Wild horses running on a plain. Words read: Tales from the Trails. Your "mane" source for wild horse and burro stories

The Tales from the Trails blog pulls together wild horse and burro stories from across the Bureau of Land Management. These are stories about our work to manage and protect wild horse and burro herds on public lands, how animals are cared for in our off-range holding facilities and where they end up after they've been adopted to a good home. 

With kindness and patience, a wild horse or burro may be trained for many uses.  Wild horses have become champions in dressage, jumping, barrel racing, endurance riding, and pleasure riding, while burros excel in driving, packing, riding, guarding, and serving as companion animals.  Both wild horses and wild burros are known for their sure-footedness, strength, intelligence, and endurance. Contact the BLM or visit an event or facility near you to learn more about how you can bring home your own wild horse or burro. 

Send us your story!

If you're a proud partner to a wild horse or burro, we want to hear from you! Tell us about your trek "from wild to mild," a competition you won, or just tell us about why you're proud of your wild horse or burro.

Send your written stories and photos to wildhorse@blm.gov with the subject line MY WILD HORSE (or BURRO) STORY. For best results, stories should include your and your horse or burro's name, location (state) and at least one good photograph of the animal, you with the animal, or some other activity you'd like to convey. Please include at least one photograph depicting the freeze mark. Stories should be 300-500 words in length.

Horses with riders crossing a creek

A Milestone for America's Living Legends

This year, the Bureau of Land Management commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. The Act, which provided wild horses and burros on Federal lands with legally protected status for the first time, placed them under the stewardship of the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service. The legislation inspired broad support from the American people who recognized the enduring legacy of the animals.
Horse pack string.

Nicole and her Mustang in the Great Outdoors

Nicole Melton knows what a good horse is worth. As a third-generation hunting guide with her family-owned Bighorn Outfitters, she uses horses and mules on a daily basis to transport hunters, fishers and adventure-seeking pack trips through the awe-inspiring ruggedness that is Idaho’s River of No Return Wilderness.
Girl and horse.

For the love of a Challis wild horse

Welcome to the home of Katelynn Keller, wild mustang adopter and happy participant of the Adoption Incentive Program offered by the BLM.
Rider on a freeze-marked horse.

Mustangs in the U.S. Army

Did you know that the U.S. Army still utilizes horse detachments for service today? While there is a long history of cavalry use in the U.S. Army, most cavalry units were disbanded after 1939. It was in the 1960s that the modern Army began re-establishing horse detachments, using animals for ceremonial traditions, parades, and training missions.