Mike and Nancy Kerson are the proud owners of a piece of the old West. They describe it as unbelievable, a respectful experience and a chance to have a piece of Americana history.

The Kersons, of Napa, are the owners of four wild mustangs, two burros, a donkey and a mule that they adopted through the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s Adopt a Horse or Burro program.

Napa County residents will have an opportunity to participate in the adoption program on May 15-16 during Napa Mustang Days, which are being held in conjunction with the Napa Valley Horseman’s Association 70th anniversary.

Many of the horses for adoption will be yearlings to 2-year-olds. Older horses can be more difficult to train.

“These are pure horses. Anything they know, they know because you taught them. They have no bad habits. It’s like working with a blank slate,” Nancy Kerson said.

Beside the adoption bidding, other Saturday activities includes Leadership Napa Valley Class 22 and its “Get Outdoors, Napa” booth, a Napa Lit story time, trick riding and bareback riding demonstrations.

After going to an adoption day in Vallejo, the Kersons have been owners of mustangs and burros since 2000. The couple has owned horses for about 35 years.

The Kersons also volunteer with BLM to inspect a potential adopter’s facilities to make sure they are adequate for taking care of a wild horse.

“BLM wants to make sure the adoption works. And we give people tips on how to be more effective trainers. These are totally wild animals and a lot of people don’t know what they are getting themselves into,” Mike Kerson said.

Despite the potential difficulty, “Mustangs are great horses,” he added.

Saanen Kerson said, “It does take time and is a commitment” to gentle and saddle break the horses.

The length of time to gentle a horse and saddle break it depends on the skill level of the trainer.

But a properly trained mustang is a friend for life, the Kersons agree.

For anyone who adopts a wild horse and doesn’t want to train it, resources at Napa Mustang Days will list trainers who can help. Other potential resources are the Mustang Heritage Foundation and BLM.

Adopters will not own their wild horse or burro until they have had it for a year — just in case things don’t work out. This policy also deters people from trying to turn a quick profit. After that time, owners receive a certificate of title.

People coming to adopt a horse range from first timers, to people with several wild horses, to professional trainers.

“People tell me they bond more deeply with a wild horse than with any other breed,” Nancy Kerson said.

Each member of the Kerson family — Mike, his wife Nancy and their daughter, Saanen — owns a wild mustang, and they have no regrets.

The animals offered for adoption typically have the best body confirmation and are in excellent shape because it is survival of the fittest in the desert regions where these animals have been living.

“Some horse breeds are bred for a certain look. (But mustangs) are bred the way horses should be. People are amazed at how solid these animals are,” added Mike Kerson.

Janice Owens, who lives in the Carneros District, has five mustangs. “It is so fulfilling. It’s a good feeling to take something wild that has not been around humans and to get that animal to trust you. It is such a good feeling for the soul. It is horse therapy.” She learned about the adoption program from her sister, who touted the advantages of having a wild mustang. And the rest is history.

“It seems like they have a lot more common sense. When you adopt a wild horse you are getting something that nobody has messed with or abused. You start with something fresh and know what the temperament will be. There are no surprises,” Owens said.

She has no desire to own anything other than a mustang. “The bond is so much stronger. The animals are not going to do anything to get themselves hurt — because out in the wild if they get hurt, they will likely die. They have a reputation for being sure-footed,” Owens said.

BLM rounds up the wild horses and burros from public lands as part of an effort to keep populations in balance with other uses of the land, ranging from cattle grazing to natural gas exploration and outdoor recreational uses.

Napa Mustang Days starts on Friday, between 2-6  p.m., when horse enthusiasts can preview the 30 Mustangs and 10 burros available prior to Saturday’s silent bidding, which begins with registration at 8 a.m. Bids start at $125. Previous adopters, such as the Kersons, will be on hand, as will trainers, to answer questions from potential buyers. The Napa Valley Horsemen’s Association is at 1200 Foster Road in south Napa.