BLM OFFERS HORSES, BURROS.

Byline: Daily News

RIDGECREST - More than 200 wild horses and burros captured around the West will be up for adoption Saturday at the Bureau of Land Management's Ridgecrest corral.

The horses include 50 weanlings just in from Colorado and 50 yearling geldings from Nevada, plus an additional 100 horses and some burros up to about age 5, as well as a half-dozen horses and a mule that have received some training.

The adoption will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The BLM will open the gates at 7 a.m. to allow adopters time to complete their applications and view the animals. The adoptions will be conducted on a first-come, first- served basis, and the adoption fee is $125 per animal.

Silent competitive bids will be taken on the partially trained animals: a halter-gentled molly mule yearling and six halter-gentled mustangs, which include a 4-year-old gray gelding and a 1-year-old pinto gelding already used to wearing saddles. The minimum bid will be $125.

The animals were gathered from BLM-managed public lands as a result of overpopulation, drought, and loss of habitat caused by wildfires. They're vaccinated, wormed, and healthy, officials said.

Adoption fees can be paid by cash, check or credit card. For animals adopted Saturday, the BLM will provide free home delivery within 150 miles, which includes Lancaster and Palmale.

Free gentling demonstrations will begin at 10:30 a.m., which help potential adopters learn about the gentling process. Cheri Newsom, an equine massage therapist, will give demonstrations throughout the day into how touch aids in the gentling and training process.

Wild-horse owners will be on hand with their adopted animals to answer questions and share their experiences with potential adopters. The newly formed Friends of the Ridgecrest Corrals will be selling halters and lead ropes.

The Old West Lawmen's Association, which consists of retired law enforcement officers, will be wearing attire portraying lawmen of the Old West.

The corrals are located on the Randsburg Wash Road, off Highway 178 about 4 1/2 miles east of Ridgecrest. For more information, contact the BLM at [phone].

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(1 -- 2 -- color) Above, Lilo, an 18-month-old filly, is among the wild horses being offered for adoption Saturday. Peaches is an 18-month-old filly who is learning to lead.