BLM and Wild Horse Advocate Work Together to Minimize Stress to Equines

Straight from the Horse's Heart

A Cooperative Release by the BLM Tonopah Field Office, Wild Horse Education and the Wild Horse Freedom Federation

Cooperative “Adoption Option” to Be Tested at Stone Cabin

PVC Geldings looking for a home ~ photo by Laura Leigh

The BLM (Bureau of Land Management) will be conducting a removal operation of wild horses within the Stone Cabin and Saulsbury HMAs.The Tonopah Field Office (TFO) is planning to conduct trap site adoption for people interested in bringing a horse from these ranges into their homes. This trap site adoption could be considered a “home range” option for adopting wild horses or burros.
This option allows prospective adopters to bring their horse home from the range instead of obtaining the animal from a short-term holding facility.
Bureau of Land Management Battle Mountain District Manager Doug Furtado believes that integrated trap site adoptions are the right thing to do. Mr. Furtado states “In the past, BLM has conducted satellite adoption events as well as trap site adoptions.  Integrated trap site adoptions are cost effective as no additional expense is incurred as the wild horses and/or burros are adopted on site prior to shipment to a temporary holding facility.  Secondly, and most importantly, adopted wild horses or burros are taken directly from the gather to their new homes.”
This is an option that may facilitate a faster adaptation to ‘home’ life minimizing trauma of transport and the movement that occurs at the holding facility. This will allow the new owner more control of stimulus presented to the horses.
“Having an adopter come to the animals home range has other benefits as well” states Laura Leigh, a wild horse advocate and founder of Wild Horse Education and VP of Wild Horse Freedom Federation, “the new owner may gain an appreciation of how this animal has lived and survived that may also facilitate a deeper understanding and relationship.”
Wild horses and burros removed from the range are offered for adoption to qualified people through the BLM’s Adopt-a-Horse or Burro Program. Potential adopters must have the proper facilities and financial means to care for an adopted animal, and we always hope that they have experience (or experienced assistance) working with a wild horse or burro, which will help ensure the gentling process. All animals adopted in this “home range” option will be subject to compliance check and all provisions will be identical to those adopted at a facility.
No horses will be “sale authority” through this adoption.
If you do not have an approved application and are interested in this adoption option please begin your approval process as soon as possible.
To facilitate the public and assist with questions and paperwork wild horse and burro specialists from the BLM will be on site.  Wild Horse Education will also be present and available as a resource for the public.
“This option is being done with the intent to offer the public and horses something that may prove beneficial,” said Leigh “toward that end I have volunteered to assist the BLM by helping to answer questions, offer input on problem solving and follow through.”
“Working together to find options presents many new possibilities,” said Furtado. “Perhaps through this process we can begin to expand dialogue into the future.”
“The focus of our advocacy work has always been to improve conditions for each horse and improve communication,” states R.T. Fitch President of Wild Horse Freedom Federation “it is with sincere hope that actions like these begin to facilitate that end.”
If you are interested in adoption please contact Thomas Seley, Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management Tonopah Field Office at (775) 482-7801 or Wild Horse Education at WildHorseEducation@gmail.com

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