Wild horse adoption event in Fort Worth, Texas
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FORT WORTH, TX - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will hold a wild horse and burro adoption event in Ft. Worth, Texas, Sept. 9-10. The two-day event at the Will Rogers Memorial Center will feature dozens of outstanding animals, both trained and untrained. The event will take place from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 10.
The BLM will offer untrained animals beginning at $125. Trained animals will be available for adoption as part of the Extreme Mustang Makeover, beginning at 1 p.m., by competitive bid on Saturday. The top ten finalists may be adopted by competitive bid after the event Saturday night.
As part of the agency’s efforts to find every horse and burro a good home, the BLM now offers up to $1,000 to adopt an untrained animal. This adoption incentive will be offered for every animal in Hugo. On July 26, 2021, the BLM announced additional steps it will take to secure the health and safety of adopted animals, including conducting an inspection of wild horses and burros adopted through the Adoption Incentive Program within six months of adoption date, rather than 12 months.
The animals offered at the event are adult and yearling horses and burros that once roamed free on public lands in the West. The BLM periodically removes excess animals from the range in order to maintain healthy herds and to protect other rangeland resources. The adoption and sale program is essential for achieving these important management goals. Since 1973, the BLM has placed more than 280,000 of these animals in approved homes across the country.
BLM staff will approve applications onsite. To qualify to adopt, applicants must be at least 18 years old, with no record of animal abuse. Qualified homes must have a minimum of 400 square feet of corral space per animal, with access to food, water and shelter. A six-foot corral fence is required for adult horses; five feet for yearlings; and four-and-a-half feet for burros. All animals must be loaded in covered, stock-type trailers with swing gates and sturdy walls and floors. BLM staff will be on hand to assist with the short application process.
The Will Rogers Center is located at 3400 Burnett Tandy Drive, Ft. Worth, Texas.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.