Jake Harvath, a 25-year-old horse trainer from Utah, recently completed a 6,000-mile journey on horseback across 25 states to raise awareness about wild mustangs and promote their adoption from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Harvath’s expedition aimed to dispel misconceptions about wild horses and showcase their endurance, athleticism, and adaptability. The trio of mustangs he rode broke a record for the most continuous states traversed on horseback with the same horses.

Harvath’s fascination with mustangs began during his teenage years as an apprentice horse trainer, and his first personal horse, Bella, taught him the unique value of wild horses. The journey required extensive preparation, including planning the route, acquiring gear, and honing skills like horseshoeing. Harvath hopes his journey will bring attention to the issue of wild horses in holding facilities and encourage more adoptions to give them a purpose.

As the journey gained traction online, Harvath found himself speaking at schools, universities, and community groups to educate about wild horses. Since returning to Utah, he has continued his advocacy through content creation on YouTube, focusing on wild horse education and Western horsemanship. Harvath plans to embark on shorter trips this summer with his trusted mustangs to continue promoting the value of wild horses as working animals.