Conference noted::equitation

    I remember seeing an article in a back issue of Equus discussing
    this topic, and there may have been an address or phone number.
    
    I remember checking on transportation charges from CA to MA from
    a company like Blue Chip, and it was about $2,500.
    
    I think the organization that runs the adoptions may have to come
    and see where you want to keep the horse, and approve it first,
    and they visit periodically to make sure the horse is being taken
    care of properly.  There were some rules I remember reading about
    such as you can't sell the horse - see if you can find that
    article, it was pretty informative.  Maybe you can even call someone
    at Equus and ask them who you should contact.  They usually have
    those types of references.
    
    Be prepared for a longer training period than most horses, and don't
    expect too much from them (did you want to ride it?)
    
    Good Luck
    
    -Julie

    This won't be much help until I research it further ( For example
    asking my mother who belongs to the organization) but there is a
    charitable organization, "Save the mustangs?", that used to be 
    headed by Lorne Greene (Mr. Alpo). I'll ask my mother for more info
    since I know she's contributed to it (because of me).
    
    		Cindy
    

    Last summer the adopt a mustang group brought 300 to N.C. for adoption.
    The local paper said that each year they bring the horses to different
    cities.
    
    According to the paper it is very hard to adopt the horses.  You
    must have an approved barn if I remember correctly the stall must
    be 12x12 you need paddock that are a certain size. No barb wire
    fences.  You cannot sell the horse for so many years and you
    cannot yous the horse to earn money.
    
    Mary Ann
    

	Re: .2

>    ... "Save the mustangs?", that used to be headed by
>    Lorne Greene (Mr. Alpo). 


     Oh, no, NOT Lorne Greene! Did he fail at the first
     endeavor so, harboring some resentment, went on to the
     second? What IS in those Alpo cans?

    Can't remember right off hand what number it was, but in a 
    previous note, it goes into detail about the BLM and the
    specifics of adopt-a-horse.
    
    -M-
    

               <MUSTANG INFO>
    
    HI! I HAVE LOOKED INTO GETTING A WILD HORSE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND
    HAVE KEPT UP WITH THE INFO. YOU CAN WRITE TO D.C., THE AGRICULTURAL
    DEPT. I THINK, AND THEY'LL SEND YOU ALL THE INFO YOU WANT TO KNOW.
    
    IN REGARDS TO ANOTHER REPLY, ONCE YOU ADOPT A WILD HORSE YOU MAY
    NEVER(!!) SELL THAT ANIMAL. HOWEVER IF IT HAS AN OFFSPRING AFTER
    YOU HAVE PURCHASED IT---YES IT COST APPROX. $300.00 TO #500.00--YOU
    ARE FREE TO DO WITH IT AS YOU PLEASE. AND YOU CAN'T USE THE ANIMAL
    TO MAKE A PROFIT.
    
    TRANSPORTATION--THAT CAN BE DIFFICULT AS YOU'RE TAKING A HORSE FROM
    A HABITAT THAT IT NEVER EVEN SAW A MOTOR VEHICLE IN!! THIS PAST
    FEBRUARY I VISITED FRIENDS IN RENO NEVADA. WHILE THERE I MADE SURE
    TO VISIT THE ADOPT-A -HORSE RANCH. WILD HORSES ARE VERY FRIGHTENED
    OF PEOPLE, THEY RAN FROM THE FENCE AND I WASN'T EVEN 15 FOOT NEAR
    IT!! THEY ARE TAMEABLE. I AM TOLD THEY ARE HARD TO FEED BECAUSE
    THEY ARE NOT USED TO "OUR METHOD" OF FEEDING A HORSE...SUCH AS SWEET
    FEED, PELETS AND EVEN GOOD HAY!! THEIR DIET IS POOR AND THAT'S MOSTLY
    DUE TO THE CLIMATE AND MAN INTRUDING ON THEIR GROUNDS.
    
    BACK TO TRANSPOTATION. I WAS TWO STEPS AWAY FROM OWNING A WILD HORSE
    FOR $300., ALL I NEEDED WAS SOMEONE TO PICK HIM/HER UP AND BRING
    'EM BACK. THE ADOPT-A -HORSE AGENCY, AT MY REQUEST LET OTHERS KNOW
    I WAS INTERESTED IN AN ANIMAL, AND IF THEY'LD WANT TO BRING IT HOME
    FOR ME, OR SPLIT THE COST. WELL, I GOT A LETTER FROM A WOMAN DOCTOR
    WHOM WAS GOING OUT IN A FEW MONTHS AND WANTED TO SPLIT THE COST....SO
    THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES. JUST REMEMBER THESE ANIMALS ARE HARD TO
    LOAD AND INEXPERIENCED AT BEING TRAILERED.
    
