BLM wild horse and burro adoption to be held in Passaic

By Colette Lefebvre

Nevada Daily Mail

The MO-KAN Livestock market in Passaic will be hosting the Bureau of Land Management- Eastern States, Wild horse and burro adoption. The event will offer approximately 80 horses and burros for adoption.

"There will be some exceptional horses from the Western ranges there, and you can adopt one for a minimal adoption fee starting at $125," said BLM-ES State Director Mike Nedd.

The animals are scheduled to arrive on Friday, with viewing hours beginning that day between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. The scheduled hours for adoption are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday. Bidding will begin at 9:30 a.m.

The number of adopters per square mile in the area is higher than average and the number of farms with domestic horses and ponies per square mile is also higher than average. A wild horse and a burro, as defined by federal law, is an unbranded, unclaimed, free-roaming horse or burro found on public lands in the United States. Wild horses and burros are descendants of the animals that were released by early Spanish explorers, ranchers, miners, the U.S. Calvary and American Indians. Wild horses are noted for their intelligence and sure footedness, every horse and burro is different. On average a wild horse stands about, 13 to 15 hands high or 52-60 inches and weighs about 700 to 1,000 pounds. Wild burros average around 11 hands high or 44 inches and weigh about 500 pounds.

The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros act of 1971, gave the department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Department of Agriculture's Forest service the authority to manage, protect and control wild horses and burros on the nations public lands in order to ensure that there are healthy rangelands. A decrease in the amount of natural predators and the surveillance of federal protection has resulted in a thriving wild horse and burro population that is increasing each year. Every year the BLM monitors rangelands and the wild horse and burro population to determine the number of animals, including livestock and wildlife, the land can support. Each year, the BLM gathers the excess wild horses and burros from areas where vegetation and water could become scarce if too many animals used the areas. These excess animals are offered for adoption to qualified people through the BLM's Adopt-a-Wild horse or burro program. From 1973 to 2002, the BLM has placed more than 191,000 wild horses and burros into private care. All of the animals available for adoption have been examined by a veterinarian, vaccinated, de-wormed and blood tested. "Right now most of the adoptions have been down. We are hopeful that we will do fair in Passaic." said U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management ES-Milwaukee field office Public Affairs Specialist Martha Malik. Prospective adopters must have sturdy corrals, 20-by-20, and they must be at least 6 feet high for an adult horse and at least 5 feet high for burros and horses younger than 18 months, with a shelter directly attached to the corral. Adopters must provide their own trailer, step up (ramps or split two-horse type trailers are not allowed.) BLM Staff will sort, halter and load the animals into the adoptee's trailers. Wild horses have become champions in dressage, jumping, barrel racing, endurance riding, and pleasure riding. "These wild horses and burros are in dire need of loving and caring homes. If people could find it in their hearts to adopt just one and save these animals we would be happy." said Malik.

Wild burros excel in driving, packing, riding, guarding, and as companion animals. Both wild horses and burros are known for their surefootedness, strength and intelligence. The BLM Requires the adopter to be at least 18 years of age, have no prior convictions for inhumane treatment of animals, have adequate feed, water and facilities to provide humane care for the animals and provide a home for the adopted animal in the United States until they receive a Certificate of title from the BLM. The BLM uses freeze marking to identify captured wild horses and burros. Freeze marking is a permanent, unalterable way of identifying each wild horse or burro individually. It is applied to the left side of the animals neck and uses international Alpha Angle System-a series of angles and symbols. It is important to note that a wild burro or horse belongs to the federal government until the BLM Issues the adopter's Certificate of Title which usual occurs after one year.

Prospective adopters should bring a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, travelers' checks, money orders, personal checks, and cash as payment for adoption fees. For more information call the BLM-ES at 1-800-293-1787.