Respecting space off lead.
Developing balance...
... And coordination.
LRTC clinician Willis Lamm giving some pointers.
"Can you pick up that bottle..."
... And carry it over...
... To Samantha?"
Secretary of Interior Gale Norton met "Koal" and was so impressed with the horse that she indicated that she was going to look into using more BLM horses as USFS ranger mounts. This is truly a worthwhile and beneficial project for both the participants and BLM.
Conclusions and Recommendations
In reviewing the standards and the MOU, this project was very sensibly thought through. the participants had to qualify in order to participate. Practical training and handling standards were developed. The project is effectively supervised.
The public relations potential from this project is endless and there are many practical directions in which the project, or ones based upon it, could expand.
The 4-H participants could in my opinion quite easily handle other assignments that would have tremendous public appeal such as gentling weanlings and presenting them at satellite or special event adoptions.
According to the MOU between the parties, at the end of the current project BLM is to provide each one of the youth participants a gentled horse for a reduced fee of $25.00. The participants are interested in going to the Litchfield Corrals and picking out three older horses (e.g., six year olds) that BLM would otherwise ship to long term sanctuary. Thus BLM's cost of gentling would only be a fraction of what it otherwise would cost the agency to maintain such animals in long term sanctuary. Additionally, the young trainers would be interested in demonstrating their "older" animals in public, potentially developing market interest in horses of an age group that currently pose a financial liability for BLM.
We know from local fairs and the youths' participation at the recent adoption in Virginia City that well run 4-H projects draw public interest. BLM couldn't generate better "Mom and apple pie" public relations. Plus, if the projects are well run, they will save BLM far more money in "real dollars" than they would ever cost.
Relaxing with LRTC clinician Betty Retzer.
| 