Sable Quarter Horses

Wild Mustangs

While picking up our newest broodmare I had the opportunity to go to the Virginia Horse Center.  The facility is one of the largest equine facilities in the country.  While there I was able to watch a Class A Arabian show as well as see the adoption process of our wild mustang and burros in action.  An auction is held early morning.  The public is able to bid on which ever mustang they choose.  After the auction any remaining mustangs are available for purchase.  At that time you could purchase one mustang under the age of three for $125, over the age of three was $25.  The second adoption was only $25 regardless of age.  Each tagged mustang gave its approximate age, color, sex and where it was captured or if it was born at a BLM facility.  I highly recommend that if you have the chance, go to an auction facility.  You will get the opportunity to view our living history as never before!

These mustangs were available for adoption at the Virginia Horse Center on March 29, 2008.  You can see more information about the Virginia Horse Center on our links page.  For more information on wild horses and burros see the following link http://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse/

The collars and tags are used to identify each animal.  The younger foals ranged in age from one month to six months.  They were easier to handle and not as frightened as the older mustangs who had limited to no human contact.  There was a wide variety of colors from bay, dun, buckskin,roan, black, chestnut and cremello. 

Transfering a mustang to an awaiting trailer.

The process for getting the mustangs into an awaiting trailer is an experience in itself.  There are a series of chutes that the mustang is chased into.  Eventually the horse is herded into a containment box.  From that point the collar and tag are cut from the horse's neck and a halter is lowered into the box and placed on the horse.  The box is then openned and the horse is chased down a chute and into a waiting trailer.