For Immediate Release: March 5, 2007      
Contact: Denise Adamic BLM 303-239-3671 or Fran Ackley  BLM 719-269-8511

BLM offers Mustangs to good homes at Rocky Mountain Horse Expo

“Gunner” a yearling mustang colt is looking for a good home and the Bureau of Land Management hopes to find him one through its free drawing on March 11 at the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo in Denver.  The colt, a rare grulla (mouse colored) was born on the Wyoming range last spring.  He has been weaned and gentled at the Colorado Wild Horse Inmate Program (WHIP) in Canon City, CO. 

“Gunner has quite the personality and is nothing short of likable,” said Fran Ackley, Program Lead for the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program in Colorado.  “He has been in training from the beginning and is very personable as a result.”

Those interested in participating in the drawing for Gunner must be approved adopters and can do so by filling out an adoption application prior to entering the drawing.  Adoption qualifications and applications can be found at www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.  Drawing entries will be accepted at the BLM booth in the Horse Barn on March 9, 10 and until 11:30 a.m. on March 11.  The drawing takes place March 11 at noon and the winner must be present to win.  The winner can take Gunner home that day or arrange to pick him up on March 16 either in Wheatland, WY or in Canon City, CO.

Gunner won’t be the only horse looking for a new family at the Expo. The BLM will also offer four mustangs for adoption.  Two of the horses were saddled trained at the WHIP in Canon City, and the third horse was saddle trained by BLM horse trainer Steve Mantle. A rare, gentled curly-haired mustang will also be offered for adoption, and all of these mustangs can be found near the BLM booth in the Horse Barn at the Expo. 

The Rocky Mountain Horse Expo takes place at the National Western Complex in Denver, located just off of I-70 east of Denver.  The BLM will have an information booth in the Horse Barn where Gunner will also be located. 

“The BLM Wild Horse and Burro program has been participating in the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo for nearly 10 years,” said Ackley. “We like participating in the Expo because it is a strictly horse-focused event, and is usually well attended by a great variety of horse enthusiasts.”

For more information about this event, other opportunities to adopt a wild horse or burro and to see photos of the mustangs available for adoption go to www.cijvp.com or call 719.269.8539.

-BLM-