Meet Fluffy and Seabiscuit.
One doesn't have to be a horse whisperer to appreciate the beauty of a fine horse, and these two young beauties were purchased in Odessa yesterday at the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program auction for a grand total of $290. Actually they call it an "adoption," and it's somewhat similar to the adoption of any other domesticated animal from an animal shelter.
But, Fluffy and Seabiscuit aren't house broken, they're wild. They grew up on federal grazing land, and the BLM has a program through which they cull the herds to prevent over population. And those horses selected are put up for adoption at events like the one in Odessa yesterday. According to their website, the "BLM placed more than 178,000 wild horses and burros into private care from 1973 through 2000."
Not just anyone can adopt a horse, though. There's a minimum corral requirement of 400 square feet per horse plus shelter from inclement weather. The new owner can't have any convictions for inhumane treatment of animals, and he/she is required to promise not to sell the horse for slaughter.
The program has an interesting history. According to the website back in the 1950's a woman named Velma B. Johnston, AKA "Wild Horse Annie," became aware of the way that mustangers were capturing and selling wild horses for slaughter. (The old movie Misfits was about such a group of mustangers.)
She started a grass roots movement that eventually resulted in federal legislation protecting those wild horses and burros and establishing the adoption program. They don't make much money off of the auctions, but it helps pay for the transportation of the animals.
The horses are auctioned rather then just handed over because an invested owner is more likely to be a caring owner. And yesterday new owners invested in 85 wild horses. The horses weren't too thrilled about being hauled around, but when they get to their new homes then hopefully they will adapt nicely and be well cared for.
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