely intelligent animals and can adapt well to various circumstances once trained. They also have pretty good stamina, making them great for traversing long distances.
Maintenance
If we were to compare the diets of broncos and Mustangs to those of humans, we would say that broncos eat like bodybuilders and Mustangs eat like Survivor contestants. Let’s explain why.
Broncos
Broncos need a highly nutritious diet to help them maintain and strengthen their bucking skills. They are often fed a mix of high-quality hay, grains, and sometimes even supplements to boost their performance.
Mustangs
Mustang horses are not as high maintenance when it comes to food. As food in the wild is scarce, Mustangs can live on low-nutrition diets and are prone to weight gain when fed a highly nutritious diet. Their diets should consist mostly of good-quality hay with minimal amounts of grain.
FAQs
What is the difference between a Mustang horse and a bronco?
Mustangs are wild horses, while broncos are semi-wild horses. Broncos are selected as bucking horses, so they can often be bigger and stronger to withstand the physical demands of bucking. Mustangs are leaner, smaller, and have stronger hooves.
What makes a horse a bronco?
A bronco is often selected based on its size, build, and bucking ability.
What makes Mustang horses different?
Mustangs are a unique wild horse breed, as they’re descendants of once-domesticated horses.
How long do Broncos and Mustang horses live?
Both Mustangs and broncos are hardy horses and can live up to anywhere between 25 and 30 years, sometimes even longer.
Final Thoughts
Though both Mustangs and broncos share similar appearances, their different histories and roles set them apart. Broncos are bred for rodeo shows, handpicked for their strength and bucking performance, and Mustangs are wild horses respected for their intelligence and adaptability.
