(Press Release) - The
U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will offer
approximately 40 wild horses ranging from yearling to 5 years old to potential
adopters on March 22-23, 2013, at the Simon Arena,
Twin Cities Horse Sales located at 29100 Harry Avenue, in Randolph, Minnesota.
This is a unique opportunity to care for, then own, a "Living Legend" – a
symbol of American history, namely, a wild horse or burro. Providing a home for
a wild horse or burro is a challenging and rewarding experience. You can adopt
your very own symbol of American history.
A wild free-roaming horse or burro, as defined by Federal law, is an unbranded,
unclaimed, free-roaming horse or burro found on Western public rangelands. Wild
horses and burros are descendants of animals released by or escaped from
Spanish explorers, ranchers, miners, U.S. Cavalry, or Native Americans.
"While the adoption process is simple and straightforward,
anyone considering adoption of a wild horse should remember that the animals
are wild and require gentling and training, said BLM-Eastern States State
Director, John Lyon." 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).
The Saturday adoption will be on a first come, first served
basis. The animals can be previewed on Friday, March 22, from 2:00 p.m. - 7:00
p.m. Adoption hours on Saturday, March 23, are from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00
p.m. A minimal 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.
"The BLM manages, protects, and controls wild horses and
burros under the authority of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros
Act," Lyon said. "This law authorizes the BLM to remove excess wild
horses and burros from the range to sustain the health and productivity of the
public lands.
Applications to adopt will be reviewed starting on Friday and may be submitted
until Saturday. For more information, call 1-866-4MUSTANGS
(1-866-468-7826) or visit the BLM web site at www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.
