| Contacts: | Call 866-4-MUSTANGS (866-468-7826) | |||
| http://nationalwildhorseadoptionday.org |
BLM to Host National Wild Horse Adoption Day Event in Pauls Valley, OK
PAULS VALLEY, Oklahoma—The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will host a special weekend adoption in Pauls Valley in connection with the first ever National Wild Horse Adoption Day (NWHAD), Sept. 25-26. This event is one of dozens being held around the country, with the goal of placing 1,000 animals in good adoptive homes.
A large selection of wild horses and burros will be available at the NWHAD event in Pauls Valley. In addition, two gentled yearlings will be available. These are animals that have been in a foster home for the past couple of months, where a volunteer trainer has been working to prepare them for adoption.
Special riding demonstrations are also planned during the NWHAD event in Pauls Valley. Karla Norris of Moore, Okla., will show her adopted wild horse “Ranger” in an exhibition of Medieval gamesmanship. Karla and Ranger will both be decked out in full period garb. It’s all free and open to the public.
Adoption Schedule – Preview all of the animals Friday, Sept. 25, starting at 8 a.m., with adoptions starting at 10 a.m., and ending at 4 p.m. Adoptions continue Saturday, Sept. 26, from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Adoption Qualifications -- Application approval is required and can be done on site. To qualify to adopt, one must be at least 18 with no record of animal abuse. Adopters must have suitable facilities and can adopt no more than four animals. All animals must be loaded in covered stock-type trailers with swing gates and sturdy walls and floors. BLM staff will be on hand to assist adopters through the short application process.
Adoption Fees – The minimum adoption fee for most animals is $125, as set by law. An auction will be held Friday at 10 a.m. to determine adoption fees for any animals sought by more than one person. Animals not selected during the auction Friday morning will be offered for adoption on a first-come-first-served basis for the flat fee of $125 for the rest of the weekend. Those interested in bidding are encouraged to come early Friday to identify their desired animals and to complete their adoption applications in time.
For selected older horses, the agency will pay adopters $500 to provide them good homes for one full year. Call 866-4-MUSTANGS (866-468-7826) for more details, or visit http://nationalwildhorseadoptionday.org.
The BLM holds monthly wild horse adoptions every second Tuesday at its facility in Pauls Valley, from 8 a.m. to noon. The facility is located on the west side of I-35 at Exit 74 (Kimberlin Rd.) in Pauls Valley. Approximately 70 adult and yearling horses are available each month.
The BLM manages more land - over 245 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. 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.