News.bytes Extra, issue 328

 BLM people and mustangs join 140-mile Mojave Trail Ride

More than 50 riders joined the Norco Mounted Posse for their 23rd Annual Mojave Trail Ride April 6-12th. Among them were Jason Williams, wild horse and burro program compliance officer for BLM-California's Folsom Field Office, and Jo Ann Schiffer-Burdett of BLM's California Desert District Office. (story continues below)

Outlined against the sky at the top of a ridge are Jason Williams and his mustang Stinger, Doug Gorman on Dot and ride coordinator Josie White

The equestrians started in Baker Camp, Mojave National Preserve, and rode 140 miles in six days along the Mojave Trail to Laughlin, NV. The ride traversed lands in the Mojave National Preserve, and the BLM Needles and Stateline Field Offices.  Six hardy mustangs and their owners did a great job representing the BLM's Wild Horse and Burro program: Jason Williams with Stinger; Folsom Field Office Volunteer Compliance Officers David Miller and Doug Gorman with Dot; U.S. Forest Service packer Davey Eubanks, "Mustang Larry" and Sue Jackson. Two of the mustang owners -- Doug and Jason -- were on the drag team who helped riders in trouble repair broken cinches and saddles, assisted riders who fell off, and retrieved all of the cell phones, knives, tack, hats, ipods and assorted gear that fell off along the way.

Drag riders Cliff and Lewis, with Doug and his mustang Dot

"Mustang Larry" is out of Phelan and has owned many mustangs

In the center of the photo is Jason Williams, BLM-California's Folsom Field Office wild horse and burro program compliance office, with mustang Stinger

Sue Jackson is a mustang owner from Norco, California

Ruby from Arizona takes a turn on Stinger

Jo Ann Schiffer-Burdett on Marty, the "non-mustang"

J. Schiffer-Burdett, 4/08

BLM-California News.bytes, issue 328