AUSTIN, TEXAS - March 21, 2016 – The Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF) has announced that the 2016 America’s Mustang tour will have three celebration expos: Queen Creek, Ariz., Sedalia, Mo. and Lexington, Va. Now in its second year, the campaign educates Americans about wild mustangs and preserving public lands that support them.
“Last year, we had more than 16,000 people attend America’s Mustang events, and were humbled to see engagement from local communities. With three expos this year, we’re hoping for an even bigger 2016,” said Kali Sublett, Executive Director of the Mustang Heritage Foundation (MHF), an Austin-based non-profit that facilitates mustang and burro adoptions.
Each expo features the 100-day Extreme Mustang Makeover, which challenges trainers to condition wild mustangs followed by spectator bidding and adoption.
America’s Mustang is led by MHF in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program. Currently, an estimated 58,000 wild horses and burros roam on BLM-managed rangelands in 10 western states. As mustang populations increase, organizers hope to encourage everyone to help maintain rangelands through shared learning.
“Initially, we hoped the public would take advantage of the educational opportunities during the events,” said Holle’ Hooks, Off-Range Branch Chief of the BLM. “Not only did they attend, they blew us away with their interest and support for the campaign. The public asked great questions and left with a better understanding of BLM’s mission.”
In 2015, the St. Louis expo resulted in 63 mustang adoptions and more than 3,000 visitors. By expanding to three expos this year, a broader impact is expected with featured clinicians Richard Winters, Ken McNabb and Stacy Westfall.
2016 Celebration Expos
- April 22-23: Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre, Queen Creek, Ariz.
- July 14-16: Missouri State Fairgrounds, Sedalia, Mo.
- August 25-27: Virginia Horse Center, Lexington, Va.
For full schedule and more information, visit http://americasmustang.com/.
About America’s Mustang
The America’s Mustang campaign was created in 2015 to better educate Americans on who the American Mustangs are, where they are located, what resources they need as a breed and what resources they share with other species. The America’s Mustang tour involves a series of events and activities to help inform the public about this iconic American horse and how we all can take action to maintain healthy lands with healthy horses. America’s Mustang is led by the Mustang Heritage Foundation in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program.
About the Mustang Heritage Foundation
The Mustang Heritage Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public, charitable, nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating successful adoptions for America's excess mustangs and burros. Our program areas focus on adopters, philanthropists, youth and horse training professionals. Since 2007, the Mustang Heritage Foundation has placed over 6,300 BLM held mustangs into private care through training and gentling programs.
About the Bureau of Land Management
Since 1971, when Congress passed the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, the BLM has successfully placed over 235,000 wild horses and burros into private care. 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 10 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 manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2014, the BLM generated $5.2 billion in receipts from public lands.