Eastern Idaho 4-H club members to select wild horses for summer training program

BLACKFOOT, Idaho–The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will host a wild horse pick up event for 4-H club members Wednesday, June 4, at the Eastern Idaho Fairgrounds in Blackfoot at 3 p.m. The public is welcome to attend, as ten youth members representing 4-H clubs from Oneida to Teton counties will select wild horse yearlings for their summer training project. They will teach the horses to lead, load in a trailer and pick up their feet–all in preparation to compete in an in-hand trail challenge at the Eastern Idaho Fair on August 29. The wild horses will then be offered for adoption on August 30.

The months leading up to the fair provide a great opportunity for 4-H members to hone their horsemanship skills, as they handle a young wild horse. Many will take their yearling to their local county fairs to showcase their skills prior to the Eastern Idaho Fair. “I really enjoy watching the kids become great ambassadors for the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program,” said BLM Challis Wild Horse and Burro Specialist Kevin Lloyd. “Their excitement is inspirational and helps to improve understanding about wild horses through their training and participation in equine events.”

Since 2009, the BLM Idaho Wild Horse and Burro Program, in concert with University of Idaho Extension 4-H youth development, has successfully paired youth with young wild horses. More than 400 wild horses have been placed into private care, saving the American taxpayer over $6 million in caring costs for unadopted wild horses! Additionally, hundreds of youths have developed wild horse handling skills and since the BLM shares a portion of the adoption proceeds, more than $99,000 has been raised to support Idaho 4-H Clubs. 

The BLM is responsible under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act for protecting and managing wild horses and burros on public lands. The agency periodically removes animals from the range, when populations exceed levels established to allow wild horse and burro herds to thrive in balance with other range uses, including wildlife and permitted livestock. These animals are then available for adoption at events throughout the country.  More information about the BLM's Wild Horse and Burro Program is available at https://www.blm.gov/whb.