BLM to host wild horse and burro event in Ocala, Florida
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FLOWOOD, Miss. — The Bureau of Land Management will host a wild horse and burro placement event on October 19-21, 2023, offering a limited number of excess animals gathered from western rangelands, at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Rd., Ocala, Florida. Approximately 75 wild horses and burros are expected to be available to individuals who can provide good homes.
“The BLM has placed more than 250,000 wild horses and burros into private care since 1971,” said Southeastern States District Manager Robert Swithers. “Many of those animals have become excellent pleasure, show, or work horses.”
The event kicks off on Thursday, October 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET through Saturday, October 21, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. This event is free and open to the public. Adopters and buyers must be at least 18 years old and able to verify the animal’s access to food, water, and adequate shelter. Animals that are adopted or purchased must be transported from the event site in an approved trailer.
The BLM’s Adoption Incentive Program (AIP) 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 AIP, qualified adopters are eligible to receive a $1000 incentive payment 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 $125 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.