The U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will offer approximately 40 wild horses ranging in age from yearling to 5-years to potential adopters June 26-27 at Golden Hills Trail Rides and Resort in Raymondville.
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. Prospective adopters must have sturdy corrals that are 20-feet x 20-feet 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 adoptions will occur 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on a first-come, first-served basis. Horses can be previewed 2 to 7 p.m. Friday. A minimal adoption fee of $125 for animals less than three years of age and $25 for animals three and older is required. In addition, a “buddy” horse can be adopted for only $25 when another is paid for at the full fee of $125.
Wild horses and burros have virtually no natural predators and their herd sizes can double about every four years. As a result, the agency must remove thousands of animals from the range each year to control herd sizes.
The BLM manages, protects and controls wild horses and burros under the authority of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. 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.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land (the most of any other federal agency) known as the National System of Public Lands. BLM-managed land is primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska.
Since 1971, the BLM has adopted out more than 235,000 animals nationwide. All animals available for adoption have been examined by a veterinarian, vaccinated, de-wormed and blood-tested.
Applications to adopt will be reviewed starting on Friday and may be submitted until Saturday. For more information, call 866-4MUSTANGS (866-468-7826) or visit the BLM web site at www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.
The wild horse adoption program will coincide with the last two days of the second annual “Mustang Family Reunion Ride,” a week-long event (hosted by Laura and Eric Dawson, of LoneStar L Ranch in Lexington, Texas) in which many renowned horsemanship instructors will conduct clinics and demonstrations for hundreds of attendees and vendors will set up tents displaying horse-related products and material.
From U.S. 63 in Houston, go east on Highway B to Raymondville. Turn right (south) onto High Point Drive, then turn left (east) onto Golden Drive. The facility will be on the right in about a mile.