Adoptions for horses, burros fetch $27,600

CARSON CITY — Fifteen wild horses and a burro offered for adoption by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Nevada Department of Corrections — Silver State Industries were sold for a total of $27,600 last weekend at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center (NNCC) south of Carson City.

Nineteen wild horses and one burro from ranges on BLM-administered public lands in California, Nevada and some born in Nevada facilities were offered during a spirited competitive-bid adoption. The animals were saddle and halter-trained for approximately four months by inmate trainers in the NNCC program.

Twelve saddle-trained horses and the burro were adopted after starting bids of $150 and three of the haltered-trained horses were adopted after starting bids of $125. The event’s top bid of $5,600 went for a 6-year-old gelding named Clyde. The average bidding price for each saddle-trained horse was $2,204.

The successful bidders officially adopted their new horses. After properly caring for their horses for one year, the adopters are eligible to receive title, or ownership, from the Federal government.

The BLM uses its adoption program as the primary tool to place these iconic animals into private care. The horses or burros available for adoption come from overpopulated herd management areas where vegetation and water could become scarce if too many animals, including wildlife and livestock, use the area.

Many people have found it personally challenging and rewarding to adopt a wild horse or burro. Additionally, it is a chance to care for, and then own, a part of America’s heritage. The BLM has placed more than 230,000 wild horses and burros into private care since 1971. Many of those animals have become excellent pleasure, show, or work horses.

The next saddle-trained horse adoption and competitive-bid auction is scheduled on Sunday at the Reno-Sparks Livestock Event Center in Reno, Nevada in association with the Reno Rodeo Extreme Mustang Makeover. The next Northern Nevada Correctional Center adoption is scheduled for Oct. 15.