Special mustang demonstrations scheduled to take place for Wild Horse Adoption Day in Lorton
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), partnering with wild horse and humane animal advocacy groups, will celebrate national Wild Horse Adoption Day, September 26, 2009 by holding an adoption at the BLM Meadowood Recreation site in Lorton, VA. Forty wild horses and two burros will be available for public viewing on Friday afternoon, September 25, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The adoption begins at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday morning and will be conducted on a first come, first served basis. The event is free and open to the public.In celebration of Wild Horse Adoption Day, mustang handling demonstrations are scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. Melissa Scott and her Kiger mustang, Sombra, will demonstrate classical Spanish riding. Chase Dodd, winner of the 2009 Midwest Mustang Makeover, will perform with his mustang named Pat Summitt. In addition, Wyatt and Lonesome, two mustangs who pull the U.S. Army caissons during burial ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, will be available to meet the public.The adoption fee is $125 for animals less than three years of age and $25 for animals three and older. In addition, a buddy animal may be adopted for an additional $25 when any animal is adopted at the full fee of $125. "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."Prospective adopters must have sturdy corrals that are 20' x 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 go to www.es.blm.gov/whb/ . Potential adopters are asked to call early to be pre-approved and avoid waiting in line.The BLM manages public lands for many different uses, including managing free-roaming wild horses and burros in the western states. Gathering some for adoption is an effective means for managing the size of herds so that they may be sustained by the natural resources available to them on public rangelands. Visit www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov to learn more about the BLM's Wild Horse and Burro program. Adoption Address:10406 Gunston Rd, Lorton, VA 22079Directions: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.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 his/her name and contact information through BLM-ES.High quality still photos of wild horses are available at the BLM website. 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.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.