The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) protects, manages, and controls wild horses. These animals have virtually no natural predators and their herd sizes can double about every four years. As a result, an estimated 33,000 wild horses and burros roam BLM-managed lands in 10 Western states, a population that exceeds by some 5,700 the number that can exist in balance with other public rangeland resources and uses. Droughts and wildfires also have a determining factor in the number of wild horses and burros that must be removed yearly.
The Mustang Heritage Foundation, along with the BLM, developed the MUSTANG YEARLING MAKEOVER PROGRAM . On May 23, 2008, Horses Rock 4-H Member, Kaitlyn Shaheen, picked up a Wild Mustang Yearling and began 119 days of training to gentle the black filly she named Eclipse. On September 20th, 2008, Kaitlyn and Eclipse competed in an In-Hand competition during the Extreme Mustang Makeover at Fort Worth, placing 13th out of 197 competators!
