To Train a Mustang

The mustangs come from the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro Program–horses that until this point had never known human contact. Over the course of six months, they will be adopted, trained, and shown in an annual competition run by Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth Mustang Madness. There are more than 80,000 wild horses in ten western states, but the BLM is prevented from using federal funds to slaughter the horses, which compete with livestock and native animals for food and water. For those that know mustangs, they can be some of the best horses one will ever work with, sure-footed and strong. The agency periodically rounds up the horses and adopts them out through programs like MYWY. Photographed on assignment for High Country News for a story by Elizabeth Whitman.

Loriann Warner, of Eatonville, Wash., rests her hand on the back of her mustang, Glory, during a morning walk before the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Sat., Aug. 3, 2024. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches.
Lillian Nagy leads her mustang Cooper in a slow controlled walk around a corral at her home in Graham, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 9, 2024. Lillian got Cooper in a previous year's Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition program, in which she won 1st place in the Senior division. "I got a good horse who was willing to work with me and learn stuff," she said. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches. Some trainers also get the horses accustomed to having a saddle and rider on their back.
Loriann Warner, 32, uses a rope to guide her mustang Glory during an arena training session at Frontier Park in Graham, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 16, 2024. During the arena training session, Warner leads the horse through different controlled paces and sees how the horse responds to different pressures and directions on the rope. Warner says she's "asking questions" of a horse when she trains it, rather than commanding it. "Most people will say 'I'm training a horse' but I'm asking if she'll do something for me...it's a more compassionate, graceful approach," she says. "Maybe sometimes the answer [from the horse] is 'no.' I asked her and she gave me her answer. It's never 'you have to do this for me,' it's 'can you?'" Frontier Park is close to where Warner keeps her horses in nearby Eatonville, and features both a horse arena and trails. Warner is a participant in the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth program, a wild mustang training program run by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in which trainers pay $125 per horse to receive a wild mustang in the early spring and then train the horse for competition in mid- to late-summer of the same year, after which the horses are either kept by the trainers or auctioned to people who want to own a mustang. Glory is Warner's fifth wild mustang.
Lillian Nagy puts a saddle on her mustang Cooper at her home in Graham, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 9, 2024. Lillian got Cooper in a previous year's Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition program, in which she won 1st place in the Senior division. "I got a good horse who was willing to work with me and learn stuff," she said. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches. Some trainers also get the horses accustomed to having a saddle and rider on their back.
Marjie Hicks, of Roy, Wash., waits to enter the arena with one of her mustangs, Roulette, before her portion of the "in hand" Handling class portion of the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Fri., Aug. 2, 2024. In the Handling Class portion of the competition, trainers lead their horses through a set of obstacles and movements in the arena and a judge rates the performance. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, Marjie and other trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches. Though Marjie is planning only to show her horses "in hand," rather than riding them, some trainers get the horses accustomed to having a saddle and rider on their back.
Loriann Warner, 32, tries to get her mustang Glory to enter the horse trailer after a trail ride training session at Frontier Park in Graham, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 16, 2024. Warner uses a flag to tap the rear end of the horse to coax her into the trailer. She said it's common for Glory to not want to enter the trailer after all the excitement of a trail ride. Warner says she's "asking questions" of a horse when she trains it, rather than commanding it. "Most people will say 'I'm training a horse' but I'm asking if she'll do something for me...it's a more compassionate, graceful approach," she says. "Maybe sometimes the answer [from the horse] is 'no.' I asked her and she gave me her answer. It's never 'you have to do this for me,' it's 'can you?'" Frontier Park is close to where Warner keeps her horses in nearby Eatonville, and features both a horse arena and trails. Warner is a participant in the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth program, a wild mustang training program run by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in which trainers pay $125 per horse to receive a wild mustang in the early spring and then train the horse for competition in mid- to late-summer of the same year, after which the horses are either kept by the trainers or auctioned to people who want to own a mustang. Glory is Warner's fifth wild mustang.
Cooper, a mustang trained by Lillian Nagy, calmly grazes in a corral at her home in Graham, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 9, 2024. Lillian got Cooper in a previous year's Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition program, in which she won 1st place in the Senior division. "I got a good horse who was willing to work with me and learn stuff," she said. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches. Some trainers also get the horses accustomed to having a saddle and rider on their back.
