Visitors can learn about wild horses on western lands, see a trainer doing a demonstration on getting the “first touch” in on a wild horse, and meet an adopted wild horse. BLM Wild Horse and Burro specialists will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about the herds, adoption program, and history of the program.  Two wild horses will be on site and available for adoption. The film “Unbranded” will be shown in the Leo Adler Theater at 10:30 and 12:30. There will be educational and fun materials for both adults and kids.

Guest trainer is Lesley Neuman. She has been working with wild horses since 1999 and has been involved with the Mustang Heritage foundation since 2006. She is known as a gifted trainer with a rare ability to understand, communicate with, and gentle wild and unhandled horses. She also has an uncommon gift for communicating with her human audience, while in the process of guiding a wild horse from panicked captivity to comfort and confidence in humans.

Norm the mustang is an adopted wild horse who assists Debbie and Calvin Henshaw with the program “Horse Sense”. This ongoing program explains how a horse’s habits, senses, and reactions have helped them survive against predators throughout time.

The documentary film “Unbranded” will be showing and runs one hour 46 minutes, The film follows the story of 4 young Texans who adopted 16 wild mustangs, trained them, and undertook an epic journey on horseback border to border from Mexico to Canada.

The Bureau of Land Management National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located five miles east of Baker City, Oregon on Highway 86. Take Exit 302 from I-84. The Center is currently open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $8 and $4.50 for seniors; children 15 and under are admitted for free. Federal passes are also accepted.  Call (541) 523-1843 for updates on programs and events or visit oregontrail.blm.gov.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., specialists with the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program will discuss how the program is structured and operated and showcase wild horses available for adoption in hour-long demonstrations.

In addition, BLM Interpreter Calvin Henshaw – and his adopted horse Norm – will present “Horse Sense,” an interpretive program exploring how horses’ senses and reactions have enabled them to survive against predators through time.

The Documentary film “Unbranded” will be shown in the theater twice during the day’s event – at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The film follows four men as they take sixteen American mustangs adopted from the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program across the United States. More information on the film.

“Wild horses are part of our national heritage,” said Donald Gonzalez, the BLM’s Vale District Manager. “We hope events like this can bring the beauty and wonder of wild horses to our community.”

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located five miles east of Baker City, Oregon, at 22267 Oregon Highway 86. From Interstate 84, take exit 302; the exit is 125 miles northwest of Boise, Idaho, and 95 miles southeast of Pendleton, Oregon. Click here for more information about the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.

Information on BLM’s National Wild Horse and Burro Program.
Information on the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program in Oregon and Washington.

Photos of wild horses in Oregon.

-BLM-

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2015, the BLM generated $4.1 billion in receipts from activities occurring on public lands.

Larry Moore, Public Affairs Officer
Bureau of Land Management, Vale District
U.S. Department of Interior
(541) 473-6218
(541) 709-1457