Phoenix, Ariz. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will bring spirited and healthy wild horses and wild burros from public lands of the West to Casa Grande, Ariz., in hopes of finding good homes during the Pinal County Fair. Approximately 40 wild horses and burros will be available to adopt on Saturday, March 28 during two rounds of silent competitive auctions. The Pinal County Fairgrounds are located at 512 S. Eleven Mile Corner Road. The public is invited to come and view the animals for adoption.
The BLM will setup portable corrals and a temporary office on the fairgrounds that will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, March 28 through Sunday, March 30 for individuals interested in adopting a wild horse or burro. Beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, two silent auctions will be conducted for the horses and burros. Anyone adopting during the auctions may also participate in the “Adopt-a-Buddy” lottery held after the auction, to adopt any available horse for only $25. Potential adopters must complete an application and be pre-approved to bid during either auction. Following the auctions and lottery, the remaining available animals may be adopted for the minimum bid fee posted on their corral. All adoptions must be completed, and animals transported from the site by 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Each animal available for adoption has been vaccinated for common equine conditions and diseases. Adopters are given complete health care records, as well as herd management and other equine information for their newly adopted animals.
To apply and qualify to adopt, citizens must be at least 18 years of age, and have no convictions for inhumane treatment of animals. Adopters are required to keep each newly adopted horse and burro in its own corral measuring at least 400 square feet, and constructed of sturdy pipe or rail (no field fencing or barbed wire). Required corral heights vary from four-and-a-half feet high for burros to five-feet high for horses younger than 18 months of age, and six-feet high for horses older than 18 months of age. Corrals must also include access to a shade and water trough. Adopted animals must be kept in their own corral until they can be approached, handled, haltered and led. Open pastures or any areas that include barbed wire or field fencing cannot be used.
All adopters must provide a trailer to transport their animal home (only fully enclosed stock trailers are allowed). A properly fitting halter and a lead rope for each animal must also be provided by the adopter. BLM will halter and load each animal into the adopter’s trailer. Title to adopted wild horses and burros remains with the federal government for one year. Adopters are eligible to apply for title, after providing one year of good care. BLM conducts random compliance inspections during the first year.
About 31,000 wild horses and burros are currently roaming on public lands in the western states. More than 215,500 animals have been placed in private care since the BLM implemented the Adopt-a-Horse or Burro Program over 30 years ago. For additional information on the BLM Casa Grande event or adopting wild horses and burros, contact the BLM toll free at 1-866-4MUSTANGS, or visit our website:
www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.
Upcoming Arizona Wild Horse & Burro Adoption
Pima County Fair – Tucson – April 25-27
