They are the living symbols of America’s Wild West, and
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will offer 31 spirited and healthy wild horses and burros to
qualified adopters. The adoption will take place at the Graham
County Fairgrounds, located about two miles south of
Safford on U.S. Highway 191. To qualify, adopters must be
U.S. citizens at least 18 years old.
à Friday, March 18, 2011 “ Preview Horses & Burros
Potential adopters and anyone interested in seeing the animals
can visit the arena from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday
and 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday prior to the
adoption.
à Saturday, March 19, 2011 “ Preview, Competitive Bidding,
Adopt-A-Buddy Silent competitive bidding will begin
at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, followed by an Adopt-A-Buddy
horse lottery which allows successful bidders to adopt another
horse for $25. Horses and burros not adopted during
these two events will be available to adopt throughout the day
until 5:00 p.m. The minimum bid is $125 per animal.
à Sunday, March 20, 2011 “ Adoption of Remaining Animals
Any horse or burro not adopted on Saturday is available for
a minimum adoption fee of $125 on a first-come, first-served
basis from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday.
After adoption, BLM employees will halter and load all
adopted horses and burros into the adopters’ trailers.
Adopters must provide transportation home for their animals.
Only fully enclosed stock trailers are allowed; drop
ramp or two-horse trailers are not allowed. Aproperly fitting
halter and 12-foot lead rope is recommended for each animal.
Adopters are required to keep each newly adopted horse
and burro in its own corral measuring at least 400 square feet
and constructed of sturdy pipe or rail (no field fencing or
barbed wire).
Each animal available for adoption has been vaccinated for
common equine conditions and diseases. Adopters will receive
complete health care records, as well as herd management
and other equine information for their newly adopted
animals. Up to four animals may be adopted each year; owners
can apply for titles after one year of humane care.
To learn more about how to qualify and to obtain an application,
please visit https://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse/requirements.
php or call 866 468-7826 (866 4MUSTANGS).
BLM specialists will also answer questions and approve applications
at the adoption site.
The BLM estimates that approximately 33,700 horses and
4,700 burros are roaming on BLM-managed rangelands in
10 Western states based on the latest data available compiled.
Wild horses and burros have virtually no natural predators
and herd sizes continue to grow. As a result, the agency must
remove excess animals from the range each year to control
herd size and maintain healthy habitat for these animals and
all other uses of the public lands.
“The Bureau of Land Management’s top priority is to ensure
the health of the public lands so that the species depending
on them “ including the nation’s wild horses and burros
“ can thrive,” said BLM Director Bob Abbey.
“To achieve that end, the BLM’s wild horse and burro program
must be put on
a sustainable course that benefits the animals, the land, and
the American taxpayer.”
The BLM placed 2,960 animals into private care through
adoptions in FY 2010. Since 1971, the BLM has adopted out
more than 225,000 horses and burros. To learn more about
adopting these animals, visit the website at:
http://www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov or call the national
office at 1-866-4-MUSTANGS (468-7826). The next Arizona
adoption is tentatively set for April 22-24 in Tucson.
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