LRTC "Wild Horse U"
Stagecoach, NV
Official Information Site
Last Revised 9-05-06

Our next session will be Wild Horse Workshop '06, held
October 18-24, 2006 in Stagecoach, NV.
Click Here for Workshop Details

A photo album from our April session can be viewed here.

Wild Horse U is a unique educational project designed to benefit adopters and their animals participating in BLM's Adopt-a-Wild Horse or Burro Program. Wild Horse U is staffed entirely by volunteer clinicians, trainers and wild horse mentors whose goals are to improve and enhance the adoption experience for adopters and their animals.

The "classroom" for WHU's fall program is the Camelot Arena in Stagecoach. The program will take place during four consecutive days, with a wild horse adoption being held during the fourth day. Several training pens will be constructed and volunteers will practice a variety modern "safe, sane and humane" gentling approaches on many of the animals being offered for adoption. Prospective adopters, new adopters, and folks just interested in seeing what's going on are invited to come by, spectate, ask questions and view the horses being worked and available for adoption.

TRAINING SCHEDULE

Wild Horse U's current upcoming event is Wild Horse Workshop '06 which will be held October 18-22 in Stagecoach, NV (near Carson City.) The workshop will include a wild horse adoption. Click here for complete workshop details.

Additional events will be scheduled each quarter. A formal schedule will be posted as soon as it is finalized with BLM.

FACILITY INFORMATION

Camelot Arena is one of LRTC's "Learning Centers." There will be a number of square and round pens for training, plus an Olympic size arena for lead line work. There is a registration fee for hands-on participants. Spectating is free. Everyone who wishes to be in close proxemity to horses being worked must register (either hands-on or as a spectator) and agree to the event's safety policy. Hands-on participants must wear helmets and appropriate clothing and shoes or boots to work with horses.

Hands-on registration will be limited so please register early. Registrations will be confirmed.

For more specific information, registration information, etc., please visit LRTC's Wild Horse Workshop site.

Adopters must meet minimum requirements. These requirements and other relevant information can be found here, or you can phone the National Wild Horse and Burro Center at 775-475-2222 to find out more about the adoption, animals being presented, and to get answers to any questions you may have about being a wild horse or burro adopter. You can also visit BLM's National Wild Horse and Burro web site at wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.

TRAINING APPROACHES

"Never make 'em sweat."

Present day LRTC approaches are the product of working with hundreds of wild horses and burros and their adopters. The approaches presented can be used by virtually anyone, are not overly stressful to horses and burros being trained, and encourage curiosity and social bonding in the animals. An LRTC program is a "reality show" with no tricks or gimmicks, and the reality is that often ordinary people can get extraordinary results with their wild horses and burros.

In addition, these programs make available a peer support network to new adopters and they encourage experienced adopters and volunteers to improve their skills and take part in the support system for newer adopters.

Stagecoach clinician Betty Retzer demonstrating
"Snoopy," a BLM yearling, for the local news media

For more information about the Wild Horse U training activities, please contact Betty Retzer via email or telephone 775-629-9197.

Important note to volunteers who wish to help with the program:

If you are an LRTC volunteer mentor and want to be part of the Wild Horse U. crew, please sign in with Betty prior to October 1st so we can organize the roster!

"See U at Wild Horse U!"

View a Photo Collage of WHU Activities

Least Resistance Training Concepts (LRTC) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit all-volunteer organization that
provides educational programs, and is a separate entity from BLM and the US Dept. of the Interior.

What is a Wild Horse Mentor?

LRTC's Main Index