News.bytes Extra, issue 469

Ferndale wild horse and burro adoption and pack clinic

Wild horses, burros and a baby mule found new homes, when the BLM Wild Horse and Burro adoption program visited the Victorian village of Ferndale on Saturday, Feb. 12.  The animals were offered for adoption during a pack clinic organized  by the Back Country Horsemen of California's Redwood Unit at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds.  Five of the seven animals offered (four horses, 2 burros and a weanling mule) were adopted.

Susan Wirgler of Shingle Springs, Calif. is all smiles as she gets to know  her newly adopted nine-month-old mule from the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area of northeast California.  Susan will be naming the little mule Cletus as she begins training him.  Cletus was trained to halter by Galen Taylor, a wrangler at the BLM's Litchfield Corrals.

BLM wrangler Galen Taylor spends some quality time with a halter gentled mare awaiting adoption.

BLM wrangler Galen Taylor chats with adoption event visitors as a young mare looks on.

Smooth Twisted Whiskey, a 3-year-old gelding, entertains the crowd at the fairgrounds in Ferndale.  Owner  Amy Thornbury, third from left, adopted the horse last year at the Ferndale adoption event, and brought him back to the fairgrounds this year  to show how far he's come in training.  Amy is now riding and training the horse.  She has received the title from the BLM.

The adoption event was held in partnership with the Back Country Horsemen for the second consecutive year.  The horsemen's pack clinic featured exhibitors, instructional sessions on packing and a riding clinic featuring clinician Jerry Tindell.

Jeff Fontana, BLM Northern California District, 2/15/11