Adopting Mustangs and Burros
Mustang Heritage Foundation and National Wild Horse & Burro Program
The National Wild Horse and Burro Program helps the public realize the dream of owning and caring for a mustang or burro, while protecting wild horses and U.S. rangelands
The BLM and Wild Horses
The mustang is considered a “living legend” in the United States. The Bureau of Land Management pronounces the wild horse a “treasured symbol of the Western spirit and an icon of American freedom.” After the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, the BLM became the protector and keeper of the American wild horses. The Bureau of Land Management’s National Wild Horse and Burro Program is responsible for protecting, managing and controlling wild horses and burros in the United States. Through its management, it is able to maintain health rangelands. Federal protection and fewer natural predators has led to the overpopulation of wild horses. The program is responsible for gathering and offering the horses and burros for adoption by the public. The horses and burros are rounded up using helicopters and then transported to holding facilities where they await adoption. The wild horse herds are found in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming. The program maintains several long and short-term holding facilities for horses over 10 years old and those not adopted by the third time.
Wild Horse Adoption Program Overview
Those who wish to adopt mustangs and burros must meet several requirements set by the Federal Government. These requirements include standards for horse facilities after adoption, based on minimum standards for enclosures and shelters. After one year of care, a title of ownership will be received for adopted animals, if all requirements have been met and the horses are given a good home. Until one year is up, the horses remain property of the Federal Government. The limit for the number of horses to be adopted is four horses every 12 months. The minimum fee for adoption is $125, depending on auction bidding. Most fees are determined by bidding during adoption auctions but average $125. Contact the BLM for its Adoption Schedule.
Mustang Heritage Foundation
The Mustang Heritage Foundation aims to restore the image of the mustang as a horse that can be owned and trained. It maintains the beauty and image of the wild horse, yet aims to reposition it as a valuable animal to owners and ranchers. The foundation showcases how mustangs can be trained at annual events such as the Extreme Mustang Makeover in Fort Worth, Texas. This event is held for trainers of claimed mustangs. The trainers are judged in horsemanship, groundwork and conditioning. After the show, the trained mustangs are available for adoption. The event brings attention to the positive results obtained from training wild horses. This event showcases how well wild horses adapt to captivity.
Wild Horse Facts
Mustangs are considered feral animals, as descendants of those horses escaped from Spanish explorers, Native Americans, U.S. Cavalry, ranchers, trappers and miners. In 2000, the wild horse population was over 43,000; wild burros numbered near 5,000. Of those horses and burros, over 5,000 horses and 1,000 burros were adopted.
