By Kasey Fowler

Staff Writer



The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and James Crabtree Correctional Center in Helena, will host a wild horse adoption and open house June 6 and 7.

The horses that will available for adoption roamed freely on public lands in the west, where they are protected by Federal law. Paul McGuire, public affairs specialist for BLM, said they manage a large amount of public land in the west. “The U.S. Bureau of Land Management manages several million acres of public land in the west,” said McGuire.

He also said many people in Oklahoma don’t know about BLM. “BLM is not well known in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas because there is almost no BLM land,” said McGuire.

There are about 30,000 horses on the range in about 200 areas in over 10 western states. The BLM removed the animals available for adoption at Crabtree because there was an excess of wild horses on the land. Removing these animals ensures herd health and balances other public uses of the land. Other wildlife herd sizes are regulated by hunting but hunting of horses is not permitted in the United States. So BLM physically removes wild horses when the herd becomes too large. Herd size is regulated because the public lands have several uses.

The wild horse adoption program by BLM is a nationwide program.

These animals available for adoption have been saddle- or halter-trained by inmates in a rehabilitation program at Crabtree. The training adds value to the horse. “The product is not a wild horse but a tamed horse,” said McGuire. Training the horse not only gives the horse more value, it helps the inmates gain valuable life skills.

Crabtree is unique in the fact it is a fixed position, unlike most of the BLM adoptions, which are traveling. Crabtree allows adoption not only during this event but anytime. Crabtree also accepts horses from people who have adopted through BLM for training by the inmates for a fee. The program is non-profit.

The animals will be available for previewing 3-6 p.m. Friday, June 6 and 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday. Bidding begins at 10 a.m. and continues until 2 p.m. Bids begin at $300 for saddle-trained horses and $150 for halter-trained horses.

Application approval is required and can be done on site. BLM staff will be on site to help with the application process. Those wishing to adopt must be at least 18 with no record of animal abuse. Adopters can not adopt more than four animals. Adopters must have suitable facilities, and a covered stock-type trailer with swinging gates and sturdy walls and floors to load the animals in.

For more information call the BLM at 866-4-MUSTANGS or James Crabtree Correctional Center at 580-852-3221.