News Release

 

For Release:  December 20, 2002

Contact:  John Dearing (916) 978-4622, Jeff Fontana (530) 252-5332;

or Doran Sanchez (909) 967-5220

CA-CASO-03-01

 

 

AMERICA'S WILD HORSES TO APPEAR IN ROSE PARADE

 

The spirit of the American west will be well represented in this year's Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, on January 1, when a group of American mustangs joins the equestrian entries.

 

Renowned horse trainer Monty Roberts will lead a group of six wild horses and riders in the famous New Year's Day parade. Roberts's wild horse unit will feature Shy Boy, the mustang made famous in Roberts' best selling book, "Shy Boy:  The Horse That Came in From the Wild."  Also in the group will be Cherokee, a wild horse that Roberts trained just over a year ago at his ranch near Solvang along the Central California coast.

 

"We are thrilled that Monty has decided to show the entire nation that wild horses are beautiful, intelligent, and highly trainable animals," said Mike Pool, director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in California.  "We often refer to these horses as 'America's Living Legends,' and we feel it is fitting that they will have a place of honor in the Rose Parade, the best known of America's New Year celebrations."

 

Roberts will also feature Shy Boy during Equestfest, a two-day horse-oriented special event organized by the Tournament of Roses committee on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 28 and 29.  Roberts will also demonstrate his trademark horse training methods in a separate event Monday, Dec. 30.

 

The BLM, a federal agency responsible for protection and management of the nation's wild horse herds, often works with Roberts and other trainers to highlight the unique qualities of wild horses from the public rangelands.

 

There are approximately 38,000 wild horses roaming free on public rangelands in nine western states.  BLM and the Forest Service periodically remove horses to manage wild populations at levels the rangelands can sustain.  Horses taken from the range, such as the animals in Roberts' Rose Parade entry, are adopted by members of the public, who gentle and train them for a wide variety of uses.

 

"Last year, horse lovers across the nation provided loving homes for nearly 8,000 wild horses," said Tom Pogacnik, head of the BLM's wild horse and burro program in California.  "California adopters provided homes for more than 1,000 animals.

 

"These adopters have discovered, as Monty has, that wild horses are highly intelligent and loyal to their owners.  We hope that Rose Parade viewers see this for themselves.  Some might even consider adopting," Pogacnik said.  The Rose Parade is broadcast live by ABC, CBS, and NBC.

 

Information about adopting wild horses is available from the BLM's toll-free information line, 1-866-4MUSTANGS.  Detailed information about the Rose Parade is available at http://www.tournamentofroses.com/.

-BLM-

California State Office - 2800 Cottage Way - Sacramento, CA  98825