Loriann Warner, 32, repeatedly leads her mustang Glory in a jump over a fallen tree trunk during a trail ride training session at Frontier Park in Graham, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 16, 2024. Warner said this was Glory's first time jumping and wasn't sure quite what to expect. During a trail ride, Warner leads the horse through different controlled paces and works to get the horse used to navigating unfamiliar territory. Warner says she's "asking questions" of a horse when she trains it, rather than commanding it. "Most people will say 'I'm training a horse' but I'm asking if she'll do something for me...it's a more compassionate, graceful approach," she says. "Maybe sometimes the answer [from the horse] is 'no.' I asked her and she gave me her answer. It's never 'you have to do this for me,' it's 'can you?'" Frontier Park is close to where Warner keeps her horses in nearby Eatonville, and features both a horse arena and trails. Warner is a participant in the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth program, a wild mustang training program run by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in which trainers pay $125 per horse to receive a wild mustang in the early spring and then train the horse for competition in mid- to late-summer of the same year, after which the horses are either kept by the trainers or auctioned to people who want to own a mustang. Glory is Warner's fifth wild mustang.
Marjie Hicks, of Roy, Wash., displays a tattoo of the BLM brand of her first mustang, Samba, next to Roulette, one of two wild mustangs Marjie Hicks, of Roy, Wash., took on this year as part of her participation in the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition, at her home in Roy, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 9, 2024. The tattoo starts with "...the horse you need," a continuation of a quote that Marjie says describes her relationship with her first mustang, a Chestnut mare. "In the horse world, the worst horse you can get is a Chestnut mare," she said, "You may not get the horse you want, but you get the horse you need." The markings beneath the quotation are a type of coding that starts with a shape indicating that the horse is part of a US government program, a vertical set of marks indicating year of the horse's birth (15 for 2015, in this case), and then the horse's registration number (024388 here). In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, Marjie and other trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches. Though Marjie is planning only to show her horses "in hand," rather than riding them, some trainers get the horses accustomed to having a saddle and rider on their back.
Loriann Warner, 32, puts away saddles after a mustang training session at the farm where she keeps her horses in Eatonville, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 16, 2024. Warner is a participant in the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth program, a wild mustang training program run by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in which trainers pay $125 per horse to receive a wild mustang in the early spring and then train the horse for competition in mid- to late-summer of the same year, after which the horses are either kept by the trainers or auctioned to people who want to own a mustang. Glory is Warner's fifth wild mustang.
Loriann Warner, 32, rides in the saddle on her mustang Glory during an arena training session at Frontier Park in Graham, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 16, 2024. During the arena training session, Warner leads the horse through different controlled paces and sees how the horse responds to different pressures and directions on the rope or reins. Warner says she's "asking questions" of a horse when she trains it, rather than commanding it. "Most people will say 'I'm training a horse' but I'm asking if she'll do something for me...it's a more compassionate, graceful approach," she says. "Maybe sometimes the answer [from the horse] is 'no.' I asked her and she gave me her answer. It's never 'you have to do this for me,' it's 'can you?'" Frontier Park is close to where Warner keeps her horses in nearby Eatonville, and features both a horse arena and trails. Warner is a participant in the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth program, a wild mustang training program run by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in which trainers pay $125 per horse to receive a wild mustang in the early spring and then train the horse for competition in mid- to late-summer of the same year, after which the horses are either kept by the trainers or auctioned to people who want to own a mustang. Glory is Warner's fifth wild mustang.
Training tools used by Loriann Warner, 32, rest against her horse trailer before an arena training session and trail ride at Frontier Park in Graham, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 16, 2024. During the arena training session, Warner leads the horse through different controlled paces and sees how the horse responds to different pressures and directions on the rope or reins. Warner uses these tools to touch the horse around its body to teach it to be comfortable around distracting stimuli. Warner says she's "asking questions" of a horse when she trains it, rather than commanding it. "Most people will say 'I'm training a horse' but I'm asking if she'll do something for me...it's a more compassionate, graceful approach," she says. "Maybe sometimes the answer [from the horse] is 'no.' I asked her and she gave me her answer. It's never 'you have to do this for me,' it's 'can you?'" Frontier Park is close to where Warner keeps her horses in nearby Eatonville, and features both a horse arena and trails. Warner is a participant in the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth program, a wild mustang training program run by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in which trainers pay $125 per horse to receive a wild mustang in the early spring and then train the horse for competition in mid- to late-summer of the same year, after which the horses are either kept by the trainers or auctioned to people who want to own a mustang. Glory is Warner's fifth wild mustang.