    THE AGENCY WILL CHECK YOUR BARN TO SE IF IT'S FIT FOR A HORSE TO
    LIVE IN! SIZE OF STALL ISN'T A BIG ISSUE...SHELTER IS. THEY WILL
    ALSO ASSIGN SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN THE AREA TO DROP IN ON YOU AT
    LEAST ONCE A YEAR. I THINK IT'S LIKE THE TAX MAN USED TO DO WHEN
    I LIVED IN MASS...HE'LD STAND AT THE FENCE SAY YOU GOT SO MANY HORSES
    LOOK TO SEE IF THERE WAS A BARN, COUNT HEADS AND LEAVE!! IT DOESN'T
    HURT A BIT!!
    
    I WILL LOOK FOR THE FOLDER I HAVE AT HOME WITH PERTINANT ADDRESS,
    AND TRY TO GET THEM INTO THE NOTES SOON.
    
    OH, ONE MORE THING...MOST WILD HORSE ARE PONIES--SPANISH BARBS
    ANCESTORS AND THE LIKES. I WAS SUPRISED WHEN I SAW THEM FACE TO
    FACE...BECAUSE I WAS EXPECTING THEM TO BE LARGER!!
    
    GOOD LUCK MCCORMAK!!
    
    
    THERESA  IN MAINE!!

    The number of the BLM that I have is the Director in Washington,
    DC.  You could talk to Mark Guidry at 202-343-5717. They'll answer
    any questions you have, but in general just take your name and 
    send you all the info and application form.
    
    The only fees for the BLM are $125 for Horses
                                  $ 75 for Burros
    
    For most people in this area, trucking seems to be the biggest
    problem, since it ranges from $800 on up.  They do however, have
    satellite points 3 or 4 times a year in New England.  You have to
    submit an application however, before they tell you when and where.
    
    There are rules concerning the horses.  The BLM's main concern is
    to make sure the horses aren't being slaughtered or mistreated.
    For the first year, they are still government owned, after that
    year you may apply for ownership (no cost-since you already payed
    for the animal) and after that you are able to sell it.  You can
    use the animal for riding, driving etc... BLM also does not have
    a problem with the animals being used in a school for profit as
    long as the horses are taken care of.  As in a previous note, they
    do come and check on the horses.
    
    Currently there are 6,000 horses in holding pens over the states.
    45000 on the ranges still, the plan is to keep 30000 out.  
    
    If anyone wants more info you can write to:
    
    Bureau of land Managment
    Eastern States Office
    350 South Pickett Street
    Alexandria, VA  22304
    
    Oh by the way, the satellite pickups aren't past Pennsylvania just
    yet, as New York has a ban on double level trucks.  BLM is looking
    into alternatives, as there is a great interest in this area for
    adoptions.
    
    See ya
    Marianne
    
    I myself would like a burro!
    
    

	This just in from a local newsletter in Colorado...

	"A new proposal by the BLM would sentence wild horses to death
	if they are not adopted within 90 days after they are made available
	for adoption. The Humane Society and the American Horse Protection
	Assoc, along with other animal welfare groups is opposing this
	measure and suggesting alternatives. If you want to share your views
	on this write your asking them to support these efforts at saving
	the horese and burros."

	The prison here Colorado will train the wild horses that are up for
	adaoption here in Colorado and this has increased the number of
	successful adoptions. They will halter and trailer break a horse
	or for about $300 they will saddle break the horse. liesl

    Linda,
    My neighbor adopted two burros last year and picked them up at the
    Tri-county grounds in Northampton.  I'll see if I can get a contact
    number from him, but I thought it was the BLM that brought them.
    I'll be out next week but will try to get it as soon as I get back.
    
    Bob
    

    Mark Guidry of the BLM said that horses in the holding pens 
    over 90 days are supposed to be destroyed, but they haven't
    been doing it. That's why there are so many horses in the pens.
    Since everything is in turmoil, they don't want to destroy the
    horses, they want to try to find a better solution.  
    
