Horses, Burros Available for Adoption in Santa Maria

Residents of the Santa Maria area will have the opportunity to add a horse or burro to their families when the Bureau of Land Management brings its Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program to the Elks-Unocal Event Center, 4040 S. Highway 101, Santa Maria, on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18 and 19.

The BLM will offer 20 horses, mostly yearlings, and 10 burros for public adoption. Anyone interested can preview the animals from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday, Nov. 18. After that, animals will be available for a $125 adoption fee. The event gates will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

"With cooler days ahead, this is a great time to begin training an adopted mustang or burro," said Art DiGrazia, manager at BLM’s Ridgecrest wild horse and burro facility.  "Our horses and burros are certified to be healthy and they are ready to begin training."

The horses are from herd management areas in Northeast California and Northwest Nevada.  Burros (donkeys) came from Southern California deserts.
 
For additional information on the adoption event or wild horse management, contact the BLM toll free at 1-866-4MUSTANGS (687-8264) or the Ridgecrest Corrals at1-800-951-8720.   Information is also available online at www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.

Central California District   2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825