National Wild Horse Adoption Day

Wild Horse Adoption Photography Contest Names Grand Prize Winners and Finalists

Calendar to be produced in 2011

Fort Worth, Texas — Three photographers have earned the winning spot for the Wild Horse Adoption Awareness photography contest, launched earlier in the year.

In the Professional category, Linda Unger from Houston, Texas received $250 as the grand prize winner for her photo of a mustang showing the unmistakable bond between man and horse.  She also had an additional photo that qualified in the Top 10. Kyrstle Pehrson from Buhl, Idaho received a grand prize of $150 for the amateur category with a stunning picture of two wild mustangs fighting on the prairie.  Jennifer Deden from Centerville, Texas received the $100 grand prize for the youth category with an adorable photograph of two mustangs in the holding pen waiting to be adopted.

More than 70 professional and amateur photographers from across the United States entered the contest and captured the beauty of the American mustang in the wild or as an adopted animal. Nearly 250 photographs were examined and judged as each contestant was allowed up to 5 photos to submit. Five of the industry’s leading photographers served as judges for the competition including, Peri Hughes, owner of Barron Photografix, Ltd. in Fort Worth, Texas; Ross Hecox, senior editor for Western Horseman magazine in Fort Worth, Texas; Darrell Dodds publisher for Western Horseman; Lesli Groves of Weatherford, Texas and author of “How to Capture the Perfect Equine Image,” and Cyndi Planck, a professional photographer from Beaverton, Oregon.

Grand Prize winners and finalists in each category will receive the 16-month 2011-2012 National Wild Horse Adoption Awareness Calendar and a certificate recognizing their achievement. All finalist photographs will appear in the calendar on a single panel with the photographer’s name, city, state, and age, if appropriate.

Winning and finalist images can be viewed by going to adoptawildhorse.com.

About National Wild Horse Adoption Awareness

National Wild Horse Adoption Awareness was formed to encourage the American public to consider and act on the adoption of a wild horse or burro. About 33,700 mustangs roam federal lands across the West. In order to manage the herds and maintain both land and herd health, the Bureau of Land Management oversees the adoption of wild horses and burros through public adoptions held throughout the United States. Since 1973, more than 220,000 wild horses and burros have been adopted.

The groups supporting National Wild Horse Adoption Day, in addition to the BLM, include Wild Horses 4 Ever, the American Horse Protection Association, the Mustang Heritage Foundation and The Humane Society of the United States. To learn more, go to adoptawildhorse.com.

Wild horse and humane animal advocacy groups from across the nation are joining forces for a single cause: to encourage the American public to consider and act on the adoption of a wild horse or burro. A goal of 1,000 adoptions has been set for the first National Wild Horse Adoption Day to be held September 26, 2009.

Nearly 33,000 mustangs roam federal lands across the West. In order to manage the herds and maintain both land and herd health, the Bureau of Land Management oversees the adoption of wild horses and burros through public adoptions held throughout the United States. Since 1973, more than 220,000 wild horses and burros have been adopted.

Horses between the ages of 1 and 6 years old are typically selected from the herds for adoption, but a horse of any age can fit into the right farm or ranch. For many mustang adopters, having the opportunity to work with a horse or burro with an intriguing past and an unconventional upbringing brings a unique and special element to their relationship.

The groups supporting National Wild Horse Adoption Day, in addition to the BLM, include Wild Horses 4 Ever, the American Horse Protection Association, the Mustang Heritage Foundation and The Humane Society of the United States.

The groups are working together to educate Americans about wild horse issues while promoting adoption of BLM wild horses through adoption events, training programs and motivational experiences, says spokesperson Jerry Reynoldson.

The goal of 1,000 horses adopted through a National Adoption Day program could create a savings of more than $1,500,000 for the BLM and the American taxpayer.

State BLM offices, as well as wild horse groups, rescue centers, and volunteers will be engaged in activities leading up to and on September 26 to promote an understanding of and interest in opening new homing opportunities to these magnificent animals.

Activities will not only include adoptions, but will also include educational events and wild horse expos. For more information on events or how to volunteer, go to contact coordinating director Angie Grizzell at 817-559-5650 or angie@nationalwildhorseadoptionday.org.

September 26 To Mark 1,000 Horse and Burro Adoption Goal

Fort Worth, Texas, April 27 – A goal of 1,000 adoptions has been set for the first National Wild Horse Adoption Day to be held September 26, 2009,
and potential adopters have many options from which choose, including one that will pay $500 to adopters of older horses.

The offer is designed to help defray the initial cost of keeping a horse. Payment is made after one year when adopters receive title to the animal.

This adoption incentive is being offered on a trial basis in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)-New Mexico region only (which also includes Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas). The incentive is designed to increase the number of mature horses (4-10 years old) placed into private ownership through adoption. This, in turn, can reduce the number of older horses that BLM must care for at considerable taxpayer expense in contracted pasture facilities, sometimes referred to as long-term holding. If successful, this program could reduce the pressure on BLM to sell or euthanize excess horses, and it could free up critical resources needed for on-the-range management.

