Wild Horse Adoption Incentives $$$$$$$$

This just in from the lastest issue of Equus (August 2009) -by Matt Wilson:
(My comments in italics...your comments always welcomed!)

"In the wake of a significant decrease in wild horse adoptions this year, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is offering new incentives to encourage people to consider taking mustangs home.
As of April 28, 1,685 horses had been adopted in fiscal year 2009, which began on October 1, says Tom Gorey with the BLM public affairs office. That is only 51 more than this time in 2008, which was one of the worst years ever for horse adoptions. In 2008, the BLM placed 3, 700 horses into private care, down from 5,700 in 2005, Gorey says. The cost of a standard adoption is $125.
'I think the economy has been affecting horse adoptions. It's a combination of the increase of hay, fuel and overall maintenance cost,' says Gorey. 'We will have adoption days and come back with half or more of the horses that we took.'
To reverse this trend, the BLM is offering a $500 cash incentive to those who adopt horses that are 4 years old or older, which tend to be more difficult to place. The money is awarded to the adopter after a one-year trial period if the agency inspection confirms that the horse has been receiving proper care.
(and I hope to hell they remove it if it hasn't!)
The current free-roaming horse population in the country is approximately 36,000, which is 9,400 more than the maximum of 26,600 that 'can exist in balance with other public rangeland resources and uses'
(well...that's just plain ol' BLM BS!) according to the BLM website.
In addition to that, there are 32,000 more wild horses and burros in holding facilities across the country awaiting adoption"
(or slow death!)