Wild Horses and Burros, Donkeys

Wild Horses
and Donkeys

According to the Federal Government, a wild horse or donkey is one that is unbranded, unclaimed, free-roaming, and found on public lands within the United States. They are the descendants of those animals who were used by the early Spanish explorers, miners, ranchers, U.S. Cavalry, and American Indians, and whom escaped into the wilds.

Adopting a Wild Horse
or Burro

The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 gave the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service, the authority to manage the wild horse and burro population. The premise for this act is to promote healthy herds and rangelands.

Each year the BLM gathers excess wild horses and burros, from areas where they believe the vegetation and water can not support the entire herd. Those animals who are rounded up are then adopted out though their Adopt-a-Wild Horse or Burro Program.

Who can adopt one
of these animals?

● You must be at least 18 years old.

● You must not have any prior conviction for inhumane treatment of animals, or for violating the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.

● You must have adequate feed, water and facilities to provide humane care for the number of animals requested (A minimum of 400 square feet for each animal. Un-gentled horses younger than 18 months may be kept in corrals with fences 5-feet high. Corrals must be at least 4 1/2 feet high for un-gentled burros and 6 feet high for un-gentled horses older than 18 months old.)

● You must provide a home for the adopted animal in the United States until you receive a Certificate of Title from the BLM.

8000 BC
Horses became extinct on the North American Continent.

1500's
Spanish explorers reintroduce horses to North America.

1959
Passage of the Wild Horse Annie Act.

1962
Nevada Wild Horse Range, the first wild horse range in the country was established within boundaries of Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

1971
Passage of the Wild and Free Roaming Horse & Burro Act.

1973
First wild horse adoptions took place in Pryor Mountains, Montana.

1980
Little Bookcliff Wild Horse Range was designate in Colorado.

1991
Marietta Wild Burro Range in Nevada was dedicated as the Nation's first formally recognized wild burro range.

How to Adopt a Wild Horse or Burro

● Complete form 4710-10, Application for Adoption of Wild Horse(s) or Burro(s), available at the BLM National Wild Horse & Burro Program website.

● Mail the form to your local BLM office or bring it to the adoption. If you mail it, the BLM will contact you during the application review process, to verify that your facilities meet their requirements.

● You will be required to sign a Private Maintenance and Care Agreement.

● You can adopt up to 4 wild horses or burros within a 12 month period. You may be approved to adopt more than that, but will only receive title to four.

● The minimum or base adoption fee for each animal is $125. Mares and Jennies adopted with their un-weaned foal are $250. Most adoptions use competitive bidding to establish the adoption fee. The base adoption fee applies to adoptions using a lottery draw, or a first-come, first-served method. Since 1997 the average adoption fee has been about $185 for horses, $135 for burros and $160 for mules.

● If within the first 6 months of adoption the animal dies or needs to be destroyed because of a pre-existing, serious medical condition, the BLM will provide you with a voucher for a re-adoption or a refund of the fee.

To the best of our knowledge, the information presented on this page is accurate and correct. Yet, we may not always be aware of policy changes. For updated information, or verification of facts, visit BLM National Wild Horse & Burro Program website.