Lander Field Office
| Contacts: | Sarah Beckwith | |||
| 307-347-5207 |
BLM and Wyoming Honor Farm to Host Wild Horse Adoption
The Bureau of Land Management and the Wyoming Honor Farm will host a wild horse adoption and gentling clinic, the first of two to be held at the facility this year, on May 18-19 in Riverton, Wyo.
The BLM and the Honor Farm have worked cooperatively since 1988 to train and adopt wild horses. The Honor Farm has found that this program contributes to inmate rehabilitation success. Trainers and wild horses make positive strides together by learning to respect and trust each other. Trainers learn that through communication, patience and respect, even a wild animal will respond positively. Inmates who are released after working in this program have a greater chance to succeed in the outside world.
On Friday, May 18, the Honor Farm will offer a free clinic to discuss the gentling program, followed by a preview of the horses. The clinic will feature demonstrations by Honor Farm Training Supervisor Jeff Martin focusing on catching a horse, advance and retreat, picking up feet, and beginning to ride. The gentling clinic runs from 1-3 p.m. and is open to the public.
On Saturday, May 19, the gates will open at 7:30 a.m., with the competitive bidding beginning at 10:30 a.m. Approximately 30 halter and saddle-started horses will be available for adoption. All horses offered have been trailered and have had their feet handled. Applications for adoption will be accepted on both Friday and Saturday. A covered four-horse trailer with a swing gate is required to adopt.
Lunch concessions will be available at the adoption. The Wyoming Honor Farm is located one mile north of Riverton. Take US-26 to Honor Farm Road. For more information, visit www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/Wild_Horses.html or call 866-4MUSTANGS (866-468-7826). For more information about the Honor Farm, visit http://corrections.wy.gov/wildhorse/HorseAdoption.html.
Please remember that firearms, alcohol, drugs and dogs are not allowed onsite at any time. Cell phones, cameras, video equipment and tobacco products must be kept locked in one's vehicle while onsite. In order to maintain a positive environment for visitors, a reasonable clothing standard must be adhered to. Shorts and form-fitting clothing are prohibited.
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.
Lander Field Office 1335 Main Street Lander, WY 82520