The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in partnership with 4-H, offers a unique program for youth aged 14 and up to train wild mustangs removed from public lands. Participants receive a yearling mustang to train over 90 days, aiming to gentle the horse and prepare it to complete an in-hand trail course at the Eastern Idaho State Fair. Following the demonstration, the mustangs are auctioned or adopted, with proceeds benefiting the 4-H clubs and the BLM. The program emphasizes building a strong bond between trainer and horse, providing invaluable hands-on experience in horse training and care.

This year, three Oneida County youth—BreElle Ferree, Paisley Mosey, and Addysin Murdock—participated, each working closely with their mustangs from the Twin Peaks, California Horse Management Area. The trainers shared heartfelt reflections on their horses’ personalities and progress, highlighting the trust and connection developed through patient training. Their mustangs sold at auction for amounts ranging from $1,200 to $1,900, but the true value lay in the transformative experience and lifelong bonds formed between the young trainers and their horses.