A wild horse and burro adoption event, organized by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), will be held in Fort Worth on September 9 and 10.
The event will feature dozens of trained and untrained animals. Untrained animals will be offered for as low as $125, while trained animals will be up for adoption via auction following the Extreme Mustang Makeover competition.
The Extreme Mustang Makeover, a production of the Mustang Heritage Foundation, is an event that showcases the work of horse trainers and handlers who will be competing for over $40,000 in cash and prizes. Over a period of 100 days, the trainers work with previously untouched horses to “gentle” them and teach them to be ridable partners, transforming them “from wild to mild.”
At Saturday’s event, the trainers and their equine protege will compete in various categories. After the afternoon session, all but the top ten finalists will be available for sale by a live auction.
The top ten finalists will participate in the finals competition Saturday evening, and the horses will then be adopted through a competitive bid auction.
The Bureau of Land Management will also offer up to $1,000 for people to adopt an untrained animal. The agency hopes that, with this incentive, every horse and burro can be taken into a good home.
Since 1973, the Bureau has placed more than 280,000 animals in approved homes across the country. Adult and yearling horses and burros that previously roamed free on public lands will be offered at the upcoming event.
“The BLM periodically removes excess animals from the range in order to maintain healthy herds and to protect other rangeland resources. The adoption and sale program is essential for achieving these important management goals,” the agency explained in a press release.
The BLM has established policies and procedures to guarantee all the animals’ safety and health and ensure they are placed in appropriate homes. Prospective adopters must certify that they will provide humane care and will not knowingly sell or transfer the animals for slaughter or processing into commercial products.
Qualified homes must be fenced and gated with access to food, water, and shelter, and owners must agree to inspections of their equine facilities.
The two-day event will be held at the Will Rogers Memorial Center at 3400 Burnett Tandy Drive, Fort Worth. Staff will be present at the event to approve applications. Applicants who wish to adopt must be up to 18 years old and have no record of animal abuse.
More information about the requirements to qualify for adoption can be found here, and a schedule for the weekend’s events can be found here.