Review: ‘The Mustangs’ film offers sentiment over solutions

The 2021 documentary The Mustangs: America’s Wild Horses presents itself as a sweeping, visually stunning journey into the world of America’s wild (or feral) horse populations.

With executive producers Robert Redford, Patti Scialfa Springsteen, and Jessica Springsteen, the film carries an air of prestige and passion. Now being aired for free by PBS, it has regained relevance, particularly as debates about wild horse management and pressure to include legislation by feral horse proponents such as the SAFE Act in the next farm bill continue.

While The Mustangs succeeds in capturing the majesty and romance associated with these animals, it at times veers into promotional territory, glossing over the complexities of wild horse management and failing to provide a fully balanced perspective.



Visually, the film is nothing short of breathtaking. It transports audiences to remote, little-seen landscapes across the American West, where herds of horses roam against the backdrop of sweeping plains and rugged mountains. It also features an impressive soundtrack, with contributions from Bruce Springsteen, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, and an original song by Diane Warren performed by Blanco Brown. The music enhances the emotional weight of the film.

However, beneath its poetic visuals and stirring soundtrack, The Mustangs often leans into idealism at the expense of a more nuanced exploration of the issues at hand. Narrated by David Philipps, author of Wild Horse County and The New York Times article Let Mountain Lions Eat Horses, the documentary paints a picture of wild horses as noble, embattled creatures needing protection from government overreach and mismanagement.

While there is truth in this portrayal — many feral horses have indeed suffered due to mismanagement and shifting policies — it manages to oversimplify a deeply complex issue. 

It’s a curious stance from an author who portrays wild horses as a symbol of freedom and explores solutions for balancing conservation with public interest, while also arguing that they should be treated as part of the ecosystem. In his article, Philipps advocates for managing wild horse populations through natural predators like mountain lions — predators that, notably, did not evolve hunting horses, which were reintroduced by settlers. However, he largely overlooks the challenges of predator management, including conflicts with livestock producers and the fact that predators alone cannot effectively regulate wild horse populations.

One of the film’s weaknesses is its lack of a rigorous examination of the historical origins of wild horses in North America. While wild horses have become an enduring symbol of American independence, their presence on the continent is the result of European introduction, and horses have largely shaped the modern population turned out or lost onto public lands. Not to mention, the horse’s place in settling the west overlooks the place oxen and mules played in westward expansion. 

The documentary does not adequately address the ecological impact of these horses, nor does it fully acknowledge the challenges of an unchecked population in an environment already strained by drought and resource competition. While the film does mention population growth — wild horse herds double in size every four years — it stops short of offering a serious discussion on the environmental consequences of such growth.

The documentary highlights the emotional and cultural value of wild horses, including the activism of figures like Velma Bronn Johnston, known as “Wild Horse Annie.” Johnston played a key role in pushing for the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, which was meant to ensure the protection of wild horses on public lands.

While this historical context is important, the film does not adequately address the long-term consequences of this protection, particularly the massive population boom that has led to tens of thousands of horses being placed in government holding facilities. 

The documentary also features a variety of individuals who work with mustangs, including trainers and adopters who showcase the horses’ potential as riding and companion animals.

Another questionable omission is first-person accounts of public land ranchers. While sheep producers are mentioned, the film glosses over the competition of wild horses for limited grazing resources, instead highlighting drought (while picturing overgrazed public lands).

The film does briefly acknowledge that wild horses share the land with other species, but it does not delve into the conflicts between mustangs and livestock grazing interests. It also does not address the role of sheepherders or other stakeholders who rely on public lands and often view wild horse populations as overburdening already fragile ecosystems.

One area where The Mustangs does provide interesting insight is its coverage of fertility control methods. These fertility treatments, while promising, require sustained effort and resources to be effective. The documentary briefly touches on the challenges of administering these treatments in large-scale, free-ranging populations and showcases volunteers willing to do some of that work but does not offer a deep dive into whether such measures can truly curb population growth at a meaningful rate.

For fertility control to work, it must be applied consistently, on a massive scale, for decades — a task that is nearly impossible given the realities of managing free-roaming horses.

The film also avoids discussing the political and logistical hurdles that often prevent these programs from being widely implemented.

In terms of public policy, the film largely sidesteps the costs associated with wild horse management. The BLM’s budget for wild horse and burro programs reached $153 million in fiscal year 2024, with significant funds allocated to holding facilities. One sanctuary that is featured is Return to Freedom, an advocacy group that operates a wild horse sanctuary with over 500 horses on 5,000 acres in California. 

Ultimately, The Mustangs: America’s Wild Horses is a beautifully crafted but somewhat idealistic portrayal of America’s feral horse dilemma. It succeeds in capturing the awe-inspiring beauty of these animals and the landscapes they inhabit. Still, it falls short in presenting a balanced discussion of the issues surrounding their management. By leaning heavily into the romance of wild horses and largely avoiding the more difficult conversations about their ecological impact, population control challenges, and economic realities, the documentary functions more as a love letter to mustangs than as a serious investigative piece.

For viewers who are already passionate about wild horse preservation, the film will likely reaffirm their beliefs. However, for those seeking a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in managing America’s wild horse populations, The Mustangs leaves many questions unanswered.

»Related: The legal and environmental battle over the Salt River’s feral horses

Heidi Crnkovic, is the Associate Editor for AGDAILY. She is a New Mexico native with deep-seated roots in the Southwest and a passion for all things agriculture.