Rock Springs Field Office
| Contacts: | Beverly Gorny | |||
| 307-352-0205 |
Second in Mustang Versatility Series Slated
The second in the four-event 2010 Mustang Versatility All Breed Horse Trail Series is scheduled for 9 a.m. on July 17. Sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) High Desert District in Rock Springs, the Sweetwater County Joint Travel and Tourism Board, and the Green River Chamber of Commerce, the event will be held at the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Facility at the end of Lionkol Road in Rock Springs.
The Mustang Versatility Trail Series is a trail ride for all ages of horses and riders designed to promote appreciation, adoption and use of mustangs and the versatility of the wild horse. The mission of the event is to encourage good horsemanship, good stewardship and safety. Along with the trail ride, timed games will be offered. The event will showcase the mustang but all equines are welcome. All participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
A BLM wild horse and burro adoption, tours of the wild horse and burro facilities and demonstrations on working with mustangs will be featured at the event. To participate, a fee will be collected by the Mustang Versatility organization. You need not be a member of the organization to participate; however, members receive a reduced entry fee. Entry fees fund the expenses incurred in hosting the versatility and trail series events and cover the cost of prizes.
Prizes will be awarded in many categories, including year-end high point categories, and every participant will receive a prize. Timed events are not about the fastest horse or most skilled racer. “Prizes will be awarded for those riders that are the most consistent,” said event co-organizer and BLM employee Kathi Fine. “We encourage a steady pace, appreciation of the trail ride, proper treatment of the horse and good stewardship of the land.”
The timed games are designed for the novice rider to help build the partnership between horse and rider that is necessary for future good horsemanship and continued training. “We want the riders to have fun while riding and learn how to work with their horse,” said Fine.
Entry fees are $10 for members and $20 for non-members. Annual membership dues are $25 per family or $15 per individual. For more information about joining the Mustang Versatility organization and for complete rules for participating in the event, contact Kathi Fine at 307-352-0292 or Deb Sundberg at 307-389-6353.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Rock Springs Field Office 280 Highway 191 North Rock Springs, WY 82901