Author Archive

Packing Trip to Steens Mountain- Summer 2011 with the Burns OR BLM

The Burns District BLM has a pack string that we utilize mostly on Steens Mountain to accommodate field-going groups doing agency business. The string is also known for helping pack out unneeded fence materials from the Steens Mountain Wilderness/No Livestock Grazing Area, where dozens of miles of barbed-wire fence have been dismantled and set aside for permanent removal. ARE YOU INTERESTED IN HELPING WITH THIS EFFORT? Want to bring your mustang to Steens Mountain for a group ride/work party?? We could use additional packing horses and riders…. Dates have not been set; we are considering this possibility for Summer 2011…. but need to know if there’s ANY INTEREST out there…. LET ME KNOW! If you’ve never been to Steens Mountain, this would be a great opportunity to explore the area to the fullest extent!

Tara Martinak
Burns District BLM Public Affairs Specialist
Volunteer Coordinator  Tara_Martinak@blm.gov
541-573-4519

Idaho Wild Horse Program

From: Michael_Truden@blm.gov
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009

Hey Y’all,

Well the last of the horses from the Challis herd are gone. They were shipped off yesterday for Utah. They are going to be part of Utah’s prison program. It is a great program and I wish the prisoners luck (especially  on one big gelding.)

Speaking of the Challis horses, Boise did real well on our adoptions. We started off with 68 horses and we adopted 35. Thank you for those of you who got one (or two or three.) We had a lot of people show up at the corrals for the National Adoption Day last weekend, but no horses went home.

So the corrals are empty. But only for a short time. Most of you may know that we are planning to gather the Four Mile and Sands Basin Herds. It’s all starting next week! There should be a lot of horses and a lot of color in these herd. I’m excited!

We are planning to have two adoptions for these horses. The first one will be December 4, 5, & 6. Just like always, the 4th will be a viewing day, the 5th we will start the adoptions, and Sunday the 6th we will be open for  adoptions on a first come first served basis. This will give you time to get them gentled by Christmas. (I don’t suggest you put them under the tree though.) No date is set for the second one yet; we’re hoping for early spring. (but hey, if y’all adopt the horses in December then there won’t be a need to have a second adoption, right?)

Anyway , that’s the latest news. Please feel free to forward this message on. If you know of anybody who wants to be added to my e-mails, have them give me a holler.

Until later,

Michael Truden
Assistant Field Manager
Four Rivers Field Office
Bureau of Land Management
3948 Development Ave
Boise, Idaho 83705
208-384-3450

Free Roaming Horses

To: “Chris Robbins” <christopher_robbins@blm.gov>

Subject : Urban Legend or Real?

Chris, I have been getting a lot of questions regarding people abandoning their horses to run with BLM horses. Is there any truth to this or is it just a rumor? If there is any basis to it these horses may not survive. The band stallion may take in some mares but surely would not allow a gelding in. They also would not be able to find food/water in the summer months since they would have no experienced herd leader to follow. Not to mention domestic horse don’t have hooves as tough as Mustangs and would stone bruise easily. You know all this already, don’t know why I had to go on about it. Just thinking how stupid that would be to do that. Any truth to it? I’m hoping not. It’s too expensive to gather the ones as is.

Joanna

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