Thomas Rutledge studies the wild mustangs as he considers his purchase on the opening day of the Bureau of Land Management's horse and burro sale. Photo made Friday, April 23, 2021 Kim Brent/The Enterprise
Kim Brent/The Enterprise
Thomas Rurtledge walked the fence lines of pens in Ford Park with his grandchildren Thaddeus Rutledge and Madelyn Ortega, observing the look and character of the 80 wild horses available at the Bureau of Land Management’s wild horse and burro sale that started Friday.
Decades ago, Rutledge purchased a wild mustang from a similar auction for his daughter when she was about Ortega’s age. It was her first horse and one of the best she ever had, Rutledge remembered. He was looking to continue the legacy with Ortega’s first horse.
The family were among many who turned out in the hours before the auction sale began to make notes on the wild horses and burros they would purchase.
At a price of $25.00 per animal for qualified buyers, barring a necessary bid-off, it is an opportunity to get a horse or burrro for a fraction of the normal cost.
And it is part of a much-needed service to help the government maintain the health and vitality of the herds roaming federal lands in the Western United States.
There are currently 86,000 wild horses and burros in the land best suited to accommodate 26,000. The Bureau of Land Management routinely captures animals to thinn the overgrown herds, offerring them for sale at events like that in Beaumont this weekend.
All animals have been fully vaccinated, and the Bureau does follow-up visits to each buyer to ensure proper facilities are in place to keep the animals. They maintain the right to revoke the sale if poor conditions are found, though any weaned foals post-sale are considered private property.
The Ford Park sale continues through Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.
kbrent@beaumontenterprise.com
