Wild horses, burros available for adoption from Bureau of Land Management | Events

JACKSON, MO (KFVS) - The U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management will be offering about 40 wild horses to potential adopters Feb. 17-18 at Flickerwood Arena.

BLM says the horse range from yearling to five years old and as an adopter, your challenge will be to develop a trusting relationship with the wild horse or burro.

“The BLM manages, protects, and controls wild horses and burros under the authority of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act,” said BLM-Eastern States State Director, John Lyon. “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 Bureau’s appropriate management level is 26,600.”

According to the BLM, prospective adopters must have sturdy corrals that are 20’ x 20’ (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 Saturday adoption will be on a first come, first served basis. The animals can be previewed on Friday, Feb. 17, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Adoption hours on Saturday, Feb. 18, are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A minimal adoption fee of $125 for animals less than three years of age and $25 for animals three and older is required for adoption. In addition, you can take home a buddy animal for only $25 when you adopt any animal at the full fee of $125.

The BLM says all animals available for adoption have been examined by a veterinarian, vaccinated, de-wormed, and blood-tested. Since 1971, the BLM has adopted out more than 225,000 animals nationwide. To date, nearly 6,000 animals have found loving homes throughout Missouri.

Applications to adopt will be reviewed starting on Friday and may be submitted until Saturday.

Directions for the Wild Horse Adoption include:

• From I-55, take the Fruitland exit and go north (past the Drury Inn and Bavarian House) on the Outer Road that runs along the west side of I-55 for approximately 3 miles. Flickerwood Arena will be on your left

For more information, call 1-866-4MUSTANGS (1-866-468-7826) or visit the BLM web site at www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.

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