New application makes it even easier to bring home a wild horse or burro

Bringing home a wild horse or burro just got a little easier! Whether you decide to adopt or purchase, just complete a single combined Application for Adoption and Sale of Wild Horses and Burros and get approved by an authorized BLM official. It’s the easy!

Prior to the new form, purchasers were required to complete an Application to Purchase a Wild Horse or Burro that was separate from the Application to Adopt a Wild Horse or Burro. The combined form allows for a more streamlined, simplified process to bring home your own wild horse or burro.

Excess wild horses and burros are eligible for adoption under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, as amended since 1971. Wild horses and burros are eligible for sale under the Act if they are over 10 years of age or have already been offered for adoption at least three times. Purchasers receive ownership through a Bill of Sale immediately upon purchasing an eligible wild horse or burro, while the U.S. Government retains ownership of adopted animals until they are titled - normally twelve months from date of adoption. Since 1971, more than 250,000 wild horses and burros have been placed into private care.

To adopt a wild horse or burro, the applicant must be at least 18 years old, have no prior convictions of inhumane treatment of animals or violating the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, and provide a suitable facility with access to feed, water and shelter. In general, the facility must have a minimum of 400 square feet of corral space with a 6-foot-high fence (or a 5-foot-high fence for a yearling or gentled horse, or 4 ½-foot-high fence for a burro).

LEARN MORE: Frequently Asked Questions about adopting or purchasing a wild horse or burro

To purchase an eligible wild horse or burro, the applicant must certify they have an adequate facility with feed and water suitable for maintaining the animal, as well as a veterinarian available to provide care to the wild horse and/or burro.

LEARN MORE: The Sale Program offers an easy way to bring home a titled wild horse or burro.

Wild horses and burros are only eligible to be purchased or adopted by qualified applicants that intend to provide a good home and good care to the animal(s). The BLM does not sell or adopt wild horses or burros to any person or organization that intends to resell, trade or give away the animals for slaughter or processing into commercial products.

LEARN MORE: Earn up to $1,000 when you adopt an untrained wild horse or burro

Get started today! Bring home your next wild horse or burro from an event or facility near you.