BLM Wild Horse Center Cuts Hours After Budget Cuts

RENO, Nev. (AP) — The federal Bureau of Land Management's largest wild-horse adoption facility in the country is getting nicked by the budget axe. The Palomino Valley National Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Center, 20 miles north of Reno, is scaling back its weekend operations in a move criticized by horse advocates.

Beginning April 6, the facility will be open to the public just the first Saturday each month — from 8: 30 a.m. to noon. It currently is open every Saturday. Anne Novak of California-based Protect Mustangs says most people work during the week so the move shows the BLM doesn't really care about having a successful horse adoption program.

But BLM spokeswoman Heather Emmons Jasinski says Saturdays have seen few adoptions and visitors. The center will remain open weekdays and closed Sundays.