Media Advisory     

For Release: May 17, 2007 
Contact: Jeff Fontana (530) 252-5332 or (530) 262-1147 (cell)    
CA-N-07-48

Wild Horses and Burros are Headed for Napa

Excellent Photo, Video, Story Opportunities at ‘Meet the Mustangs’ Day

Editors, News Directors, Assignment Editors:

The U. S. Bureau of Land Management will bring its Adopt a Horse or Burro Program to the Napa Valley Horsemen’s Association Grounds, 1200 Foster Rd., Napa, Friday and Saturday, May 18 and 19.  Horse and burro enthusiasts will be on hand to adopt wild horses and burros from the public rangelands and to participate in a full day of fun and activities associated with mustang ownership and training.

You will find excellent photo, video and interview opportunities:

– Friday, May 18, 2 p.m.:  Horses, burros and adopters arrive:    BLM wranglers will unload 20 young horses and six burros.  Working from horseback, the cowboys will move them into pens.  Potential adopters are usually on hand to get a preview look.  BLM wranglers and support staff are available for interviews, as are potential adopters. Some of these horses, just over a year old, have been halter trained.

– Saturday, May 19:  Adoptions, fun, games and food:   Gates open at 8 a.m.  Adoptions begin at 9 a.m. with an hour of written bidding.  Winning bids are announced at 10 a.m.  The adoption event continues through the day.  There are good photo and video opportunities as winning bids are announced, and of wild horses and burros being haltered and loaded into trailers as their new owners watch.  You’ll find excellent interview opportunities with new adopters and with people who have adopted and trained their own wild horses and burros.

– Meet the Mustangs:  Members of the Napa Valley Horsemen’s Association and BLM wild horse and burro adopters will host games, activities and horse training demonstrations.  Among the trainers is Lesley Neuman, a northern California trainer who has extensive experience working with wild horses.  If your timing is right, you’ll see Lesley accomplish her first touch of a wild horse.  Adopters, trainers, BLM staff and volunteers are available for interviews.

BLM Public Affairs Officer Jeff Fontana will be available in Napa to provide any help you need in developing a story.

BLM Northern California Public Affairs     2950 Riverside Drive     Susanville, CA 96130