4-H Trail Challenge at the Boise BLM Wild Horse Corrals this weekend
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BOISE, ID – It will be a busy two days at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wild Horse Corrals in Boise on Friday, March 31 and Saturday, April 1. Selected trainers--including some youth-- will pick up their mustangs on both days (8 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-5 p.m.) to begin training and gentling them to compete in the Mustang Mania Trainer Incentive Program (TIP) Challenge, set to premiere in Nampa on July 1, 2017.
Additionally, there are eight 4-H Clubs from Ada, Boise, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee and Payette counties whose members have been working with wild horse weanlings for the past several weeks: Lonestar Riders, Desperados, Idaho Youth Ranch, Showtime, Ribbons and Wranglers, Saddle Tramps, Snake River Livestock and Purple Sage Riders. On Saturday at 10 a.m., they will compete in a trail challenge which consists of navigating an obstacle course and loading and unloading from a stock trailer. The wild horse weanlings will then be showcased and offered for adoption during the Idaho Horse Expo in Nampa on April 22-23.
The TIP Challenge is a segment of the Mustang Heritage Foundation’s Trainer Incentive Program. The mission of the Mustang Heritage Foundation is to increase the adoption of BLM-housed American Mustangs and burros through innovative gentling (training) competitions and awareness programs. In keeping with this mission, the TIP Challenge was created to place mustangs and burros in adoptive homes. These challenges involve youth (8-17 years of age) and adults (ages 18 and up) in the adoption and training of mustangs and burros. Participants help promote the adoption of these national treasures by showcasing the animal’s value and trainability through in-hand competition.
TIP and Extreme Mustang Makeover (EMM) trainers Matt and Stacie Zimmerman are hosting the Mustang Mania TIP Challenge. Matt and Stacie have helped over 100 mustangs find good homes in just the past four years alone. They have also recently opened a storefront wild horse training business in partnership with the Mustang Heritage Foundation and the BLM to continue to place trained mustangs into private care. If you are interested in visiting the corrals and talking with one of these wild horse trainers, please contact Heather Tiel-Nelson at (208) 308-3727.
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.