News Release

For Release:  March 24, 2008      
Contact:   David Christy (916) 985-4474
CA-CC-08-50

Vreeland Takes Delivery of BLM Wild Mustang in Western States Mustang Challenge

Beverly Vreeland of Livermore received mustang 05219233, a mare from the High Rock herd in northwest Nevada, from the Bureau of Land Management in early March as the first step in the Western States Mustang Challenge. 

Vreeland is one of thirty specially selected Challenge horse trainers from California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Arizona who have 90 days to gentle and train their assigned mustangs for the competition.  Trainers will compete for a part of the $7,500 purse at the Mustang Challenge, which was added to the 10th Annual Western States Horse Expo being held at Cal Expo in Sacramento on June 6-8.  Judges will evaluate each horse and trainer on conditioning, groundwork and how the horse maneuvers through an obstacle “horse course,” which simulates trail and recreational riding situations. The public is invited to participate in adopting one of the Mustang Challenge competition animals June 8.

The Western States Mustang Challenge is a spin-off of the highly successful Extreme Mustang Makeover held last year.  The Mustang Heritage Foundation in partnership with BLM created the events to highlight the value of American mustangs and showcase the beauty, versatility, and trainability of these living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the American West.

Wild horses and burros are managed in California in accordance with the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. This act gave the Bureau of Land Management the responsibility to protect wild horses and burros while ensuring their populations are managed to maintain or restore a thriving ecological balance.

For more information, visit http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/wild_horse_and_burro.html or call 866-4MUSTANGS.

-BLM-