April 12-13: Wild horse and burro event in Swanzey, N.H.

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is holding a wild horse and burro placement event April 12-13, 2024, at the Cheshire Fairgrounds, 247 Monadnock HWY, Swanzey, NH, 03446.

“The Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971 (Public Law 92-195) gave the BLM the statutory obligation to manage and protect wild horses and burros in designated federal management areas,” said Northeastern States Deputy District Manager Shannon McCrory. “This law authorizes the BLM to remove excess wild horses and burros from the range to sustain the health and productivity of public lands."

Adoptions and sales will be held by appointment only from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET on Friday, April 12, and from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 13. On both days, placements will occur in one-hour increments (five appointments per hour). Appointments can be made via email at BLM_ES_NSDO_WHB@blm.gov. The BLM requests all potential buyers and adopters to disclose their top three preferred time slots when making appointments.

The BLM’s Adoption Incentive Program was designed to help improve rangeland health in overpopulated herd management areas in the western states and to save taxpayer costs for animals held at off-range holding facilities. Through this program, qualified adopters are eligible to receive $1000 after one year of issuance of the certificate of title for an untrained wild horse or burro. The incentive is available for all untrained animals eligible for adoption with an adoption fee of $125 per animal.

Animals that are over 10 years old or younger animals who were unsuccessfully adopted out to new homes three times may be sold. BLM staff will be available to identify these animals to interested, qualified buyers. Purchasers will receive immediate ownership of the animals.

A listing of animals expected to be available can be found below. Subject to change without notice.  

Swanzey NH Available Animals List

To learn more about BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro program, visit https://www.blm.gov/whb.