Perry hosts wild horse and burro adoption event
More than 100 horses and burros gathered from western U.S. rangelands were available for adoption at the start of the three-day event in Perry.
PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — If you’ve ever considered domesticating a wild horse or burro, you still have time to do so this weekend.
More than 100 horses and burros gathered from western U.S. rangelands were available for adoption at the start of the three-day event at Perry’s Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agriculture Center. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is mandated by Congress to protect vital rangelands across the country. Hunter Paffrath, Public Affairs Officer of BLM, says that when given proper care, these animals quickly show people why they are worth the investment.
“These horses have been removed from rangelands and have never interacted with people before,” Paffrath said. “If you earn their trust and you are gentle with them, you have a friend for life. These horses, the bonds that you can create with them are truly unimaginable. And they’ll make great companions, show horses, competition horses, trail horses, anything you could dream up.”
Paffrath says that the event has increased in popularity over the years. Some buyers travel across state lines to Perry in order to give these animals a new home.
“We’ve got a ranch in Alabama and we’ve got horses,” said Joey Fisanick, a buyer who traveled three hours with his wife. “We’ve always had horses and cattle.”
Fisanick says it was music that encouraged him and his wife to do research and make the trip to Perry.
“I heard it in a country music song, about a wild mustang,” Fisanick said. “We started looking into it, what they were, and what they were about. They seem to be some pretty good horses. We’ve adopted two of them. So we’re gonna go back, get the trailer, come back and pick them up and see what we can do with them.”
The adoption event concludes Saturday from 8 A.M. to noon. BLM requires that buyers are at least 18 years or older, and are able to provide access to food, water, and shelter for the horses and burros.
If you want to learn more about future BLM adoption and sale events, click here: https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/adoption-and-sales/events
