BLM to host special wild horse and burro event in Andalusia, Alabama
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FLOWOOD, Ms.— The Bureau of Land Management will host a wild horse and burro placement event Oct. 22-23, 2021, offering approximately 70 excess animals gathered from western rangelands at Covington Center Arena in Andalusia, Alabama.
“Since 1971 the BLM has placed over 240,000 wild horses into private care,” said Southeastern States District Manager, Robert Swithers. “These animals are known for their sure-footedness, strength, intelligence, and endurance – they’ll adapt successfully in good homes.”
Adoptions and sales will be held from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. CT on Friday, Oct 22 and from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. CT Saturday, Oct 23. A minimum age of 18 years and verification of the animal’s access to food, water, and adequate shelter is required to adopt or purchase. Animals that are adopted or purchased must be transported from the event site in an approved trailer.
This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. In commemoration, this event will feature daily demonstrations from a variety of trainers to include mounted shooting, trick riding, liberty horsemanship, and round-pen gentling. The demonstrations will be performed on both days and are free to the public.
The BLM’s Adoption Incentive Program was designed to help improve rangeland health in overpopulated herd management areas in the western states and to save taxpayer costs for animals held at off-range holding facilities. Through this program, qualified adopters are eligible to receive $500 within 60 days of adoption and $500 upon title issuance for an untrained wild horse or burro. The incentive is available for all untrained animals eligible for adoption with an adoption fee of $25 per animal.
Animals that are over ten years old or younger animals who were unsuccessfully adopted out to new homes three times may be sold. BLM staff will be available to identify these animals to interested, qualified buyers. Purchasers will receive immediate ownership of the animals.
To learn more about BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro program, visit https://www.blm.gov/whb.
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.