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THE ADOPT-A-WILD HORSE OR BURRO PROGRAM
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Question: How much money is spent per year for the BLM Wild Horse and Burro program? Answer: The budget changes each year depending on what Congress appropriates to the Wild Horse and Burro Program . In 1996, $14,845,000 was allocated. Question: How many BLM employees work only on the WHB program? What percentage is this of all BLM employees? Answer: The BLM employs between 8,000 and 9,000 people. Although the number of employees working full time in the WH&B program may be small (maybe a couple hundred individuals), there is a significant number of employees that devote a portion of their time to the program, such as clerical staff, managers, etc. Question:Does the BLM plan to implement any birth control method in the wild herds? If not, why not -- the Maryland ponies on Assateague Island have some kind of birth control program. Can you use that? Do you know anything about it? From the BLM Website: Recent preliminary results of the research into using porcine zona pellucida (PZP) indicate that a single injection protocol worked with the same effectiveness as the two injection protocol. This result is exciting because it means we can treat a mare and turn her back to the range immediately. The two injection protocol required the treated mares be held in captivity for 2-3 weeks, decreasing their wildness and subjecting the animals to domestic diseases. The latest results show about a 90% effectiveness in preventing conception. Our objective is to develop an injection that can prevent conception for at least three years. It is definitely an option for future management. It is reversible, painless, non-debilitating,and non-invasive. The challenge will be to get it approved for use. It must be approved by various federal agencies before it can be applied on a wide scale. |
ADOPTING A WILD HORSE OR BURRO
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Question: What information do I need before I adopt a wild horse or burro? Answer: The article BEFORE YOU ADOPT will answer most of your questions about adopting a wild horse or burro. Go here to see the article http://www.equinenet.org/life/lifeadopt.html Question: How young are the youngest of the wild foals adopted out? Answer: Foals may be adopted out with their mothers as soon as they are old enough to travel safely. The BLM staff at the adoption site or holding facility will make that decision. Foals that have been weaned at 4-6 months old may be adopted out separately. Question: Have they been naturally weaned? Answer: No, because feral foals stay with their mothers for a longer time than we allow domestic foals to stay with theirs. Feral foals usual stay with the mare until the next foal is born and often still nurse when they can get away with it. At two years of age they will be run out of the band by the stallion. The fillies will join another band of horses. The colts will form a bachelor band until they are strong enough to steal another stallion's mares or collect two year old fillies that are being run out of bands. |
CARING FOR YOUR ADOPTED HORSE OR BURRO
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Question:Why can't you get the horses for adoption at least halter broken? How much would it cost per horse? Couldn't you ask a higher adoption fee for those that you can at least catch and lead? Same thing for trimming the feet. Answer: The BLM has several programs which offer halter broke gentle horses. The most well known are the prison training programs. Still in the testing stage are also a number of training programs which are contracted to individuals. From the BLM Website: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has agreements with State Correctional Facilities in California, Colorado, Oklahoma and Wyoming, whereby selected inmates, as a part of their rehabilitation, are allowed to train wild horses using an approach and retreat technique. This program permits inmates to gain valuable, usable job skills that may help them obtain employment after their release from prison. Inmates involved in the training program believe the program helps to build trust in each other. One inmate indicated that there was more of a feeling of camaraderie among the inmates involved in the program ..." If you see someone in trouble in the corral, you go and help. You don't find that in the general inmate population." The inmates learn quickly that being a "tough guy" doesn't work with roughly 850 pounds of horseflesh. Training goes very slowly -- time and patience being the key. The inmates try something new each day -- if the horse will let them. Below is a brief description of the Correctional Facilities the BLM has agreements with. I have also included the name, address, and phone number of who to contact if you need additional information.
Approximately 20 animals are kept at the California Correctional Center for training by inmates. The animals are trained for approximately 90 days. The level of training varies. All animals have been trained to be handled; including haltering, leading, and picking up of the feet. Some of the animals have been saddle trained. Adoptions are conducted at the California Correctional Center approximately every three months. Adoptions are publicized through the media. A lottery draw system is used to determine the order in which adopters will choose their animals. At a designated time, on the day of the adoption, all potential adopters names will be drawn to determine the order of adoption. Adopters are limited to one animal. If there are remaining animals, individuals may adopt additional animals in the same order as the initial drawing. The cost to adopt is $125. New adoption regulations that allow for a competitive bidding process may be used in the future. For more information write or call, Jerry Bonham, Eagle Lake Resource Area, 2950 Riverside Dr., Susanville, CA 96130, or (916) 254-6762.
