Mustangs: Sale draws horse lovers
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"We figure we've got enough land to support about 27,000 mustangs," said Terry Lewis, a spokesman for the Bureau of Land Management in Springfield, Va. "unfortunately, we estimate the population at about 52,000 and it's growing about 20% a year. The bureau is experimenting with birth control. But administering the drugs is difficult and expensive. So adoption remains the preferred way to thin the herds. Even though some animal rights groups protest the program as cruel.

These are wild horses, after all, so leave them aloe, such groups argue.  Asked about such criticism joy Pasquariello, a press officer for the Bureau of Land Management, bristles. "if we didn't intervene, there wouldn't be enough food," she said. "they'd starve to death. "they'd die a horrible death. Nw, some people have suggested that we euthanize but we don't want to do that either. In fact, we won't put down any healthy animal."

Debbie Kelly traveled to Lexington from Chesapeake to find a long distance runner. Either years ago, she bought a gray mustang at an auction  in Virginia Beach and has cherished the experience. She carries a thick photo album of her prized colt, now nearing retirement ..  On Saturday morning, before the auction, Kelly and her friend, Shirley Headrick, are strolling around the metal pens and dirt floors where the mustangs are unknowingly on display. Kelly is taking notes on a brochure that list their age, sex, I.D. number and color markings.  She want a female, 4 years old or younger. Kelly has circled about a dozen candidates. "I'd like to take them all home," she said smiling..

Suddenly, a favored one with light brown hair and a penchant for dipping its hoof into a water for dipping it hoof into a water trough catches her eye. "o, this is wonderful!" Kelly blurts, "Brownies got hay up her nose!" She turns serious when asked the differences between wild and domesticated horse.  ""They don't have the neuroses that horses bred on a farm have, "she said. "They have to be the strongest. But they're easy keepers. They have great endurance. Look at their bodies, their leaner, with longer necks. And look at either feet: they match their body size."

Kelly then shakes her head in disapproval. "Bred horses today have these little feet and great big bodies. It's unnatural."

Dave Seay, a professional horsemen from Fredericksburg. who trains mustangs, talks about them with great reverence, almost awe.  "they're had to fight for everything they've got," he said, standing outside a pen of 1 year old mustangs snorting and chasing each other. "They're very strong, very agile. And they haven't been spoiled by an. They don't even know what hay is."

Mustangs actually are mutts.  They are the mixed blood descendants of horses released or escaped from Spanish explorers, soldiers and Native Americans.  their markings are thus a hodgepodge of spots,. stripes, blazes and socks. In earlier years, thousands of mustangs were wounded up by the U.S. Army, especially during World War I, to ferry equipment and supplies. But now they are protected under the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971 as "living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West."

Management began its adoption program, for mustangs and burros. It has found homes for more than 160,0900 animals, with almost 90% going to East Coast and Midwest foster parents.  Once adopted, the animals remain federal property for one year.  After that, and if certified as well kept by a veterinarian or extension agent, the horses and burros become private property and can be re sold.

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