The BLM, in conjunction with 4-H, sponsors a set of 4-H projects to those willing to take on the challenge of training wild mustangs removed from BLM land and auctioning them at the Eastern Idaho State Fair.  

The BLM/Mustang program is for 4H youth 14 and up. They are able to obtain a yearling mustang to train for 90 days. The object is to gentle and train the mustang to be able to complete an in-hand trail course at the Eastern Idaho State Fair. The Mustangs are then up for auction/adoption the next day. The money from the auction goes back to the club with the $25 adoption fee going back to the BLM. In many clubs, the money goes back to the trainer.

The mustangs are brought by the BLM to a designated area to be picked up. This year, eight kids were able to view them and compile a list ordered from first pick to last. As their names were drawn they all choose their mustangs, which were then brought home to begin the 90 days training. Training started slowly with getting used to the 4H member. Feeding, watering, and just hanging out closer and closer to the mustang until they can get the first touch. Once that is done things start moving a little faster, touching, then haltering. Once the trainer is able to catch the mustang and start moving it around in a controlled space then they start introducing new objects and more obstacles.  

Over the course of a 90 days that can seem like both an eternity and a blink of an eye, the trainers become intensely familiar with their horses, and often create lifelong bonds.  It is a whirlwind of emotion, hard work, and friendship.  And for those looking to go on in working with horses, it is an irreplaceable training regimen.   

With only a small number of trainers accepting the challenge, their skill levels were certainly impressive.  

BriElle and Oscar

Oscar is the mustang Malad’s BriElle Ferree trained for her project, as part of the Mustang Wranglers 4-H Club of Oneida County.  She explained in her program introduction: “This was my first year in the Mustang program, and it’s been so fun working with Oscar the past few months and seeing him improve.  I’ve enjoyed getting to know his personality, and it’s definitely going to be hard to see him go.  Oscar is a black gelding from the Maverik Medicine HMA right outside of Elko, Nevada.  The area consists of 323,562 acres.  Most of the horses in this area are descendants of horses that escaped or were turned loose from nearby ranches and farms.  The main colors from this herd are bay, brown, black, and sorrel but also include grays, roans, buckskins, palominos, and grullas.  Oscar is super-friendly; he gets along great with humans and other animals,  He’s got a very curious personality, and he overcomes obstacles easily. I know he’s got a lot of potential!”

When it came time to auction off Oscar, BriElle took it in stride, knowing that she would have a hard time letting him go, but being proud of the job she had done getting him ready for a longterm owner.  That owner turned out to be James Closson and family from the Pocatello area.  Closson was impressed by Oscar, and is not sure what exactly he will focus on, but has a lot of events in mind, including “cowboy mounted shooting” and a range of others.  He intends to begin training Oscar for specific events as soon as he gets him home, and was thrilled at the work BriElle had already done.

BriElle stated that she plans to pursue the project again next year, with solid experience behind her.