From Wild to Wonderful: 4-H Handled Wild Horses Available for Adoption

BLACKFOOT, Idaho – The Bureau of Land Management and University of Idaho 4-H Clubs will host a wild horse adoption event at the Eastern Idaho State Fair, 97 Park St., Blackfoot, on Sept. 5 at 11:30 a.m. Ten yearling mustangs, gentled and trained by youth from 4-H Clubs spanning Oneida to Teton Counties, will be available for adoption.

Since June, participating 4-H members have prepared their mustangs to lead, load into trailers, pick up their feet, and perform a variety of skills. These abilities will be demonstrated during a trail challenge on Sept. 4 at 11 a.m., followed by a freestyle demonstration at 5 p.m. Horses may be viewed in the Light Horse Barn throughout Sept. 4-5.

The partnership between the BLM and the University of Idaho’s 4-H Extension program, established in 2009, has resulted in over 400 wild horses trained and adopted, more than 500 4-H members developing wild horse handling skills, and upwards of $125,000 raised for Idaho 4-H Clubs

This year’s participating clubs include:

• Trail Dusters (Bingham)
• Hides and Hooves (Jefferson)
• Hooves, Spurs, and Furs (Jefferson)
• Wild and Free (Jefferson)
• Barnyard Wranglers (Bingham)
• Mustang Wranglers (Oneida)
• Snake River Roping Wranglers (Jefferson)
• Tails, Trails, and Targets (Jefferson)
• Horse Whisperers (Bear Lake)

Since 1971, the BLM has placed nearly 300,000 wild horses and burros into homes through adoption and sales programs. The agency continues to work with partners nationwide to expand placement opportunities, promote responsible stewardship, and support healthy herds and rangelands on public lands.

For more information about the weekend’s events, please visit the East Idaho 4-H and BLM Wild Horse Program Facebook page. 

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