The Kern County Sheriff Department's Lerdo Jail located in Bakersfield, California has been gentling wild horses since 1992. The inmates at the jail train both geldings and mares. The training period lasts for approximately 90 days. Horses are first taught to accept the human touch. When this has been accomplished, the inmates move on to training the horse to halter, and lunge by using the approach and retreat method. The inmates train the animals five days a week under the guidance of a Bakersfield Adult School instructor. For a horse to be considered gentled, the inmate must be able to halter and lead the horse, tie, and pick up all four feet. Several horses have also been saddled and ground driven. The majority of the horses gentled at the Lerdo Jail are available to the general public for adoption through BLM's Bakersfield District Office satellite adoptions. The Bakersfield office maintains a list of potential adopters. The adoption fee is $125 per horse. New adoption regulations that allow for a competitive bidding process may be used in the future. For more information write or call Mindy Odom, BLM, Bakersfield District Office, 3801 Pegasus Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93308, or (805) 391-6000.
The James Crabtree Correctional Facility in Helena, Oklahoma, uses inmates to train wild horses at a cost of $2.50 per day charged to the adopter. This includes feed, daily care, and training. The training usually takes 90 to 150 days depending on the adopted horse. The correctional facility has the capacity to train 25 animals at a time. Adopters are responsible for all arrangements for training of their wild horses with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. These arrangements can be made by contacting Shawn Terrel, Wild Horse Training Specialist, at (405) 852-3221. Presently, there is a six month waiting list for training. BLM provides untrained wild horses and burros to the facility for adoption Monday through Friday during the spring and summer months. Potential adopters are required to meet all the standard adoption requirements. Once an adopter is approved for adoption, they then can make an appointment to adopt an animal from this facility. For more information call or write Jack Albright, BLM, Oklahoma Resource Area, 221 N. Service Rd., Moore, OK 73160-4946, or 800-237-3642.
Horses are available for adoption at the prison facility on most Mondays and Fridays by appointment only. Horses are adopted first and then scheduled for training by the inmates. Interested adopters from other states can make arrangements to have an animal selected for them. A horse is considered successfully trained when it can accomplish the following: easy mounting and dismounting; knows the commands for walk, trot, lope, and keeps its head and body collected; can turn in either direction, stop, and backup on command; can pick up all four feet; and can load and unload in a four horse trailer. Expected training time is three to six months. Adopters are required to pick up their horse when it is ready. The Colorado Department of Corrections Facility at Canon City trains approximately 150 horses per year. The current price for a saddle trained horse is $740. This fee includes: $125 for the BLM adoption fee; $180 for feed; and $435 for training. BLM gets only the adoption fee -- the remainder goes to the Department of Corrections to fund the program. For more information write or call Fran Ackley, BLM, Canon City District Office, 3170 E. Main St., Canon City, CO 81212 or (719) 269-8500.