    

I was wondering if any of you can help me with some info on wild horses
in the west and the abuse of them.  

I was in PEAR::SOAPBOX note 1491.193, and we got off the track of the
subject a little and we got into the truth(s).

I have lots of back issues of Equus and other mag's talking about how
the wild mustangs are herded up for the Government adopt a horse program, 
and kept in small pens, I don't remember the size of the pen, but there were 
20 or more horse in the pens.  All these horses are up for adoption,
and you can wander through and adopt a horse, but mostly only the young ones
are adopted, the older ones are usually killed after some time, As mentioned in 
here, my info seems correct!
	
I am asking, because I am being called a liar in that file!  The noters in
there seem to think that this no longer happens and all the wild mustangs
that are left, run wild and free.  I was nearly trying to bring some light
to this subject. 

I also made mention that the large cattle breeders still dislike the wild
horses and they still kill them for grazing on there land.  again I was
called a liar and a couch potato and basically stupid.

I will go home and pull out all my mag's, but I was wondering if any of you
in hear have more info you can share, or any light you can shed on these
poor uninformed people who think life is grand.

Thanks

Louisa

    I haven't heard anything lately about the older ones being killed
    off, but just my 2 cents about SOAPBOX, the majority of the "regular"
    noters in there believe they are experts in every topic of dicussion
    that comes up in there - whether they know anything about it or not, so
    I wouldn't get too upset about their self-professed "expert" opinions.
    
    The latest article I've read on the local Colorado/Wyoming wild-horses 
    (within the past year) only gave information about how they were broken 
    by local prisoners.  They teach them the basics - handling their feet, 
    haltering, leading, saddling/bridling and basic "riding".  It looked 
    from the article like they were broken "rodeo style" - hop on an off
    they go.  You can get one unbroken, but it is harder to do.  
    
    Just my 2 cents on what I've seen lately.
    
    \Caroline

    Louisa,
    
    Have you tried calling the Bureau of Land Management and asking for
    details/lastest statistics, etc? They may or may not only give you
    the 'rosy' stuff, but then groups such as PETA and other animal rights
    activists would probably only give you the 'awful' stuff, too.  Maybe
    the BLM, or whoever it is that arranges the adoptions, could give you
    names of people who have adopted wild ones that you could contact for
    first-hand experience, if you want to take it that far.  Personally,
    coming from SOAPBOX, I'd laugh it off and go out for a trail ride or
    something. :-)
    

    
    I have the statistics, I just have to pull them out.  I just thought
    someone in hear might have them handy.  I wanted the info quick so
    I could make them eat there words, along with getting the word
    out to niave people, who maybe if they knew the truth, they would
    help.
    
    Lou

    I just got a call from the friend of a friend - seems this woman is
    interested in adopting a mustang, and is looking for info on the BLM
    program.  She was sent to me for advice on handling/training a feral
    horse (it's a long story :-), and for contact info.  Since I didn't 
    get mine through the BLM, I know nothing about them.  Has anyone dealt
    with them, or know how she could go about finding out about the
    program? I know they have 'satelite sites' around the country, and
    ship horses to these site periodically - is this still the case?
    
    FWIW - I don't know this woman at all and have no idea if she knows
    what she's doing or not, but I told her I'd ask around.
    

    I don't know what BLM stands for but I have a number and address for
    the American Mustang and Burro Assn. 
    Barbara J Behfield, CEO
    PO Box 7
    Benton City, WA 99320-0007
    509-588-6336
    
    also:
    American Mustang and Burro Assn.
    George W. Berrier, Jr. CEO
    PO Box 788
    Lincoln, CA 95648
    916-633-9271
    
    (I would contact George first, he puts out the AMBA Journal and has the
    annual meetings so he might be more knowledgeable)
    
    There's also:
    International society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros
    602-991-0273 in AZ
    
    Sharon

    Ok, I read back to see what BLM was:
    
    US Dept of the Interior Bureau of Land Management 
    18th and C Sts.,NW
    Washington, D.C. 
    Division of Wild Horses and Burros, Bob Bainbridge 202-452-7793
    
    Adopt-A-Horse, Consumer information center, Pueblo, CO 81009
    
    

    Thanks Sharon, I'll give her those, sounds like what she needs.
    
    Linda