‘Get Outta Town’ for Some Horsing Around

Calling all lovers of broncos, colts, fillies and foals! If you have 400 square feet of outdoor, sheltered and fenced land to spare, you can be the proud parent of a wild horse or burro from the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program. Over 400 horses and burros are adopted each year and successfully integrated into happy families, trained to compete, pull wagons and ride trails. So “Get Outta Town” to Red Bluff in Tehama County and come home with a new four-hooved family member.

Most California wild horse gathers take place during the fall, thus allowing the spring foals to be large enough to be moved to the trap site with their herd.

Herds of American wild horses descended from 15th and 16th century domestic horses brought by Europeans, and burros that are the offspring of abandoned or escaped mining stock, are gathered every two to three years by the Bureau. To maintain herd sizes, animals are wrangled by helicopter and then led to holding pens by formerly wild “prada,” or guide horses. Once in the pens, they are allowed to rest and then shipped to holding facilities for veterinary care.

Horses on the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area of Eagle Lake, CA

Once the horses and burros have a clean bill of health and booster shots, they are made available for adoption in 12 states. Adopters must be at least 18 years old, have no prior convictions for inhumane treatment of animals or for violation of the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act, and be able to provide adequate feed, water and facilities.

Tehama County’s event is hosted by the Backcountry Horsemen of California at their 2011 “Rendezvous,” also featuring hands-on packing classes, a U.S. Marine Corps packing demo, trail building, gentle use/leave no trace principles, demonstrations, educational seminars, vendors, horse and mule contests, a western art show, veterinarians, vendors, a parade and wine and cheese reception.

What: Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Adoption

When: Saturday and Sunday (April 2 and 3) – 9:00 a.m.

Where: Tehama County Fairgrounds, 650 Antelope Road, Red Bluff

Cost: Free admission to fairgrounds

Click HERE to learn more about the Bureau’s Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program, including herd management information and adoption requirements. Click HERE for more details about the Backcountry Horsemen of California’s 2011 Rendezvous.

Adam Mankoski enjoys experiencing and writing about the people, places and things that embody the free spirit of the State of Jefferson. He and his partner own HawkMan Studios and are the creators of Redding’s 2nd Saturday ArtHop. Email your NorthState weekend events to adamm.anewscafe@gmail.com.

This portrait of Adam Mankoski was created by Shasta High School students Chance Norman and Kenzi Bell.

A News Cafe, founded in Shasta County by Redding, CA journalist Doni Greenberg, is the place for people craving local Northern California news, commentary, food, arts and entertainment. Views and opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of anewscafe.com.

Adam Mankoski

is a recent North State transplant who feels completely at home here. He enjoys experiencing and writing about the people, places and things that embody the free spirit of the State of Jefferson. He and his partner are the owners of HawkMan Studios and the creators of Redding’s 2nd Saturday Art Hop.