A lead rope rests on the ground as Marjie Hicks works with Casino, one of two wild mustangs that she is training at her home in Roy, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 9, 2024. The horses are part of the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition program. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, Marjie and other trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches. Though Marjie is planning only to show her horses "in hand," rather than riding them, some trainers get the horses accustomed to having a saddle and rider on their back.
Marjie Hicks displays a leather wither strap that she made reading "Badass cowgirl" at her home in Roy, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 9, 2024. Hicks is currently training two wilde mustangs that are part of the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition program. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, Marjie and other trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches. Though Marjie is planning only to show her horses "in hand," rather than riding them, some trainers get the horses accustomed to having a saddle and rider on their back.
Loriann Warner, 32, rides her mustang Glory up a steep hill during a trail ride training session at Frontier Park in Graham, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 16, 2024. During a trail ride, Warner leads the horse through different controlled paces and works to get the horse used to navigating unfamiliar territory. Warner says she's "asking questions" of a horse when she trains it, rather than commanding it. "Most people will say 'I'm training a horse' but I'm asking if she'll do something for me...it's a more compassionate, graceful approach," she says. "Maybe sometimes the answer [from the horse] is 'no.' I asked her and she gave me her answer. It's never 'you have to do this for me,' it's 'can you?'" Frontier Park is close to where Warner keeps her horses in nearby Eatonville, and features both a horse arena and trails. Warner is a participant in the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth program, a wild mustang training program run by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in which trainers pay $125 per horse to receive a wild mustang in the early spring and then train the horse for competition in mid- to late-summer of the same year, after which the horses are either kept by the trainers or auctioned to people who want to own a mustang. Glory is Warner's fifth wild mustang.
Horse tack hangs on a wall near where Marjie Hicks works with her horses at her home in Roy, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 9, 2024. Hicks is currently training two wilde mustangs that are part of the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition program. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, Marjie and other trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches. Though Marjie is planning only to show her horses "in hand," rather than riding them, some trainers get the horses accustomed to having a saddle and rider on their back.
The BLM's freeze brand, which includes a unique coded identification number, is visible near the mane of Loriann Warner's, 32, mustang Glory during an arena training session at Frontier Park in Graham, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 16, 2024. All wild mustangs are freeze branded with a brand including, from front to back, the registering organization, the year of birth, and a unique registration number. During the arena training session, Warner leads the horse through different controlled paces and sees how the horse responds to different pressures and directions on the rope or reins. Warner says she's "asking questions" of a horse when she trains it, rather than commanding it. "Most people will say 'I'm training a horse' but I'm asking if she'll do something for me...it's a more compassionate, graceful approach," she says. "Maybe sometimes the answer [from the horse] is 'no.' I asked her and she gave me her answer. It's never 'you have to do this for me,' it's 'can you?'" Frontier Park is close to where Warner keeps her horses in nearby Eatonville, and features both a horse arena and trails. Warner is a participant in the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth program, a wild mustang training program run by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in which trainers pay $125 per horse to receive a wild mustang in the early spring and then train the horse for competition in mid- to late-summer of the same year, after which the horses are either kept by the trainers or auctioned to people who want to own a mustang. Glory is Warner's fifth wild mustang.
Marjie Hicks, of Roy, Wash., stands with one of her mustangs, Roulette, during a morning walk before the start of the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Fri., Aug. 2, 2024. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, Marjie and other trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches. Though Marjie is planning only to show her horses "in hand," rather than riding them, some trainers get the horses accustomed to having a saddle and rider on their back.
Marjie Hicks, of Roy, Wash., looks over her notes for her routine before the Freestyle portion of the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Sat., Aug. 3, 2024. In the Freestyle portion of the competition, trainers lead their horses around the arena demonstrating how they respond to commands, ignore stimuli, or negotiate obstacles. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches.
Marjie Hicks, of Roy, Wash., reaches out to open the gate of the stall of one of her mustangs, Roulette, before the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Fri., Aug. 2, 2024. In the Handling Class portion of the competition, trainers lead their horses through a set of obstacles and movements in the arena and a judge rates the performance. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, Marjie and other trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches. Though Marjie is planning only to show her horses "in hand," rather than riding them, some trainers get the horses accustomed to having a saddle and rider on their back.
