The National Horse Patrol Program, run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), is a highly demanding wilderness horsemanship course designed to train officers to operate on horseback in rugged, remote areas where vehicles cannot reach. The course emphasizes advanced horsemanship, backcountry skills, and equine psychology, requiring riders to navigate difficult terrain while building trust and control with their horses, many of which are BLM-managed mustangs. The training includes physically taxing tasks, bareback riding to develop balance, and culminates in earning spurs as a symbol of mastery.

In the 2026 class held in El Centro, California, only three riders completed the course—all Bureau of Land Management (BLM) officers—making it a milestone as the first time the program was open to outside participants. Despite the course’s high attrition rate and physical challenges, BLM Special Agent Al Pena, Ranger Timothy Brown, and Ranger Nelson Benavidez persevered, with Benavidez named honor graduate. Their success highlights their resilience, teamwork, and advanced horsemanship skills necessary to operate effectively in some of the toughest terrain on BLM-managed public lands.