Hometown Living At Its Best 91
reported, “The total capacity of all BLM offrange
holding facilities is 56,106 animals.”
49,339 were wild horses and the rest wild
burros.
Sandra had to do something. She adopted
another mustang and then a couple more. But
she could only adopt so many. Adopting a wild
mustang from the BLM for most people would
be too dangerous. These horses weren’t just
wild. They were feral, which was the problem
BLM faced. For this reason, the Mustang
Heritage Foundation created the Trainer
Incentive Program (TIP), which is funded by
the BLM, according to Sandra. A TIP trainer
bridges the gap between the American Wild
Mustang and a potential home through a
process referred to as “gentling.” The minimal
requirements for “gentling” include being able
to halter, lead, groom, pick up all four feet
and load and unload the horse into a trailer.
A TIP trainer is also required to meet building
requirements, provide good quality food, cover
the vet costs for both a medical examination
and Coggins test, as well as farrier costs.
It was the perfect solution. Sandra could do
the work of gentling the wild mustangs so that
they would be adoptable. “We cut down trees
on our land for the barn, the round pens, and
the fences. My husband, Stone, did everything:
the water lines, the electrical and plumbing.
The TIP training
program that
Sandra is part of
includes burros as
well as wild horses.