Daughter Julianne Threadgill (right) hands a MYWY pamphlet to Loriann Warner, of Eatonville, Wash., who is sitting atop her mustang, Glory, before the Mounted Division Pattern Class performance during the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Fri., Aug. 2, 2024. Loriann is one of the few competitors in the Mounted Division, meaning she will ride on the back of the horse during a few portions of the competition. For the Pattern Class, competitors ride the horses through a pre-determined set of movements and speeds around the arena. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches.
Hannah Brown, of Burlington, Wash., leads her mustang, Cooper, during the Mounted Division at the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Sat., Aug. 3, 2024. Brown has only had the horse for a month, taking care of Cooper after the horse's first adopter suffered a non-horse-related injury making her unable to participate in the competition. Though the 6-year-old horse competed in the mounted division, Hannah said, "He's not quite ready to ride," and led the horse around by hand. Hannah received an award for being so willing to help out another horse trainer. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches.
Loriann Warner, 32, preps her mustang Glory for a training session and saddle ride at Frontier Park in Graham, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 16, 2024. Frontier Park is close to where Warner keeps her horses in nearby Eatonville, and features both a horse arena and trails. Warner is a participant in the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth program, a wild mustang training program run by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in which trainers pay $125 per horse to receive a wild mustang in the early spring and then train the horse for competition in mid- to late-summer of the same year, after which the horses are either kept by the trainers or auctioned to people who want to own a mustang. Glory is Warner's fifth wild mustang.
Horse tack hangs on a wall near where Marjie Hicks works with her horses at her home in Roy, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 9, 2024. Hicks is currently training two wilde mustangs that are part of the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition program. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, Marjie and other trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches. Though Marjie is planning only to show her horses "in hand," rather than riding them, some trainers get the horses accustomed to having a saddle and rider on their back.
A painting of one of Lillian Nagy's mustangs, Stella, painted by her aunt, is seen in Nagy's home in Graham, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 9, 2024. She has been a participant in the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness program, as well. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches. Some trainers also get the horses accustomed to having a saddle and rider on their back.
Marjie Hicks, of Roy, Wash., rubs the neck of one of her mustangs, Roulette, before they perform in the "in hand" Handling class portion of the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Fri., Aug. 2, 2024. In the Handling Class portion of the competition, trainers lead their horses through a set of obstacles and movements in the arena and a judge rates the performance. The horse's freeze brand, a unique identifier placed on all mustangs by the Bureau of Land Management, can be seen by the horse's mane. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, Marjie and other trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches. Though Marjie is planning only to show her horses "in hand," rather than riding them, some trainers get the horses accustomed to having a saddle and rider on their back.
Emily Fouts, 17, of Lake Stevens, Wash., leads her mustang Feathertail through an arch obstacle with streams as practice for the Freestyle portion of the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Sat., Aug. 3, 2024. In the Freestyle portion of the competition, trainers lead their horses around the arena demonstrating how they respond to commands or negotiate obstacles like this arch. Fouts says this was her first mustang. "She's been so easy," she said, "I was touching her day two." In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches.
Samba, the first mustang that Marjie Hicks, of Roy, Wash., trained, is seen at her home in Roy, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 9, 2024. Hicks says she's gotten a BLM mustang every year since 2019 except for 2021. This year, she is training two mustangs that received in March. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, Marjie and other trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches. Though Marjie is planning only to show her horses "in hand," rather than riding them, some trainers get the horses accustomed to having a saddle and rider on their back.
The saddle and competition shirt of Loriann Warner, of Eatonville, Wash., rests in a stall at the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Sat., Aug. 3, 2024. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches.
Loriann Warner, of Eatonville, Wash., rides her mustang, Glory, during the Mounted Division Freestyle event during the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Sat., Aug. 3, 2024. During the Freestyle event, competitors lead their horse through a routine that they have developed over the course of the training period to demonstrate the horse's skills. Loriann rode Glory both with and without a saddle and brought the horse to a very fast speed in the arena. "I got to do everything I thought was possible," Loriann said. "She was so happy, she was like 'Thank you'," she said about how the horse responded to being asked to run at speed in the arena. Loriann and Glory won 1st prize in the Mounted Division, which comes with an approximate $2500 prize, the largest prize in all divisions in the competition. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches.
