BLM, Corrections sponsor wild horse adoption

The Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Department of Corrections invite horse enthusiasts and the general public alike to a special wild horse adoption event at the Western States Wild Horse and Burro Expo in Gardnerville today and Saturday at the Douglas County Fairgrounds.

Inmates from the Northern Nevada Correctional Center’s Saddle Horse Training program will showcase their training efforts during a competition that spans this afternoon and evening and Saturday morning, concluding with an awards ceremony and adoption of the animals.

Ten saddle-trained horses and one burro from the ranges of Nevada, California and Utah will be available starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, and all are looking for good homes. The horses and burro range in age from three to six-years old, are saddle-trained with 120 days of training and vary in weight and color. The beginning bid on all animals is $150.

Watch the Inmate Competition leading up to the adoption:

Today at noon:

In Hand Freestyle Competition in the small arena

Today at 6 p.m.:

Horsemanship Pattern Competition in the Main arena

Saturday at 10 a.m.:

Trail Competition in the small arena

Freestyle Competition immediately follows in the small arena

Adoption at 1 p.m. in small arena

For the catalog of the BLM wild horses and burro being offered for adoption on Saturdaygo to http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en.html. To pre-qualify for the weekend adoption, stop by the BLM booth at the Expo.

The competition and adoption are just a few of the highlights of the annual Western States Wild Horse and Burro Expo, which runs through Sunday. There will be a barbecue dinner on Saturday night with live music by Exit 22, a local country and swing band. Tickets are $13 for adults and $8.00 for children under 10 years of age. Shopping is also offered with many different vendors. The only admission fee is $5 per vehicle per day to park. A three-day pass can be purchased for $12.

For more information and an events schedule for the Expo, visit the Expo website at www.wildhorseandburroexpo.com