Wednesday, September 1, 2004

Adopt a horse

BLM offers wild horses from Challis for adoption


The Idaho Bureau of Land Management announced that it recently gathered approximately 70 wild horses from public lands in the Challis area of north central Idaho. These horses are being offered for adoption to the public through the BLM Wild Horse and Burro program.

The Wild Horse adoption is being held Sept. 25 and 26, at the BLM Challis Corrals, east of Challis on Hot Springs Road. Competitive bidding for the horses begins at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25, and will continue on Sunday, Sept. 26, from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Persons meeting specified requirements could adopt one these magnificent animals for a minimum of $125 each.

Horses may be previewed Monday through Friday starting Sept. 7 until Sept. 23 from noon to 6 p.m. Viewing will also occur at the BLM Challis Corrals on Friday, Sept. 24, from noon to 7 p.m. and again Sept. 25, from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m.

Horse trainer and gentler Mario Johnson will be providing clinics the afternoon of Sept. 24 and throughout the day Sept. 25 at no cost to the public.

The horses being offered in Challis on Sept. 25 are all younger than 6 years old and have wide variations in color. They have been vaccinated, wormed, Coggins tested and West Nile vaccinated by a veterinarian and freeze marked by the BLM for identification.

All potential adopters must be at least 18 years of age, have facilities consistent with BLM requirements, have no history of mistreating animals, and must have adoption applications approved by the BLM prior to bidding. Applications may be approved at any local BLM office or at the corral site prior to adop-tion bidding.

Adopters must also meet the following requirements:

 Payment must be received before the animals are loaded. Cash, personal checks and major credit cards are accepted. Adopted animals must be transported the day of the event.

 Those who adopt a stud horse will receive a partial refund voucher good toward the cost of gelding.

 No two-horse trailers will be allowed to transport adopted animals.

A three-horse slant trailer or larger is required. Obstructions in the trailer must be secured to avoid injuries to the animals or handlers. All trailers will have to pass inspection before loading.

 The horses and burros remain BLM property for at least one year. At the end of the year, adopters may apply for title to the animals.

The BLM is responsible for managing, protecting, and controlling wild horses and burros on the nation?s public lands to ensure healthy herds and range-lands. Each year the BLM gathers excess wild horses and burros from areas where vegetation and water could become scarce if too many animals, including livestock and wildlife, use the area. The BLM has placed more than 178,000 wild horses and burros into private care from 1973 through 2000. Over 40,000 wild horses can still be found on the public rangelands throughout the western United States.

For more information about the BLM?s Wild Horse and Burro program or to request an adoption application visit the web site at www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov or call toll free 1-866-4MUSTANGS. For information specific to Challis area wild horses, contact the Challis Field Office at (208) 879-6200.




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