Home This is a non-commercial, independent website, owned and written by Nancy Kerson, for the benefit of actual and potential adopters of BLM Mustangs and Burros and similar animals.
| SALE AUTHORITY MUSTANGSIn late 2004, during the Thanksgiving recess, Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) sneakily added a "Wild Horse Sale Authority" rider to the House's Omnibus Spending Act - a 200-page document designed to implement budgetary matters. This rider, undetected by nearly everyone until it was too late, effectively reversed nearly 35 years of Federal protection for America's free-roaming wild horses and burros. Horses aged 10 and over, as well as those - even babies - who failed to be successfully adopted after three times being offered ("3 Strikes You're Out"), become Sale Authority horses - to be sold "without limitation" by the BLM.
When the infamous Burns Rider first came into law in 2005, some mustangs were sold to dishonest people who said they were getting the horses for a youth program, for Native Americans, etc., and instead sent them directly to slaughter. Some were saved by the efforts of the Ford Foundation's "Save The Mustangs" program, as well as the efforts of other individuals. Public outcry brought about modifications in the law - it is still the law that the horses have to be "for sale without limitation" (no adoption-type safeguards) but it is more difficult to send them to slaughter. Hopefully the Senate will pass the anti-horse slaughter bill and that threat will be removed. Still, the older and young (usually plain-colored) horses that are passed over at adoptions are at greater risk than those in the adoption program. In its defense, the Sale program does allow would-be adopters of good will the opportunity to bypass the year-long adoption process, and often to pick up a nice horse at a bargain price. There is a group in Florida that has been very successful obtaining these horses by the truckload and finding good homes for them. The older horses are - with a few notable exceptions - considerably harder to gentle than the younger ones. And they have fewer good years ahead of them after one does get them gentled and trained. It is my feeling that they should be allowed to remain on the range when possible, or should live out their lives in good sanctuaries where they are not pressured to become domesticated after all their years. But good sanctuaries are in much smaller supply than the need for them! Lewis and Clark, our Sale Authority fellows, are lucky to be happily living at the Lifesavers' Born To Be Wild Sanctuary. Here's another story with a wonderful outcome:
To Purchase a Sale Authority Horse:
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copyright 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 Nancy Kerson, all rights reserved - I'm happy to share, just need to be asked and have credit given where due. Disclaimer: Horses are inherently dangerous. Use the information contained within this website at your own risk.
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