Ian Jones, Technical and Training MYWY Board member, wears his 2020 Mustang Madness Reserve Champion belt buckle at the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Fri., Aug. 2, 2024. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches.
Loriann Warner, of Eatonville, Wash., brings coffee to niece Kiyra Marjamaa-Warner, who was sleeping in Warner's horse trailer with her son Warren Threadgill (foreground) and daughter Julianne Threadgill, before the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Sat., Aug. 3, 2024. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches.
Marjie Hicks, of Roy, Wash., leads one of her mustangs, Roulette, after the horse went outside of the expected pattern during the "in hand" Handling class portion of the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Fri., Aug. 2, 2024. In the Handling Class portion of the competition, trainers lead their horses through a set of obstacles and movements in the arena and a judge rates the performance. Speaking about Roulette walking to this section of the arena, Marjie said, "She decided to become a wild one halfway through our run." In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, Marjie and other trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches. Though Marjie is planning only to show her horses "in hand," rather than riding them, some trainers get the horses accustomed to having a saddle and rider on their back.
Loriann Warner, of Eatonville, Wash., stands with her mustang, Glory, before performing in the Mounted Division's Handling Class during the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Fri., Aug. 2, 2024. While Loriann is competing in the Mounted Division, meaning she will ride on the horse's back for parts of the competition, she will also take part in in-hand portions of the event where she leads the horse around the arena. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches.
Loriann Warner, of Eatonville, Wash., looks toward the crowd during awards ceremony of the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Sat., Aug. 3, 2024. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches.
Hannah Brown, of Burlington, Wash., leads her mustang, Cooper, during the Mounted Division at the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Sat., Aug. 3, 2024. Brown has only had the horse for a month, taking care of Cooper after the horse's first adopter suffered a non-horse-related injury making her unable to participate in the competition. Though the 6-year-old horse competed in the mounted division, Hannah said, "He's not quite ready to ride," and led the horse around by hand. Hannah received an award for being so willing to help out another horse trainer. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches.
An auction sales catalog lays on a table at the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Sat., Aug. 3, 2024. After the competition, the organizers hold an auction for many of the horses, but this year the auction was canceled because there were no bidders signed up. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches.
Loriann Warner, of Eatonville, Wash., and her mustang, Glory, display first place ribbons won in the Mounted Division events during the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Sat., Aug. 3, 2024. Loriann and Glory won 1st prize in the Mounted Division, which comes with an approximate $2500 prize, the largest prize in all divisions in the competition. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches.
Marjie Hicks, of Roy, Wash., (right), loads her mustangs, Roulette (left in trailer) and Casino, into the horse trailer after the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Sat., Aug. 3, 2024. Asked how she felt about the competition, Marjie remarked on her disappointment that the horse auction was canceled due to no bidders, "Underwhelmed. It's tough going into winter knowing there's two more mouths to feed." In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches.
Jared Threadgill, husband of Loriann Warner, of Eatonville, Wash., cleans the stall of her mustang, Glory, as she gets ready to pack up after the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Sat., Aug. 3, 2024. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches.
With the help of family and friends Loriann Warner, of Eatonville, Wash., (pink shirt) puts her mustang, Glory, into her horse trailer after the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth (MYWY) Mustang Madness competition in Enumclaw, Washington, USA, on Sat., Aug. 3, 2024. In the MYWY Mustang Madness competition, horse trainers receive a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Program in March and then work with the horses to present them at the competition in late summer, about 5 months later. For the competition, trainers work with the horses to get them to stand calmly with tack on their body, respond to standard horse movement commands, and to ignore distracting stimuli including noises and touches.
Loriann Warner, 32, drives an empty horse trailer away from the farm where she keeps her horses in Eatonville, Washington, USA, on Sun., June 16, 2024. Warner is a participant in the Mustang Yearlings Washington Youth program, a wild mustang training program run by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in which trainers pay $125 per horse to receive a wild mustang in the early spring and then train the horse for competition in mid- to late-summer of the same year, after which the horses are either kept by the trainers or auctioned to people who want to own a mustang. Glory is Warner's fifth wild mustang.