The BLM and the Wyoming Honor Farm entered into an agreement in 1988. The agreement serves three purposes. It allows BLM access to a first-class livestock handling facility for gather operations and as an overflow facility if the BLM corrals in Rock Springs are full; it provides the BLM, United States Forest Service, other federal agencies, and special groups like the Boy Scouts with trained horses; and it provides the Wyoming Department of Corrections with a program that is beneficial to the rehabilitation of inmates. Horses are available for adoption by the general public. Adoptions are held twice a year -- one in March and one in the fall. The adoption fee is $125 payable to the BLM. All horses are halter trained, can pick up their feet and will load into a trailer. Some horses have been ridden -- but not all. The Honor Farm trains about 100 horses each year using the approach and retreat method. For more information write or call Don Glenn, BLM, Wyoming State Office, 2515 Warren Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82001, or (307) 775-6097. Question: Can I just turn my wild horse out in the pasture with my other horses after a week or two? Answer: You should only turn your horse or burro out to pasture after it is gentled, easily caught and haltered and will not challenge the fence. Once your horse or burro is gentle it may be turned out with other horses or burros. Question: Will the BLM recommend a trainer to help me in my area? Answer: The BLM does not endorse any particular trainer or training method but at most adoption facilities and satellite adoptions they are willing to give you the names of local trainers who are experienced in handling feral horses. The National Program Office (NPO) also has a list of trainers throughout the U.S. You can reach the NPO by calling (702) 785-6583. Also your local WHB advocacy or support group may have names of trainers they recommend. Question:We're thinking of moving -- how are we going to get our wild horse (just adopted) into a trailer? Answer: The first thing you need to do is contact the BLM office to let them know where you are moving and what the new telephone number is. Your horse will load best into a stock or multi-horse trailer. The easiest way to load your horse into a trailer is to create an alleyway from the corral it is in to the trailer. You can use pipe panel sections or any heavy gate panels. If you can't find anything else you can build an alleyway out of bales of hay or straw. Make sure that anything you use is at least 5 1/2' tall. Question: Are there wild horse and burro support groups in my area? Answer:
You might want to check the wild horse and burro pages at the KBR website -- there are many resources listed there, and many articles and pictures about training wild horses and burros. Also, you might want to join the wildhorses mailing list (see the LIFE Table of Contents), which has members all over the country. WILD HORSE AND BURRO ORGANIZATIONS
Question: What books do you recommend we read about wild horses and horses in general? Do you have a list? Answer: THE WILD HORSE: AN ADOPTER'S MANUAL by Barbara Eustis-Cross and Nancy Bowker was written especially for adopters. There is also an excellent list of equine books on the Equine Rescue Net at http://www.equinenet.org/ernet/erlib.html. Question: I heard Monty Roberts -- he said he just went out and tamed a wild horse on the range. Can I do that too? Answer: NO! It is against Federal law to harass or interfere with a wild horse or burro in any way. Unfortunately, Mr. Robert's did not make it clear exactly what he did. Mr. Roberts apparently adopted three horses through the BLM Adopt-A-Horse or Burro Program in February 1997. It appears he took one of the horses to a friend's ranch and turned it out with some domestic horses. According to Crawford Hall, Mr. Roberts trained the horse in a fenced area. I have written Mr. Roberts for confirmation on this and will post his reply. Question:I can't handle this horse anymore. Will the BLM come and get it? Do I get my money back? Or can I turn it out with a herd of wild horses I saw only about a hundred miles from here? Answer: If for any reason you can no longer keep your wild horse or burro, you are required by your contract with the BLM to call them. If you cannot return the horse or burro to the nearest Wild Horse and Burro Holding Facility, the BLM will make arrangements to pick the animal up. Your adoption fee will not be returned. It is against Federal law to turn any horse or burro loose on public lands, even one that was feral at some time. Your horse will not know where the water is and there is no guarantee that the wild herd will accept your horse. Your horse could also introduce disease to the wild herd. |
VOLUNTEERING FOR
THE WILD HORSE AND BURRO PROGRAM
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Question: Does the Wild Horse and Burro Program use volunteers? Answer: Every state and even every BLM office within each state has a different policy on using volunteers. It is unfortunate that there are no standards set by the BLM National Program Office (NPO). Over the years, there has been numerous Wild Horse and Burro Advisory committees, Steering Committees, and National Strategic Plans, which have recommended the use of volunteers but in many states and offices they have been ignored. Question: Where can I get information about volunteering to help with the BLM Wild Horse and Burro program? Answer: ARIZONA
CALIFORNIA
COLORADO
IDAHO
MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA NEVADA
NEW MEXICO, KANSAS, OKLAHOMA, & TEXAS
OREGON & WASHINGTON
UTAH
WYOMING & NEBRASKA
AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN & VA
CT, DE, DC, IL, IN, IA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT, WV, & WI
Comment: If you wish to volunteer to work with the WH&B Program and feel you are not getting a response from the above Contact person, please contact the LIFE webmaster life@equinenet.org. Question: Are there other ways I can help the wild horses and burros? Answer: Many Wild Horse and Burro Advocacy groups need volunteers. You are encouraged to contact the WH&B Advocacy groups listed above. |
