News Release

For Release:  April 20, 2009      
Contact:   David Christy (916) 985-4474
CA-CC-09-60

Free Training Demonstration Offered During Livermore Wild Horse and Burro Adoption

A northern California horse trainer will offer free tips and advice on gentling wild horses, when the Bureau of Land Management brings its wild horse and burro adoption program to the Livermore Rodeo Grounds, Robertson Park, 3500 Robertson Park Road, Livermore, on Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26.

Thad Waltman, Susanville, will show techniques useful for animals adopted from the BLM, or for horses already in the corrals at home.  He will demonstrate gentle methods of horse training at various times during the adoption event.

The BLM will offer 40 horses, mostly yearlings, and 10 burros for public adoption.   Anyone interested can preview the animals when they arrive at about 2 p.m. on Friday, April 24. BLM is holding the adoption in conjunction with the California State Horseman’s Spring Stampede.

The event gates will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.  Adoptions begin with silent bidding from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.  Animals not taken during bidding will be available for a $125 adoption fee.

Waltman, 32, began training horses as a teenager.  He has worked seasonally in the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program, and has a deep understanding of mustangs and burros.

Wild horses being offered for adoption are from public land herds in northeast California and northwest Nevada. These herd areas are known for producing good-sized wild horses suitable for pleasure riding, back country packing and competition. The burros are from southern California.
 
More information is available by calling toll free, 866-4MUSTANGS, or the BLM Litchfield Corrals, (530) 254-6575.  Adoption information is available online at www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.
 
The wild horses and burros coming to Livermore were gathered from public land herds as part of the BLM’s work to maintain wild populations in balance with other range users, including wildlife and domestic livestock, and at levels that can be supported by rangeland food and water sources.

-BLM-