Four wild horses from September roundup up for adoption

Four out of dozens of wild horses rounded up in September are being offered for adoption next week, the Bureau of Land Management announced Tuesday.

The roundup netted more than 200 horses in the Spring Mountains northwest of Las Vegas, and 28 were euthanized, BLM said. The four up for adoption had suffered from "severe malnutrition" but now are healthy enough for adoption.

The adoption, which will be conducted in the form of a silent auction, will take place Dec. 19 at BLM's Southern Nevada District Office, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Dr.

The horses are fillies ranging in age from 5 months to 1 year, BLM said. The event is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. with the bidding—which starts at $125—beginning at 10 a.m.

Craig and Becki Leets housed the horses in Las Vegas, and the horses recovered with the help of volunteers, BLM said.

"We fed horse formula day and night to Darcy Ann, who was about five weeks old when she was rescued," Becki Leets said in the news release. "The other foals received hay and nutritional supplements. All of them now accept a halter, lead and load into a trailer."

Adopters must live in the U.S and have to be at least 18 years old. The horses require corrals that are at least 400 square feet for each one, BLM said. The area must be surrounded by a pipe or board fence that's at least 5 ½ feet tall.

Two-sided, roofed shelters are also required, BLM said. The animals must be kept there until they can be captured, haltered and led.

The U.S government initially keeps the title for each adopted horse, but adopters are able to receive it after "providing a year of good care," BLM said.

More information is available at www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov. Information on the adoption is available at 775-515-5044 and 702-467-3907. An adoption catalog is available at http://on.doi.gov/1M1iiVI.

Contact Ricardo Torres at rtorres@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @rickytwrites