Mustangs and wild burros on adoption block

Burros stand in a pen waiting to be adopted. They were among about 1,500 wild horses and donkeys captured last year by the Bureau of Land Management on nearly 27 million acres of federal lands where it manages herds. less Burros stand in a pen waiting to be adopted. They were among about 1,500 wild horses and donkeys captured last year by the Bureau of Land Management on nearly 27 million acres of federal lands where it manages ... more Photo: Photos By Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Photos By Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Mustangs and wild burros on adoption block 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

SEGUIN — Jennifer Heinemeier fed her love of donkeys, while also gaining a sense of inner peace, by adopting two wild burros Thursday from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

“It makes me feel that I'm kind of rescuing them,” the Kingsbury resident said of her undomesticated acquisitions.

They were among about 1,500 wild horses and donkeys captured last year by the agency on nearly 27 million acres of federal lands where it manages herds, officials said.

“I picked the ones that gave me the happy ears, pointing forward,” said Heinemeier, 29, who already had three donkeys to keep coyotes away from her cattle.

Nearly 50 burros and mustangs from Western states arrived at the Guadalupe County Fairgrounds as part of the three-day adoption program that continues today from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

The price of most animals is set at $125, and would-be adopters must be at least 18 and have a minimum of 400 square feet of fenced corral space. If the location is deemed suitable through a follow-up inspection, the adopter then can apply for a title to the animal after one year.

“They're nice,” Brian Muñoz, 7, of Geronimo said while watching the untrained horses shift skittishly in the pens.

Although pushing, shoving and even cheating used to occur at the agency's auctions, demand for the animals has dropped to the point where the program now operates on a first-come, first-served basis, said Pat Hofmann of the BLM.

No elbowing was required by Llano County rancher Rick Jones to get to the head of the line Thursday.

He bought two burros to guard sheep he plans to buy to maintain the agricultural property tax exemption on his land after giving up on raising longhorns.

“This is really good because, otherwise, these animals would just starve to death,” said Jones, 55. “They've got a drought out there just like we do.”

The last auction here, in 2005, drew big crowds for the 100 animals offered, Hofmann said. He tied the lower demand for agency animals to ongoing drought, higher feed prices and the national recession.

The slowdown prompted the agency to reduce its herd thinning from as high as 5,000 in past years, and also has led to about 40,000 animals it deems unadoptable being placed in long-term pastures, officials said.

Local couple Tammy and David Drown were attracted to the event by the prospect of owning an iconic American horse.

“When the mustangs are gone, there will be no more,” said Tammy Drown, 43.

Despite owning six horses already, the couple increased their inventory by two Thursday.

“I've heard they're healthier, hardy horses.” said David Drown, 42. “Six is too many, but still. ...”

“You've heard of the old cat lady,” his wife explained. “We're the crazy horse people.”

Additional details are at wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.

zeke@express-news.net