Reader Story Fridays: Guest Post from Tracey Westbury

Nine Children & Wild Horses   

by Tracey Westbury

While at a BLM adoption in Arlington, WA recently,  my daughter took on the challenge of gentling two wild yearlings for the Youth And Yearlings program (YAY), which has partnered nine young trainers in WA State with a never-been-touched yearling mustang.  The kids have three months to gentle their yearlings before they return to the YAY all breed open youth show where they’ll show off what they’ve taught their young horses.  Afterwards, the yearlings will be offered up for adoption.   

The fate of these yearlings lies in the hands of their young trainers.  While many of them are thinking of nothing more than the joy of having their own horse to train, the reality is they’re setting these mustangs up for a successful future and life in the world of the domestic horse.  With so many mustangs left standing in BLM long term holding facilities (over 33,000), costing the taxpayer an estimated $28 million each year, it may seem like nothing to have nine children halter breaking yearlings.  But with many people who’ve never been exposed to mustangs wondering just how difficult it may be, after watching these kids succeed they may be a little more willing to adopt a mustang themselves.   

Well meaning family and friends often tell me I cannot save them all, and they are right.  I can, however, save one.  It may seem like just a drop in the bucket when you read about these staggering numbers, but to that one horse, it’s not a drop, but a life.  And isn’t it better to save one, than to look away and say the problem is too big?  I’m thankful for nine children who’ve decided not to look away.