Arizona
Spirited and healthy wild horses and burros from public lands of the West will be looking for new homes when the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offers them for adoption on June 20-22, in Payson, Arizona.
This is the first BLM Wild Horse and Burro Adoption to be held in Payson, and it is being co-sponsored by the Mazatzal Hotel and Casino, Rim Country Gazette, and KMOG Radio. Over 40 wild horses and burros will be available in the BLM adoption auction at the Payson Event Center, located at 1400 South Beeline Highway (Milepost 251), about 70 miles north of Phoenix. During the adoption weekend, Payson will also be hosting team sorting and
equine competitions at the Center.
Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the public is encouraged to visit the BLM
corrals at the event center on Friday to view the animals available and
submit an adoption application. Beginning on Saturday at 10 a.m., a silent
bid auction will be held for the untrained horses and burros. Anyone
adopting during the auction may also participate in the “Adopt-A-Buddy”
lottery held after the auction, to adopt any available untrained horse for
only $25. Only pre-approved adopters may bid during the auction. Following
the auction and lottery, animals that remain available may be adopted for
their minimum bid fee posted on the corrals. All adoptions must be
completed, and animals transported from the site, by 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Each animal available for adoption has been vaccinated for common equine
conditions and diseases. Adopters will receive complete health care
records, as well as herd management and other equine information for their
newly adopted animals.
To qualify to adopt, citizens must be at least 18 years of age, and have no
convictions for inhumane treatment of animals. Adopters are required to
keep each newly adopted horse and burro in its own corral measuring at
least 400 square feet, and constructed of sturdy pipe or rail (no field
fencing or barbed wire). Required corral heights vary from four-and-a-half
feet high for burros, to five-feet high for horses younger than 18 months
of age, and six-feet high for horses older than 18 months of age. Corrals
must also include a shaded area and water trough. Adopted animals must be
kept in their own corral until they can be approached, handled, haltered
and led. Open pastures or any areas that include barbed wire or field
fencing cannot be used.
Adopters must provide trailer transportation home for their animals (only
fully enclosed stock trailers are allowed). A properly fitting halter and
a lead rope for each animal must also be provided by the adopter. BLM will
halter and load each animal into the adopter’s trailer. Title to adopted
wild horses and burros remains with the federal government for one year.
After providing a year of good care, adopters are notified to apply for
title. Random compliance inspections are conducted during the year.
About 31,000 wild horses and burros are currently roaming on public lands
in the western states. More than 215,500 animals have been placed in
private care since the BLM Adopt-a-Horse or Burro Program began over 30
years ago. For additional information on the BLM Payson adoption event or
adopting a wild horse or burro, contact the BLM toll free at
1-866-4MUSTANGS, or visit our website: www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.
Upcoming Arizona Wild Horse and Burro Adoptions
White Mountains – Date TBD Kingman – September 2008
Top of Page
|
