Ever dream of owning a horse? How about a burro?
Now's the chance to own one or both through the Wild Horse and Burro Adoption program in Lorton.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Eastern States, will hold this adoption at the Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area. The animals will arrive between 1 and 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, and the adoption process will run from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11.
This is the first adoption to be held in Northern Virginia in five years. A variety of animals of various colors, 5 years old and under, will be available for this event.
Since the Adopt-A-Wild Horse & Burro Program began in 1973, more than 185,000 animals have been adopted nationwide, including more than 1,650 in Virginia. Gentled wild horses in Virginia are used for trail riding, fox hunting, dressage, Western events and other disciplines. Burros are used by farmers for predator control.
All animals have been examined by a veterinarian, vaccinated, dewormed, and blood-tested before being offered for adoption to good homes. Every wild horse and burro in the BLM’s Adopt-A-Horse-or-Burro program is vaccinated for West Nile virus, rabies, strangles, Eastern and Western encephalomyelitis, tetanus, rhinopneumonitis and influenza.
PROSPECTIVE adopters must have sturdy corrals — at least 6 feet high for horses and 5 feet for burros, shelter, transportation, and the means of caring for the animals. The adoption fee will be determined by competitive bid, with a minimum bid of $125 per animal. The fees help defray the federal government’s cost of roundup, veterinary care, transportation and administrative expenses. Adopters must provide their own stock-type step-up trailer. Trailers with ramps, interior dividers or split, two-horse type trailers are not allowed.
The event will be held at the Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area, 10406 Gunston Road, Lorton, Va. The property is located approximately 10 minutes off I-95.
Applications to adopt will be reviewed Friday afternoon and Saturday. For applications, facility and trailer requirements, or other information about this event, contact the Bureau of Land Management, Meadowood SRMA, at 703-339-8009.