Herriman » Just months ago, many of the mustangs now in the corrals at the Bureau of Land Management's Wild Horse and Burro Facility here were roaming the desert some 50 miles west of the Salt Lake Valley.

They were part of the Cedar Mountain Herd, animals that are believed to be related to the mounts that the Standard Horse and Mule Co. supplied to the U.S. Cavalry in the late 1800s.

On Saturday, dozens of people showed up to wander among the gray-barred pens holding the horses. Most where there just to look, but a few were there to buy one of the animals rounded up in December by the BLM.

V. Gus Warr, a wild horse and burro specialist with the BLM, said the roundup of the more than 450 horses was part of the agency's effort to keep the herd still on the range in balance with the available forage and water.

The goal is to maintain the Cedar Mountain Herd's size at between 180 and 375 horses, he said.

"These are some of the most beautiful animals the BLM has to offer," BLM spokesman Jared Redington said, noting the Cedar Mountain Herd is known as "Utah's Rainbow Herd" because of its high number of pintos, roans, buckskins and grays.

Saturday was the first chance the public had to adopt one of the Cedar Mountain mustangs from the December roundup. And Jan Drake of the Park City National Ability Center was on hand to adopt two of the animals -- a 2-year-old and a yearling. They were among 17 mustangs adopted during the day.

"They will eventually become therapy horses and used in our riding program for physically and mentally handicapped children," Drake said. "These are wonderful animals, once you have them properly trained, they're yours, they'll do anything you ask them to do."

But training a mustang to accept a bit and saddle can be challenging, said Erda resident Cliff Tipton, who along with his wife, Janet, runs Intermountain Wild Horse & Burro Advisors Inc. The nonprofit group offers education for those who adopt the animals.

"The biggest problem people have is that they get in a hurry," Tipton said. "These are wild animals, and it takes time to build trust and a bond."

Tipton estimated that those who have the time and education can train their horse to accept a rider within 30 days. "The horse will still be real green, though, and still need a lot of work," he said. "I'd guess that half the people who adopt a horse today won't be riding it in a year."

Redington said those who adopt need to have the proper facilities to care for the animal. The U.S. government keeps title to the horse for the first year, during which the BLM periodically checks on the animals to ensure they get adequate care.

After that first year, title to the animal goes to the adopter. If care is inadequate, the BLM takes back the horse.

Horses can be adopted for $125 apiece. A second "buddy" horse costs an additional $25. Unadopted animals eventually are sent to long-term BLM holding facilities in Kansas or Oklahoma.