The BLM New Mexico region recently held its 14th Annual Wild Horse & Burro Expo in Ardmore, Oklahoma. The centerpiece of the four-day event, October 9-12, was a horse show featuring trained mustangs and burros -- along with their proud adopters! In all, 69 previous adopters competed in a full slate of professionally judged show classes and games. Prizes were given to the top adult and youth competitors, and a top "green broke" prize was given to the most accomplished animal that had been adopted within the previous year. This year's winners were: (adult) Beth Saunders on Caira Nevada from Midland, Texas ; (youth) Daniela McCarthy on Hesa Golden Fuego from Spring Branch, Texas ; and (green broke) Ivy Sondergard on Peanut from Sulphur, Oklahoma. Each received a customized set of spurs marking their victory.
In addition to the show, the Expo also featured an adoption opportunity for the public. In all, more than 50 wild horses and burros found homes through the event, either through adoption or fostering. That included four BLM mustangs that had been halter- or saddle-trained by inmates in a prison rehabilitation program in Kansas. The saddle-trained horses brought adoption fees averaging $1,000, reflecting not only the value of the training they'd received, but also the value that the public places on preserving these "living legends."
Other events during the weekend included gentling demonstrations by noted horse trainer Bill Lopez of Norman, Oklahoma. Lopez, who was a top ten finalist at the 2007 Extreme Mustang Makeover in Fort Worth, Texas, pulled adoption-eligible wild horses out of the pens to show what could be done with them in a short period of time. Crowds gathered to watch and learn all weekend. There was also a patriotic musical performance by vocalist Dacia Hooks of Oklahoma City, and presentation of the Colors by the McCarthy Family Riders of Spring Branch, Texas.
Next year's Expo is slated to be held in Belton, Texas. Dates TBA.
>