BLM partners with the University of Nevada, Reno, Washoe County 4-H Youth Development program to train young wild horses and one wild burro
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Nevada State Office and the University of Nevada, Reno, Washoe County 4-H Youth Development program are offering an educational opportunity and fundraiser for Nevada 4-H Horse Clubs. The purpose of this partnership program is to increase awareness and promote successful adoptions of mustangs and to build horsemanship and life training skills for 4-H members. Four wild horses and one wild burro, all yearlings, were picked up from the Palomino Valley Center during the week of March 16, 2020.The five youths participating in the 4-H program will have more than a hundred days to train their animals.
Qualified participants will showcase their gentled wild horses and burro at a 4-H sanctioned event to be scheduled by the State of Nevada later this summer. The event will consist of a Trail Challenge Class and booth display. Following that event, up to three of the participating wild horses will be offered for adoption through competitive bidding. (The remaining wild horse and the burro were adopted by their youth trainers at the time of pickup). Proceeds from the adoption will be used to expand the wild horse and burro program to other 4-H members in Nevada Counties.
“We are thankful that we were able to provide these 4-H members the opportunity to pick up their projects before the ‘Stay at Home’ order was put in place,” said Sarah Chvilicek, Washoe County 4-H Youth Development Program Manager. “These kids now have the opportunity to focus their attention on these amazing animals for an extended time before they go back to school." During the pickup process, the BLM and the University of Nevada, Reno, Washoe County 4-H Development program took extra precautions following CDC guidance by maintaining a safe distance between the participant families and staff.
You can receive updates on the future event, adoption and follow the youth trainers’ training journey with their animals through posts on the BLM Nevada Facebook Event page https://www.facebook.com/events/2452326321533462/. Media interested in interviews with the trainers or information about the program are asked to contact Jenny Lesieutre, BLM Nevada Wild Horse and Burro Public Affairs Specialist at 775-861-6594 or jlesieut@blm.gov.
Information on the University of Nevada, Reno, Washoe County 4-H Youth Development program can be found at https://extension.unr.edu/4H/. Trainers bios are located at: https://www.facebook.com/notes/bureau-of-land-management-nevada/meet-the-trainers-washoe-county-4-h-train-wild-horses-and-burro/3101280913249396/
The BLM placed a total of 7,104 wild horses and burros into private homes nationwide during Fiscal Year 2019. This represents the highest number of adoptions and sales in 15 years - a 54 percent increase over the previous year’s levels.
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.