Under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) gathers excess wild horses and burros from public lands, where vegetation and water could become scarce if too many animals use the area. The excess animals are offered for adoption to qualified people through the BLM’s Adopt-a-Wild Horse or Burro program.As defined by the act, a wild horse or burro is an unbranded, unclaimed, free-roaming horse or burro found on public lands in the United States. Wild horses and burros are descendents of animals that escaped from or were released by Spanish explorers, ranchers, miners, the U.S. Cavalry or American Indians. Federal protection and a lack of natural predators have resulted in thriving wild horse populations that increase every year.Just west of Cañon City, Colo., at the Royal Gorge field office, the BLM gathers excess horses and burros from various western states and makes them available for adoption. As of June 4, about 1,700 horses and several burros were available. Many are foals, weanlings and yearlings. Horses that are judged too old or have medical problems are retired to preserves throughout the United States.With kindness and patience, a wild horse or burro can be trained for many uses. Wild horses have become champions in dressage, jumping, barrel racing, endurance riding and pleasure riding. Wild burros excel in driving, packing, riding, guarding, and make excellent companion animals. Both wild horses and burros are known for their sure-footedness, strength, intelligence and endurance.Wild horses come in all colors and are of no particular breed, although some exhibit characteristics associated with certain breeds. A typical wild horse stands 13 to 15 hands high and weighs 700 to 1,000 pounds. Wild burros average 11 hands high and weigh about 500 pounds.What does it cost to adopt?The adoption fee for one horse or burro is $125 and delivery is free within 150 miles of Cañon City. Once you choose an animal, you are responsible for feed – $3 per day, until you retrieve the animal. Payment is due when you receive your horse or burro.Medical treatment and trainingAll animals offered for adoption have been de-wormed, vaccinated, tested for equine infectious anemia and assessed for hoof or any other medical problems. When a person selects a horse or burro for adoption, trainers spend a month halter training and getting the animal used to human contact. If the trainers determine the animal cannot be trained, or if any other problem becomes apparent, you can select a different animal at no additional charge.In addition to halter training, certain horses are saddle-trained. The total price for saddle-trained mustangs adopted from the Cañon City facility is $925 for mares and $1,025 for geldings. This includes the adoption fee of $125 and a training fee of $800 for mares and $900 for geldings. Saddle-trained mustangs are offered for adoption only when training is complete. Mustangs offered through competitive bidding via the Internet or at satellite adoptions start at $925 or $1,025.After adoption, if the animal exhibits problems that can be corrected by further training, you can return the animal to the BLM’s Royal Gorge Field Office (or they will pick it up if you are located within 150 miles) for further training. If within the first six months of adoption, the animal dies or needs to be destroyed because of a pre-existing, serious medical condition, you can select another animal or get a refund on the adoption fee.Visit www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov/WHBAdoptionApplication.pdf for application information. The BLM’s Royal Gorge Field Office outside Cañon City is open for adoptions on alternate Fridays. To make an appointment or get additional information, call 719-269-8500.Mustangs coming soon to Falcon!Falcon’s Rocky Mountain Foal Rescue (RMFR) group is in discussions with the Royal Gorge Field Office of the BLM to make mustang weanlings and yearlings available for adoption at RMFR’s facility in Falcon this summer. For information, call 719-683-5880, send an e-mail to rmfr@qwest.net or check their Web site at www.rockymountainfoalrescue.org for the latest information.
