Heidi Bertolino / Times-Bonanza & Goldfield News Wild horses, due to be gathered by the BLM in areas around Tonopah this fall, are seen, depending on one's perspective, as either a symbol of the West or as competition for scarce forage. Advertisement

PALOMINO VALLEY -- Wild horse and burro fans attending the Western States Wild Horse and Burro Expo Aug. 18-20 can now make the drive out to Palomino Valley and return home with a living legend -- all weekend. The Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) National Wild Horse and Burro Center at Palomino Valley will be open for adoptions from 8 a.m. -- 4 p.m. during the Expo to accommodate wild horse and burro aficionados who want a legend of their own.

The BLM's center is located about 20 miles north of Sparks on Pyramid Lake Highway and is the primary preparation center for wild horses and burros gathered from Nevada's public lands. Pre-selected animals will be available for immediate adoption to qualified individuals for $125 each on a first come, first served basis.

Some animals will also be offered at the Expo. Eleven saddle-trained geldings and one jenny burro will be offered for competitive bid adoption Saturday, Aug. 19. The animals are from the Buck and Bald, Little Owyhee and McGee Mountains herd management areas (HMA). Estrays (state horses) are from the Virginia Range. They have received up to 120 days of training from supervised inmates at the Warm Springs Correctional Facility in Carson City. Bids from pre-qualified adopters start at $150.

Also up for adoption at the Expo are three untrained BLM horses that will be helping trainers who conduct gentling demonstrations. These demonstration animals will be available following the training for $125 each to qualified adopters on a first come, first served basis. The horses are from the Fox Hog and Devil's Garden.