Under this program, all standard adoption rules and fees apply. At the end of one year, adopters return the title application mailed to them by the BLM along with the
incentive voucher received at the time of adoption. The only additional requirement to receive payment is that a licensed veterinarian must attest to the animal’s fitness on your completed title application. Upon receipt of those items, a $500 check and title to the animal will be provided.

If for some reason you must relinquish the animal within one year, meaning you return it to the BLM, the allowance cannot be paid. The same is true if the animal dies before title is issued.

Nearly 33,000 mustangs roam federal lands across the West. In order to manage the herds and maintain both land and herd health, the Bureau of Land Management oversees the adoption of wild horses and burros through public adoptions held throughout the United States. Since 1973, more than 220,000 wild horses and burros have been adopted.

“We’re encouraging people to adopt now even though we would like to see a major increase in adoptions leading to the week prior to September 26 and will have a number of events dedicated to the goal of 1,000 adoptions” said spokesperson Jerry Reynoldson. “There are several options to adopting a wild horse interested people can look to with all of them available through the BLM web site. Adopters can go to BLM holding facilities, satellite adoptions across the country or to events like the Extreme Mustang Makeover or to adoptions conducted by some of the prisons where gentled horses are available.”

Horses between the ages of one and six years old are typically selected from the herds for adoption, but a horse of any age can fit into the right farm or ranch.
For many mustang adopters, having the opportunity to work with a horse or burro with a storied past and an unconventional upbringing brings a unique and special element to their relationship.

The groups supporting National Wild Horse Adoption Day, in addition to the BLM, include Wild Horses 4 Ever, the American Horse Protection Association, the Mustang Heritage Foundation and The Humane Society of the United States.

The goal of 1,000 horses adopted through a National Adoption Day program could create a savings of more than $1,500,000 for the BLM and the American taxpayer.

State BLM offices, as well as rescue centers, wild horse groups, and volunteers will be engaged in activities leading up to and on September 26 to promote an understanding of and interest in opening new homing opportunities to these magnificent animals.

Activities will not only include adoptions, but will also include educational events and wild horse expos. More than 65 events will take place across the country in support
of national wild horse adoption day, and other events may apply to be included on the calendar through the event web site at nationalwildhorseadoptionday.org.

For more information on events or how to volunteer, go to nationalwildhorseadoptionday.org or contact coordinating director Angie Grizzell at 817-559-5650. For information on available adoptions, go to wildhorseandburro.blm.gov or call 866-4MUSTANGS.

Wild Horse Advocates Set 1,000 Horse and Burro Adoption Goal

Fort Worth, Texas, April 1 – Wild horse and humane animal advocacy groups from across the nation are joining forces for a single cause: to encourage the American public to consider and act on the adoption of a wild horse or burro. A goal of 1,000 adoptions has been set for the first National Wild Horse Adoption Day to be held September 26, 2009.

Nearly 33,000 mustangs roam federal lands across the West. In order to manage the herds and maintain both land and herd health, the Bureau of Land Management oversees the adoption of wild horses and burros through public adoptions held throughout the United States. Since 1973, more than 220,000 wild horses and burros have been adopted.

Horses between the ages of 3 and 6 years old are typically selected from the herds for adoption, but a horse of any age can fit into the right farm or ranch. For many mustang adopters, having the opportunity to work with a horse or burro with a storied past and an unconventional upbringing brings a unique and special element to their relationship.

The groups supporting National Wild Horse Adoption Day, in addition to the BLM, include Wild Horses 4 Ever, the American Horse Protection Association, the Mustang Heritage Foundation and The Humane Society of the United States.

The groups are working together to educate Americans about wild horse issues while promoting adoption of BLM wild horses through adoption events, training programs and motivational experiences, says spokesperson Jerry Reynoldson.

“The federal government, wild horse advocates, cattle ranchers and the taxpayers all agree that the current system of relying on a flat adoption market to sustain BLM mustang removal programs is an increasing drain on federal resources,” he said. “While there is a difference of opinion on the appropriate numbers of animals removed, it is clear that there is an immediate need for a comprehensive, sophisticated, well managed and successful marketing and adoption program that will quickly place the surplus numbers of horses in holding facilities into qualified, adoptive homes.

“The day a horseman or woman brings a mustang into their lives, is one they will remember forever. These iconic symbols of our past and future bring a dimension to any horse lovers experience that will help them grow and deepen their understanding, skill and commitment to the special relationship we all have experienced with these magnificent animals.”

The goal of 1,000 horses adopted through a National Adoption Day program could create a savings of more than $1,500,000 for the BLM and the American taxpayer.

State BLM offices, as well as rescue centers, wild horse groups, and volunteers will be engaged in activities leading up to and on September 26 to promote an understanding of and interest in opening new homing opportunities to these magnificent animals.

Activities will not only include adoptions, but will also include educational events and wild horse expos. More than 65 events will take place across the country in support of national wild horse adoption day, and other events may apply to be included on the calendar through the event web site at nationalwildhorseadoptionday.org.

For more information on events or how to volunteer, go to nationalwildhorseadoptionday.org or contact coordinating director Angie Grizzell at 817-559-5650.