Wild Horse & Burro Expo Matches "Orphan" Equines With Adopters

One hundred and eighty wild horses and burros found new homes at the Bureau of Land Management’s first National Wild Horse and Burro Expo, held Nov. 14-17, 2002 in Glen Rose, Texas.
     The three-day 2002 Expo showcased the largest adoption event of the year, and hosted hundreds of spectators, adopters and participants of various clinics, entertainment events, and vendor exhibitions. Each day gentling demonstrations and training clinics were held in three large arenas.
     “The BLM was able to have seven of the best gentlers and trainers in the country there to do training clinics,” said Patty Miller, a Richmond, Texas resident who attended the event, adopting three colts. “They were able to show those who attended how to start the gentling and desensitizing process, touch the horses all over, pick up their feet, lead them, and even sit on them, all within a two hour time span.”
     Patty said the event was an intensive introduction to wild horse adoption. “There were many training clinics going on all day, each day, and it was at no cost to the public. If you had any questions all you had to do was ask.” She added, “The days were full of lots to see and learn. The BLM gave everyone the opportunity to get as much information as they needed or wanted.” Clinics were lead by several nationally recognized horse trainers, including Chris Irwin, Bruce Logan, Michael Richardson, Lesley Neuman, Bryan Neubert, and Charles Wilhelm.
     As part of the Expo, a past adopter, Ray Field, demonstrated the methods he used in working with a wild horse, providing valuable information to prospective adopters.
     Of the 180 animals adopted, 13 were saddle trained or halter trained at correctional facilities in Canon City, Colorado and Hutchinson, Kansas. The highest adoption fee was for a four year old, saddle trained bay gelding at $1,850. Two other saddle trained horses from Canon City took the second and third spots: a four year old palomino gelding ($1,650) and a two year old palomino gelding ($1,625). The highest fee paid for a halter trained horse was $900 for a three year old buckskin gelding from Hutchinson. All of the halter trained and saddle trained animals were adopted.
     Past adopters were an integral part of the Expo, and had a chance to show off their achievements as equestrians in the wild horse and burro show. This event was open to any contestant with an animal previously in the Bureau of Land Management’s program. The competition classes, with divisions for youth and adults, included halter, showmanship, and western pleasure. For those who really wanted to get competitive, a barrel racing event was staged.
     The grand finale of the wild horse and burro show was a just-for-fun event: the wildest costume contest ever. Wild horses and burros paraded through the arena in raiments ranging from the extreme to the absurd. The winning team won the hearts of the crowd with a large green dragon and tiny knight costume.
     A month after the National Wild Horse and Burro Expo, Patty Miller reported, “I adopted three horses that weekend and I'm thrilled to say they're home at last. All of them are willingly going into their own stalls. They come to me when I call them and two of them will eat grain out of my hand. They let me rub them and one kisses my face.” She added, “The bond and trust that develops between you and the horse can't be matched.”
     Miller has opened Wild Spirit Ranch for both wild mustangs and domestics in Richmond. Patty, along with her husband Phillip and both of her sons, is grateful that the BLM has made wild horse adoption a possibility.
     The Bureau of Land Management is part of the Federal Government’s Department of the Interior. The agency is responsible for managing the nation's public lands. WIth passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 it became the bureau’s responsibility fo protect wild horses and burros and to manage for healthy rangelands. CS