BLM Wyoming holds successful wild horse and burro adoption

Story by Azure Hall, Public Affairs Specialist. Photos by Azure Hall and Crystal Cowan, Public Affairs Specialist.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming held another successful wild horse and burro adoption this year during Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) in Cheyenne, Wyoming in July. Each year, BLM Wyoming and the Mantle Adoption and Training Facility offer trained horses and burros for adoption at the event.

CFD draws thousands of visitors from across the country, which presents a unique opportunity for the BLM to engage with the public and share information about the agency’s Wild Horse and Burro Program. Since expanding the adoption event during CFD in 2015, the BLM has maintained a 100 percent adoption rate.

BLM Wyoming held this year’s adoption at a new location in Lion’s Park. Despite the change of location, the twice daily training demonstrations drew large crowds, and many interested members of the public visited the BLM booth for information.

The highest adoption bid for this event was for Benjamin, a two-year-old saddle-started brown gelding from the Antelope Hills Herd Management Area (HMA). Notably, all 15 horses that were up for adoption at the event came from BLM Wyoming HMAs. Some of the animals included: Apache, a two-year-old bay gelding from the Fifteenmile HMA; Curly Sue, a one-year-old curly black filly from the Salt Wells HMA; and Sweetheart, a two-year-old pinto filly from the Antelope Hills HMA.  Each animal brought unique characteristics and esthetics to the adoption roster.