For Immediate Release: January 25, 2005 CA-CDD-05-20
Contact: Doran Sanchez, (951) 697-5220; E-MAIL: dasanche@ca.blm.gov

Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Offers Great Gifts For Valentines

This Valentines Day let the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) help you give that special someone a very special gift of love . . . a wild horse or burro. On Saturday, February 12 BLM will offer wild horses and burros to qualified adopters at its corral facility 4 ½ miles east of Ridgecrest.

To make this adoption even more special, BLM will provide free home delivery within 150 miles of the facility . . . Happy Valentines Day!

The adoption will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will be conducted on a first come, first served basis. The adoption fee is $125 per animal, which may be paid by cash, check or credit card. The fees go back into the program and help defray the cost of gathering and preparing the animals for adoption.

The animals were gathered from public lands in California and Nevada as a result of overpopulation, drought, and loss of habitat caused by wildfires. They're vaccinated, wormed, and healthy . . . but homeless . . . and looking for someone - possibly you - to give them a good home.

BLM wranglers will assist adopters in completing the application and selecting 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.

"Mustangs are very intelligent and renowned for their strength, speed, and endurance," said BLM wrangler Dan Anderson. "The horses make excellent riding stock, and properly trained some adopted Mustangs have become national champions in dressage, snaffle bit competitions, trail, endurance, and jumping,"

Newly adopted wild horses or burros must be kept in an enclosed corral with a minimum area of 400 square feet (20' x 20' or larger) per animal. Corral fences must be at least 5 feet high for burros and colts, and 6 feet high for horses 18 months and older. Fences must be of pole, pipe, or plank construction. Barbed wire is not allowed in stalls or corrals. The corral also must contain a structure to provide shelter for the animal. Adopters should bring a nylon web halter and 20-foot cotton lead rope for each animal. BLM wranglers will schedule delivery shortly after the adoption.

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 215,000 animals have been placed in private homes since the Adopt-A-Horse or Burro Program began in 1973.

For more information about this special 1-day adoption contact BLM at (800) 951-8720.

-BLM-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photographers and reporters are welcome to attend the adoption anytime. Saturday morning provides good opportunities to interview and photograph adopters with their newfound friend(s). For more information contact Doran Sanchez at (909) 697-5220.