SUCCESS STORIES

Mustangs on the Mojave Trail
For the last twenty-one years, the Norco Mounted Posse has sponsored a trail ride across the Mojave Desert, using the old Mojave Trail. Depending on which trail head the ride starts from, the average miles traveled are approximately one hundred and fifty. The trip begins in the first week of April, so we can avoid the hot weather.

An Arizona Adopter’s Passion for Wild Horses… and Burros
One of the adopters that come to mind when we are asked about success stories is Randy Helm. First adopting in 1994, Helm has since adopted seven wild horses and one burro. He teases that Bethany, his wife, is the “only reason” he adopts.

A Dream Come True in Utah
Every now and then we are privileged to experience a “Dream Come True.” This is a story about Sam and his dream come true, a wild horse named “Spud.” I hope that it touches your heart as it did mine.

Burros and Baseball
When you first meet Don and Joy Tibbals they strike you as the kind of friendly, hardworking grandparents you remember from your youth. Owners of a 56-acre ranch along the Walker River just west of Yerington, Nevada (“the hay truck I was driving broke down here in 1951 and I stayed,” says Don), the Tibbals can boast of having eight children, twenty-seven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, two dogs, two mules, eleven cows, and twenty-two, count-em, twenty-two burros. The burros were adopted off Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands in Nevada and California.

Adopted Wild Horses Honored for Endurance Achievements
America's wild horses have long been praised by their owners for their toughness, intelligence and endurance. Now, two Northern California wild horses, and their owners and riders, have received national recognition from the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the National Wild Horse and Burro Foundation for their excellence in endurance competition.

First Show Jitters by Melissa Scott
To rein a horse is not only to guide him, but to control his every movement. The past two and a half years have been spent with Sombra working on a solid foundation. After all the schooling and riding I felt that it was time to challenge Sombra and myself in a competitive show ring atmosphere. So what better place than a National Reining Horse Show.

Backcountry SUV! by BLM Volunteer Tom Taylor
Nothing beats a good backpack trip into the backcountry… except for one problem - the backpack. The BLM had my solution: the Adopt-a-Wild Horse or Burro Program. I adopted my wild burro in 1989, tamed and trained her to take a halter and lead rope, and then to carry a pack saddle. In turn, she took the load off my back!

Austin's Story
An adoption success story about a little black colt from Nevada who is developing into a steady driving competitor and companion for years to come

Adopted Horse Takes Part in Movie
Walt Gentry of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and his adopted wild horse Mercedes can be seen in the movie Gods and Generals that opens February 21 in theaters across the country.

Highlights from the Wild Horse & Burro Expo
Closing the doors late Sunday afternoon, the tired and dusty wild horse and burro crew was still smiling as they said goodbye to their new friends and adopters. Featuring four days of training clinics and action-packed entertainment, the Bureau of Land Management's first National Wild Horse and Burro Expo had something for just about everyone.

Mustang Wins World Champion in Western Riding
On July 25, 2002, the American Buckskin Registry Association (ABRA) awarded a wild horse, Steen's Vaquero, the World Championship in Western Riding, Open. Adopted and trained by Pam and Matt Fournier of Oregon, this talented young stallion, also known as "Cowboy," placed 3rd in the world for Trail, Junior Horse and English Pleasure, Open and 4th in Hunter Hack, Open.

Unadoptable Wyoming Wild Horses Find New Home
Twenty-seven unadoptable Wyoming wild horses from the Rock Springs area have found a new home. Guy Faris and his wife Leslie of the Lester Nest Ranch will provide a lifetime home for 27 head of gelded wild horses on their 1,050 acre ranch located on Dutton Creek just outside of Arlington, Wyo. The horses will be delivered to Faris the first week in February.

"Mustang Lady" Inducted into 2001 American Endurance Ride Conference Hall of Fame
"Mustang Lady" known to her best friend, Naomi Preston, as "Lady," was inducted into the 2001 Hall of Fame by the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) held in Reno, Nev., in March 2002. Lady, a wild horse, was adopted as a 2-year-old by Naomi Preston (formerly Tyler) in 1982 from the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program.

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