Wild Horses, Burros Up for Adoption at Napa Mustang Days Event; Excellent Interview, Photo and Video Opportunities

The U. S. Bureau of Land Management will bring its Adopt a Horse or Burro Program to the Napa Valley Horsemen’s Association Arena, 1200 Foster Rd., Napa, on Friday and Saturday, May 15 and 16.   Members of the public will be on hand to adopt wild horses and burros from the public rangelands and to participate in festival events, including horse training clinics and demonstrations.

You will find excellent photo, video and interview opportunities:

– Friday, May 15, 2 p.m.: Horses and burros arrive at the arena.  BLM wranglers unload them, and working from horseback, sort 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 and Mustang Days organizers.

– Saturday May 16:

o 9 a.m.:  Adoptions begin with bidding at and continue all day.
o 1 p.m.:  Arena show including a mustang parade, Radical Riders rodeo trick riding team, Sunrise Stables Youth Riders, gymkhana and dressage exhibitions and more.
o All day:  Training demonstrations featuring wild horses from the adoption pens and experienced horse trainers.
o Booths:  Nap Lit Readers (“Wild Horse Annie Story Time”), Leadership Napa Valley (“Get Outdoors, Napa”), Cornerstone Equestrian Center, Sunrise Stables and Horse Rescue.
o Adopters:  Successful adopters will be showing their horses all day.  They are available to discuss the adventure of adopting and training a wild horse or burro.

These wild horses and burros were captured from their wild ranges in California and Nevada as part of BLM’s work to keep populations in balance with other range users (wildlife and permitted livestock) and to prevent food and water sources from being over-used.

BLM Public Affairs Officer Jeff Fontana and event organizers Mike and Nancy Kerson will be available to provide any help you need in developing a story.

Northern California District   2950 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130