BLM mustang, burro adoption

RBC I The Bureau of Land Management is scheduled to offer 20 horses and burros for adoption Sept. 22 at the Mesa County Sheriff’s Posse Grounds.
The BLM plans to have approximately 20 previously wild mustangs and burros available for adoption through a silent bidding process and those remaining will be available on a first-come basis.
The horses were gathered in Wyoming, Oregon and Colorado. The burros were gathered in Nevada.
“The BLM is responsible for managing multiple resources on public lands, including the nation’s wild horse and burro herds,” said Fran Ackley, BLM Colorado wild horse and burro program lead. “One of the most important parts of our job is finding good homes for wild horses and burros whose populations are outgrowing the range’s ability to support them.”
Registration for the adoption will be from 5-7 p.m. on Sept. 21 and from 8-10 a.m. on Sept. 22.  The horses and burros can be viewed during registration times. Actual bidding will be from 10-11 a.m., Sept. 22. The minimum bid for untrained animals is $125. The minimum bid for saddle-trained horses is $1,025. Halter-trained horses will start at the prices listed on the bid sheets.
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Posse Grounds is located at the corner of F½ and 25 roads in Grand Junction.
Several saddle- and/or halter-trained mustangs, yearling and 2-year-old mares, geldings and young burros will be available. A variety of colors will be featured including palomino, buckskin, grulla, roan, appaloosa, sorrel, black and brown. Mustangs typically range from 14-15 hands at maturity. Burros will be offered in a variety of colors as well.
The BLM works to restore the ecological balance of resources on public lands by gathering wild horses and burros from public rangelands each year to keep their populations within sustainable levels. The BLM offers mustangs and burros gathered for adoption or sale to individuals and groups willing and able to provide humane long-term care. For more information about the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program, please visit our website: www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/wild_horse_and_burro.html. To see photos of some of the mustangs and burros available, go to www.coloradoci.com and click on wild horse program.
For more information, contact BLM Public Affairs Specialist, Chris Joyner at 970-244-3111.