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 BLM Preparation and Adoption Facilities
The National Wild Horse and Burro Center at Palomino Valley
By Janet Neal, Public Outreach Coordinator, BLM National Marketing Team
The National Wild Horse and Burro Center at Palomino Valley (PVC) in Reno, Nevada is the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) largest wild horse and burro preparation facility. Officially established in April 1977, the facility, situated on 148.51 acres, has the capacity to hold and prepare approximately 2,000 wild horses and burros for adoption.
John Neill, Manager of PVC, oversees all operations performed at the facility. John directs and supervises eleven employees at the facility: one assistant manager, one administrative assistant, one adoption clerk, one lead horse wrangler, two maintenance workers, two animal caretakers, and three horse wranglers.
PVC was designed to prepare wild horses and burros, gathered from over-populated rangelands, for adoption by the public. After a state brand inspection, animals receive an identification number or freeze mark, vaccinations are administered, their age is determined, and they are categorized by age and sex in preparation for adoption. A blood sample is drawn for Coggins testing (Equine Infectious Anemia). In addition, all of the animals gathered from the public rangelands receive vaccinations against rabies and West Nile virus. On occasion, PVC will also draw blood for genetic testing; however, this task is typically performed at the gather location.
From 1977 to February 2005, PVC has received and prepared about 100,000 wild horses and burros gathered from the range. Temporary adoption sites located in the Eastern United States have received several thousand animals from PVC for adoptions to the public.
Throughout the year, as long as animals are available, PVC accepts appointments to adopt a wild horse or burro directly from the facility, where you have the best and widest selection from which to choose. Adoptions are held on a first-come, first-served basis. Periodically, the National Center holds scheduled adoption events at the facility. A competitive bidding process is used for these adoption events. The National Wild Horse and Burro Center is also open on Saturdays, from 8 a.m til noon, PT.
Please visit www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov for a complete listing of adoptions throughout the United States. For more information on the facility, or to schedule an appointment to adopt, please call (775) 475-2222.
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