Why Adopt A Wild Horse or Burro?
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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 February 25-26, 2011, at the Boone County Fairgrounds located at 5212 N. Oakland Gravel Road, in Columbia, Missouri. You can adopt a Mustang, a wild spirit of the west for a minimal fee and get a buddy horse for $25.“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 Acting State Director, Timothy Spisak.” 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, February 25, from 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Adoption hours on Saturday, January 26, 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 estimates that approximately 38,400 wild horses and burros are roaming on BLM-managed rangelands in 10 western states based on the latest data available,” Spisak said. “horses and burros have virtually no natural predators and their herd sizes can double about every four years. The Bureau’s appropriate management level is 26,600. As a result, the agency must remove thousands of animals from the range each year to control herd sizes. The Bureau placed 3,474 removed animals into private care through adoption in fiscal year 2009."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.Directions for the Wild Horse Adoption: Take I-70 to Hwy 63 North and follow the signs to the fairgrounds.
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.