For Release: August 8, 2003
Contact: Doran Sanchez, (909) 697-5220
CA-CDD-03-69

BLM Schedules Special Back-to-School Wild Horse and Burro Adoption

To add to the excitement of returning to the classroom, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has scheduled a back-to-school special you don't want to miss . . . a wild horse and burro adoption on Saturday, September 6 at its regional wild horse and burro corral facility, located 4 ½ miles east of Ridgecrest, Calif.

Wild mustangs and wild burros of all ages will be available for adoption from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The adoption will be conducted on a first come, first served basis.

The mustangs and burros were gathered from public lands in California and Nevada. BLM monitors the herds and removes a portion of the animals when they begin to over populate their herd area. The removals ensure the rangelands will remain healthy for the remaining wild horses and burros, native wildlife, and permitted livestock. The animals have been wormed and vaccinated and are in excellent health.

BLM also has been conducting emergency gathers throughout the western United States because severe drought conditions and wildfires have destroyed thousands of acres of wild horse and burro habitat, and now has more than 10,000 animals that need a good home.

This back-to-school adoption is even more special because BLM is reducing the adoption fee for this event only to $25 per animal for mustangs (geldings and mares) three years and older that have been in BLM corral facilities and sanctuaries for more that six months. BLM is reducing the fee in an effort to place these animals in a good home.

Burros and mustangs, two years and younger (weanlings, geldings, mares), will be available for adoption for $125 per animal. Adoption fees may be paid by cash, check or credit card.

Mustangs make excellent riding stock, and properly trained some adopted mustangs have become national champions in dressage, snaffle bit competitions, trail, endurance, and jumping. BLM wranglers and personnel will be available to answer questions and help adopters select their animal(s).

Individuals must be at least 18 years old and have no convictions for inhumane treatment of animals. Adopters also must have adequate facilities, the financial means to care for the animal(s), and should have some experience training or raising a horse or burro. Qualified individuals may adopt up to four animals.

Adopters should bring a nylon web halter and 20-foot cotton lead rope for each animal. A stock trailer will be required to transport the animal(s). Drop ramp trailers will not be allowed. The wranglers will load the animals into the trailers. Private carriers also will be available to help adopters transport their animal(s).

The process is called an "adoption" because BLM retains title to the animal for one year after the adoption. During this time, adopters cannot sell their adopted animal. More than 198,000 animals have been placed in private homes since the Adopt-A-Horse or Burro Program began in 1973.

For more information contact Doran Sanchez, BLM Public Affairs Specialist, at (909) 697-5220.

-BLM-