Mustang Days wild horse competition and adoption a huge success
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DOUGLAS, Wyo. - After a competition among 34 contestants and their horses, and an adoption that found homes for eight gentled wild horses and two gentled burros, the Bureau of Land Management annual Mustang Days, held last weekend at the Wyoming State Fair in Douglas, was considered a huge success by participants and spectators alike.
In Friday’s all wild horse show, adopters and owners showcased their mustangs in halter and under saddle as they vied for prizes. Classes included halter, lead line, English and Western pleasure riding, team sorting, western cow handling, and freestyle.
The Youth Champion was Mikala Hall, with Tess Palen as the Youth Reserve Champion. Karl Brennecke claimed the Junior Champion title, as well as winning the freestyle competition, while Leah Huckaby earned the Junior Reserve Champion spot. In the Senior Division, Dillon Lookingbill took the champion rank, with Amanda Mills earning the Senior Reserve Champion honors. Diane Steele grabbed the top spot in the Open Division, with Stephanie Blackshire coming in as the Open Reserve Champion.
During the week 6 halter, started yearlings found homes through silent completive bidding. On Saturday, trainers from the Mantle Wild Horse Training Facility showcased two saddle-started wild horses and two gentle-trained burros. All saddle-started horses and pack/cart burros were adopted by competitive bid, with an average bid of $506.25.
If you missed Wyoming Mustang Days, but would still like to adopt a mustang, an adoption event will be held at the Wyoming Honor Farm in Riverton on Sept. 8 and 9. For more information about future wild horse adoption opportunities, visit https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/adoption-and-sales/adoption-events
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.