U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT NEWS RELEASE
Twin Falls BLM
Twin Falls BLM
| Contacts: | Heather Tiel-Nelson (208) 736-2352 |
Saylor Creek Wild Horses Coming to Adoption in Filer
TWIN FALLS, ID – South central Idaho’s wild horses are going to be available for adoption September 9 – 10, 2011 at the Twin Falls County Fairgrounds in Filer, Idaho. These horses hail from the Saylor Creek Herd Management area south of Glenns Ferry. They were gathered following the Long Butte Fire, which burned 100 percent of the horses’ home range last year. Over the past several months, many of the wild horses have become more accustomed to human interaction as they have been fed and cared for at the Boise BLM Wild Horse Corrals.
Thirty horses will be up for adoption, ranging in age from one to four years with bay, palomino, sorrel, pinto, roan and black colors. Equine enthusiasts interested in learning more about working with young wild horses will be able to watch Mario Johnson, Wyoming’s 2009 Extreme Mustang Makeover winner of Georgetown, Idaho. He will be on hand throughout both days to conduct gentling demonstrations and techniques for helping a newly adopted wild horse become a faithful equine partner.
The wild horse corrals (Zebarth arena) will open at noon on Friday for viewing, and the gentling demonstrations will begin shortly thereafter and continue until 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, the corrals will open at 7:00 a.m., with a one-hour silent bid adoption from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. All bidding will begin at $25. After the silent bidding closes, adoptions will be first-come, first-served. Gentling demonstrations will continue throughout the day until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.
If people are seriously considering adopting a wild horse, there are certain requirements to adopt a wild horse, which are outlined on the following website: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/whbprogram/adoption_program/how_to_adopt.html
It is important to note that one must be 18 years of age, never have been convicted of animal abuse or cruelty and have the proper facilities and transportation. Animals are to be transported the day they are adopted. No animal will be loaded in an unsafe trailer. All individuals must be pre-approved before they can bid on a horse. Applications may be filled out at the adoption and approved onsite.
“These horses are particularly special to many folks who live in the Magic Valley and have traveled to see them roaming in their home range on the desert south of Glenns Ferry," said BLM Adoption Specialist Delbert "Rawhide" Clark. "This adoption provides a good opportunity to take one of these living legends home, and make it a wonderful equine partner. Each of these horses has been de-wormed and received vaccinations for common equine conditions and diseases. Also, adopters will receive complete health care records, as well as herd management and other equine information for their newly adopted animals.”
For the safety of the horses, the BLM suggests using stock trailers with side-swinging gates. Trailers with center dividers are acceptable, but multiple dividers must be removed before horses can be transported in the trailer. The BLM will not load horses into two horse trailers or trailers with ramps.
For more information on the Wild Horse and Burro Program and requirements for adoption, call 1-866-4MUSTANGS, (866) 468-7826 or visit www.blm.gov.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.