BURNS – The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is offering approximately 180 wild horses for adoption at the Burns Wild Horse Corrals, near Burns, on Feb. 7. The competitive bid adoption includes Oregon wild horses from the following herds, Kiger and Riddle Mountain (all Kiger Mustangs), Hog Creek (near Harper), and Paisley. The animals vary in age class from weanlings to mature animals up to 12 years old and represent a wide range of colors. Among the Kiger Mustangs, there is one mare/foal pair available.

Tom Seley, BLM Burns District wild horse specialist says, “Adopters should be pleased with this group of horses. They have good size and conformation and many are young and will be more easily gentled.”

The Burns adoption uses a competitive bid procedure with a minimum bid of $125 per animal. The mare/foal pair requires a minimum bid of $250.

Viewing at the Burns Wild Horse Corrals is from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday and from 7:30 to 10 a.m., Saturday. Registration at the Burns wild horse corrals is from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, and 7:30 to 10 a.m., Saturday.

Animal selection and competitive bidding begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the wild horse corrals. Loading begins at approximately 1 p.m. until dark, Saturday and continues Sunday beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Although applications are accepted at the adoption site, people who are applying for the first time are encouraged to mail their applications to BLM Wild Horse Program, 28910 Highway 20 West, Hines, OR 97738 as soon as possible (faxed applications are not accepted) to allow for corrections and/or clarification of application information in time for the adoption.

“The Adopt-A-Horse or Burro program provides homes for wild horses that have to be removed from the public rangelands to maintain an appropriate management level consistent with maintaining a balance between wild horses or burros, native wildlife, domestic grazing, and healthy ecosystems,” Seley says. “To help maintain that balance, BLM gathers the excess wild horses and offers them for adoption.

Given proper training, wild horses make excellent equestrian partners. They are known for their stamina, sturdiness and intelligence.

For details on adoption requirements, bidding procedures, and application forms, wild horse training demonstrations, and other scheduled events, call the Burns District Office at (541) 573-4456. More information is available at www.or.blm.gov/burns and www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.