A demand for BLM mustangs in Europe ?? (serious inquiry for adult horse people in Europe )?

Interesting question! I've bounced around the horse world for many years, including living in a few different countries in Europe. I can't see spending thousands of $'s to ship mustangs to Europe for meat. I say this because there are breeders of meat producing horse farms already there. The executive chef, where I work at night, is from Spain. He continues to own and operate his family farm there. They specialize in "organic horse meat". Have a herd of about 100 horses where the 2 year olds are culled out of the herd every year and slaughtered and sold. They are considered "organic" as they are not stabeled and do not receive any growth hormones. This farm has been operating in his family for 100 years, and they have always done this type of farming. Now on the flip side of your question you ask about if there could possibly be a true interest in Mustangs in Europe. I find this to be more of a possibility. Even though they are "just range" horses there could in fact be a possible interest in them in Europe. I have seen many, many mustangs in the show ring and they are in fact excellent dressage and jumping horses. You could compare them to the Fjord, or Icelandic Pony. As a matter of fact, I lived in Sweden for a few years and became friends (through a Marine Bar Happy Hour...LOL) with a family who imported the very first American QH Stallion to that country. They had traveled to the US many times, for all types of western clinics and lessons. The horse was shipped to them and it was quite interesting to see these Swedes using him to work their cattle and sheep, in the traditional American way. People came from far and wide to see this horse, and they began breeding him right before I came back to the states. So, I think there may in fact be a great interest in the American Mustang in that country. That's a heck of an endevour for someone here though...as I'd be interested to know what type of contacts they have in Europe interested in buying these horses. It would make more sense to ship a few mares and a stallion to a European Country and breed them there. There is a great magazine, where you may be able to find an internet forum to ask this question. The magazine is called Euro Dressage.

EDIT ### I found this...may be of some help. americanheritagehors.wix.com/ahhc-europe

edit 3 - there was a "European Mustang Project". Now defunct.

There is no demand. Europe has always had a fascination with the American West. A few true horsemen would love to own a part of that history. They would (and I know one who did) purchase that horse from the BLM where the provenance is there. The one who did purchase a mustang did so through a BLM adoption agency and a broker who sent video of the prospective horses to the guy. In total it probably cost over $20,000. The guy can afford it though. He kept the horse stateside for a year to get all the basic handling done and have the horse prepared to be shipped overseas.

Although this guy raises and shows jumpers his "little" treasure now does both English and Western and is treated like royalty according to my sister.

I would be wary of this individual.