MILWAUKEE, Wis., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Looking for something your Valentine will never forget? A diamond may be forever, but a young wild horse from the West will never be forgotten. The Saturday following Valentines Day, February 16, 2008, the Bureau of Land Management-Eastern States (BLM-ES) will offer approximately 70 wild horses ranging from yearling to 5 years old, and possibly a few burros, for adoption at the Cooper Arena at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio.
“These living legends from the West would make a Valentine’s Day to remember,” said Karen Malloy, Wild Horse and Burro Program Manager for BLM-ES. “There are too many of them out west to maintain healthy lands and animals and we know folks will help out by giving these animals good homes,” she said.
“There will be some exceptional horses from the Great Divide Basin in Wyoming and you can adopt one for a minimal adoption fee,” said Malloy. “This is your chance to get that unique wild horse or burro you have always wanted. If you adopt one at full fee and are approved for a second one, you may adopt a buddy for only $25,” she said.
The animals will arrive on Friday, February 15, with viewing hours on Friday between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The adoption will run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 16, beginning with a competitive bid. Animals not adopted on Saturday morning will be offered for a flat fee on a first-come basis Saturday afternoon and Sunday, February 17.
Wild horses that have been gentled are used for dressage, trail riding, western events, and other disciplines. They are noted for their endurance, sure-footedness, and intelligence. Burros are great companion animals and are sometimes used by farmers for predator control.
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 200,000 animals have been adopted.
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 burros and horses younger than 18 months, and have a shelter directly attached to the corral. Adopters must provide a stock-type, step up trailer (ramps or split two-horse type trailers are not allowed). The BLM staff will sort, halter, and load animals onto the adopters’ trailers.
“While the adoption process is simple and straightforward, anyone considering adoption of a wild horse or burro should remember that the animals are wild and require gentling and training,” Malloy said.
Applications to adopt will be reviewed starting on Friday, and may be submitted until Sunday morning. For more information, call 1-866-4MUSTANGS, or visit the BLM web site at www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.
Directions for the Wild Horse and Burro Adoption are: Take I-71 to exit 111 (17th Avenue). Go west to the entrance to the Cooper Arena at the Ohio Expo Center.
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.
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Source: Bureau of Land Management-Eastern States
