Wild horses, burros and trainers unite this weekend in Boise
Trainers begin months long preparation to compete in 2023 Mustang Mania Trainer Incentive Program Challenge
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Boise, Idaho– Trainers approved to adopt a wild horse or burro gathered from overpopulated public rangelands across the West will pick up their animal March 3 – 4 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Boise Wild Horse Off-Range Corrals. This pick up launches the journey for both horse, burro and handler to prepare for competition during the 2023 annual Mustang Mania Trainer Incentive Program (TIP), June 30- July 1, in Nampa, Idaho.
Nearly 170 wild horses and burros have been adopted by 40 youth and 89 adult trainers for this year’s Mustang Mania event – the most participation by trainers in the event’s history. “We are just so pleased to work with Mustang Heritage Storefront TIP trainers Matt and Stacie Zimmerman to place this many animals into private care,” said Boise District Wild Horse and Burro Specialist Raul Trevino. “The Mustang Mania event continues to gain in popularity with not only first-time trainers, but those who have returned every year because working with a wild horse or burro can be so rewarding.”
The TIP Challenge is a segment of the Mustang Heritage Foundation’s Trainer Incentive Program whose mission 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 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 trainers Matt and Stacie Zimmerman of Caldwell are hosting the Mustang Mania TIP Challenge and have helped close to 700 wild horses and burros find good homes in just the past ten years alone. In 2016, they 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.
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.