News Release

 

For Release:     October 17, 2002                               

Contact: Janet Nordin (775) 861-6614 or cell (775) 741-4251 or Mindy Odom (661) 391-6049

CCal-03-03                                        

 

WILD HORSES AND BURROS HEADED FOR PASO ROBLES

Animals are Available for Adoption; Free Training Demonstrations Offered

 

Paso Robles, California - Paso Robles residents and surrounding communities will have the chance of a lifetime Saturday and Sunday, November 2 and 3, 2002 at the California Mid-State Fairgrounds, located in Paso Robles.  Wild horses and burros will be looking for homes off the range when they arrive at the fairgrounds in Paso Robles on Friday, November 1.  The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), an agency of the Department of the Interior, will offer 80 wild horses and 20 wild burros for public adoption.

 

The adoption event, which runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, will include free horse gentling and training demonstrations by Phil West.  It will be the only wild horse and burro adoption opportunity in San Luis Obispo County this fall.

 

"All of these animals are certified healthy and are ready for adopters to gentle and train," said BLM Wild Horse and Burro Specialist Mindy Odom.  "The horses range in age from about 18 months to five years.  Wild horses are strong and sure-footed.  They have outstanding endurance and excel at competitive events, backcountry packing, pleasure riding or ranch work.  Burros make excellent companions.  They can be used for packing, pulling carts, and even protecting livestock from predators."

 

Anyone interested can get a preview look at the animals when they arrive at the fairgrounds at approximately 2 p.m. Friday, November 1 and get pre-registered to adopt on Saturday, November 2.

           

The adoption event begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, with oral competitive bidding beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 10:00 a.m.  The minimum adoption fee is $125 for each horse and $25 for each jack burro.  Animals not adopted during the competitive oral bidding process will be available, first-come, first-served, for BLM's minimum adoption fee of $125 per horse and $25 per jack burro. 

 

"The oral competitive bidding process allows everyone a chance at adopting the horses or burros of their choice," Odom said.  "The selection will include mares, stallions and geldings.  We may have some palominos and roans."   

                                   

All of the horses have been de-wormed and vaccinated, and come with a complete set of health care records to allow their new families to begin a health care program with their own veterinarians.  BLM wranglers at the adoption event can also provide advice on care and feeding.

 

To qualify, adopters must be at least 18 years old.  They must have the ability and financial means to care for a wild horse or burro and have corrals that meet BLM specifications.  Fully-grown horses must be kept in a corral with a minimum of 400 square feet (20 by 20 feet) per animal, surrounded by a six-foot pipe or board fence.  Five-foot fences are acceptable for horses under eighteen months of age and four and half-foot fences are allowed for burros.  Wire fencing is not allowed because it is dangerous for the animals.  Animals must not be released into large pastures until they can be approached, handled, haltered and led.

           

Title to adopted animals initially remains with the federal government, but, after providing a year of good care, adopters receive title.

 

BLM annually removes some wild horses and burros from rangelands to manage their populations in balance with other range users - wildlife and permitted livestock.  This helps to maintain adequate water sources and healthy plants upon which all range users depend.

 

Wild horses and burros are protected by a federal law, the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act, which recognizes the animals as "living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the west." The law protects the animals from harassment, and requires the BLM to manage and protect wild populations.

For additional information, contact the BLM's Bakersfield Field Office, (661) 391-6000 or (775) 861-6614.  More information on the BLM's Wild Horse and Burro Program is available on the Internet at http://www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov/ or by calling the toll-free information line, 1-866-4MUSTANGS.

 

-BLM-