News Release

For Release:  March 6, 2009              
Contact:  Jeff Fontana (530) 252-5332; (530) 262-1147 (cell)
CA-N-09-35

Free Horse Training Demonstrations Scheduled for Turlock

Mustangs, Burros to be Offered for Adoption; Horsemen’s Rendezvous Offers Exhibits, Vendors

A northern California horse trainer will offer free tips and advice on gentling wild horses, when the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) brings its wild horse and burro adoption program to the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds in Turlock, Saturday and Sunday, March 21-22.
 
Thad Waltman, of Susanville, will show techniques useful for animals adopted from the BLM, or for horses already in the corrals at home.  He will demonstrate gentle methods of horse training at various times during both days of the adoption event. 

Waltman, 32, began training horses as a teenager.  He has worked seasonally in the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program, and has a deep understanding of mustangs and burros.

During the adoption event, the BLM will offer 40 mustangs, mostly yearlings, and 10 burros for adoption.  Horse and burro fanciers can adopt animals from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

The adoption event is being held in conjunction with the Back Country Horsemen of California Rendezvous, also at the fairgrounds.  Vendors, exhibits and demonstrations are part of that event.

Wild horses being offered for adoption are from public land herds in northeast California and northwest Nevada. These herd areas are known for producing good-sized wild horses suitable for pleasure riding, back country packing and competition. The burros are from southern California.

Animals will arrive at the fairgrounds for previewing at about 2 p.m. Friday, March 20.
 
Adoptions get underway with an hour of silent bidding at 9 a.m. Saturday.  After bidding, all horses and burros remaining will be available for a $125 adoption fee. 
 
More information is available by calling toll free, 866-4MUSTANGS, or the BLM Litchfield Corrals, (530) 254-6575.  Adoption information is available online at www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.
 
The wild horses and burros coming to Turlock were gathered from public land herds as part of the BLM’s work to maintain wild populations in balance with other range users, including wildlife and domestic livestock, and at levels that can be supported by rangeland food and water sources.

-BLM-

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