News.bytes Extra, issue 396

 Volunteers show off mustangs and burros at fair

Visitors to the Nevada County Fair in Grass Valley this year got a first-hand look at mustangs, burros and their trainers.

Volunteers for the Bureau of Land Management, with some assistance by BLM staff, gave demonstrations and staffed a booth to provide information on the wild horse and burro adoption program. (text continues below)

Mocah the burro checks out the camera, while volunteer Kelly Turney talks about burro adoption and BLM-California wild horse and burro program managed Amy Dumas looks on

Volunteers showed horses and a burro they have trained to the public and answered questions at demonstrations Wednesday and Thursday. They also staffed an information booth for the duration of the fair.

The next wild horse and burro event in the area will be a national Adoption Day event on Oct. 3 at the Sacramento Horsemen’s Association arena, 3200 Longview Drive, Sacramento.

About 10 trainers will bring horses they have halter gentled. The event will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Horses will be available for adoption from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The program will include training demonstrations and other events.

Hanna the dog rides Stinger the mustang, while Jason Williams, BLM wild horse and burro program compliance officer talks to the crowd

Volunteer Vanessa Scroggins talks to the crowd with a wireless microphone, while riding an adopted mustang

Volunteer Susan Clark with a mustang she trained

Mocha the burro gets another chance to show off for the camera, as Kelly Turney leads the way

- D. Christy, BLM-California Central District, 8/18/09

BLM-California News.bytes, issue 396