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On September 26, 2009 organizations across the nation will be supporting and participating in the first national Wild Horse Adoption Day. Uniting with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for the greater good of wild horses will be other wild horse and humane animal advocacy groups.

Wild Horse Adoption Day is a day dedicated to supporting and protecting the livelihood of wild horses. Participating organizations in this event hope to encourage more people to adopt these wonderful animals. One of the numerous wild horse adoption sites planned for that day will be held in Lorton, Virginia at the BLM’s Meadowood recreation site.

The BLM is the organizer of the wild horse adoptions and whose purpose is to manage wild horses and burros on the western public range lands. By allowing a certain number of wild horses and burros to be adopted into good homes each year, the BLM is able to control the wild horse and burro population from exceeding the carrying capacity of the western range lands.

The adoption held in Virginia will provide participants with an educational experience that will showcase the history and mystique of the wild horse. Inspiring stories involving wild horses, training sessions, expos, and more will all be held at the adoption event. Forty wild horses will be available for adoption.

"Adopting a wild horse is said to be one of the most rewarding experiences of a lifetime," said Juan Palma, BLM-Eastern States Director. "The unique bond that is created between the adopter and the animal is a relationship with limitless potential."

Wild horses are noted for their endurance and intelligence. With time and patience, these wonderful animals can be gentled and used for dressage, trail riding, and western events, as well as any activities where a domestic horse can be used.

Here is your chance to join a community of active supporters of wild horses.

Adoptions will be on a first come first served basis. A public preview and adoption of the animals will be from 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25 and adoption hours will be from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 26. An adoption fee of $125 for animals less than three years of age and $25 for animals three and older is required for adoption. In addition, you can take home a buddy animal for only $25 when you adopt any animal at the full fee of $125.

Prospective adopters must have sturdy corrals that are 20’ (or larger), at least 6 feet high for an adult horse and at least 5 feet high for horses younger than 18 months, and have a shelter directly attached to the corral. Adopters must provide a stock-type, step up trailer (ramps and side-by-side two-horse type trailers are not allowed).

For more information on the application process, call 1-866-4MUSTANGS or visit www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov to download an application. Potential adopters are asked to call early to be pre-approved and avoid waiting in line. You can also visit www.es.blm.gov/whb/ or www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov/adoption to get requirement information and instructions to become a qualified adopter. Please visit http://nationalwildhorseadoptionday.org to learn more about National Wild Horse Adoption Day.

Adoption Address:
10406 Gunston Rd, Lorton, VA 22079

Directions:
From Route 1, take Gunston Rd (east), go 2.4 miles, past the BLM Meadowood main entrance, to right to Harley Rd.

Background:
All animals available for adoption have been examined by a veterinarian, vaccinated, de-wormed, and blood-tested. Since the Adopt-A-Wild Horse & Burro Program began in 1973, more than 220,000 animals have been adopted.

The BLM manages more land, 258 million surface acres, than any other Federal agency. Most of this public land is located in 12 Western States, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1.8 billion, also administers 700 million acres of subsurface 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, and cultural resources on the public lands.

Editor’s Notes:
If you would like to be put in contact with a previous adopter in your area, please call (703) 440-1717 or e-mail Davida_Carnahan@blm.gov to let us know what your coverage area includes and we will do our best to find a previous adopter who is willing to release their name and contact information through BLM-ES.

High quality still photos of wild horses are available at: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/bpd.html. Type in key word "horses." B-roll footage in BetaCam or DVCam formats is available by contacting 703-440-1717 or e-mail Davida_Carnahan@blm.gov.