Second chances take the reins at Wyoming Honor Farm adoption event

Hundreds of visitors traveled to Riverton, Wyoming, on May 8–9 for the Wyoming Honor Farm wild horse and burro adoption event, where 46 trained animals found new homes and the partnership between the Bureau of Land Management and the Wyoming Honor Farm demonstrated the power of second chances.

By the end of the two-day event, adopters had purchased all 46 available animals, generating $146,450 in adoption fees and drawing bidders from Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, South Dakota and Montana. The annual event highlighted the work of inmate trainers at the Wyoming Honor Farm, where wild horses and burros are gentled and trained before being offered for adoption.

Attendance steadily grew throughout the event. On Friday, May 8, the event welcomed 168 visitors across 66 vehicles, resulting in 28 approved bidder applications. By Saturday, attendance more than doubled, with more than 350 visitors attending the auction and approximately 157 vehicles arriving on site. Demand remained high throughout the morning, with vehicles lined up along Honor Farm Road as attendees waited to clear security checkpoints before the live auction began.

Wyoming Honor Farm staff credited much of the increased turnout to the Bureau of Land Management's social media outreach campaign leading up to the event. Weekly posts featuring photos and profiles of the available horses and burros gave prospective adopters an opportunity to learn about the animals before arriving in Riverton. According to Honor Farm staff, the social media campaign made a significant difference in promoting the event and contributed to one of the strongest turnouts the facility could recall.

“This event continues to showcase the dedication of the inmate trainers, the versatility of these animals and the strong public interest in the Wild Horse and Burro Program,” said Monica Mohr, adoption event coordinator and wild horse and burro specialist with the Bureau of Land Management Wyoming Wild Horse and Burro Program. “The partnership creates opportunities not only for the animals, but for the people involved in the training process.”

The event featured 30 riding horses, eight burros and eight pack or halter horses. Visitors were able to meet the animals, speak directly with inmate trainers and watch demonstrations throughout the weekend. Burros demonstrated packing, cart-pulling and riding skills, while trained horses navigated an obstacle course built by the facility.

One of the most memorable moments of the event took place during the national anthem each day, when an inmate trainer rode into the arena carrying the American flag on horseback. The tribute resonated strongly with attendees and reflected the spirit of pride, teamwork and second chances that defines the program.

The highest-selling saddle horse brought $7,500 during the auction, with saddle horses averaging more than $4,000 each. The top-selling burro sold for $2,900 and averaged more than $1,600. Pack horses averaged approximately $1,500, while halter horses averaged nearly $700.

The event also attracted national and international media attention, including a film crew that traveled from France to document the program.

In addition to the adoption event, the Wyoming Honor Farm recently transferred five trained horses to partner agencies. On April 23, two horses were transferred to the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations program in Montana, while three additional horses were transferred to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks for agency use.

Agency representatives selected the horses following evaluations that included obstacle course work and handling demonstrations. During the first day of the selection process, representatives worked with and evaluated 14 horses before making their final choices. Despite challenging weather conditions and an unexpected delay caused by the hospitalization of a brand inspector, the transfers were completed successfully through coordination with local officials.

The Wyoming Honor Farm wild horse training program remains one of several partnerships that support the BLM’s efforts to place wild horses and burros into private care and public service roles while providing vocational opportunities through training and rehabilitation programs.

For the inmate trainers, the program offers the opportunity to develop horsemanship skills, work ethic and responsibility while helping prepare wild horses and burros for successful adoption. For adopters, it provides the chance to take home a trained animal and continue its journey beyond the Honor Farm.

Photos from the May adoption event are available on Flickr.