What You Need to Know About Adopting a Wild Horse or Burro

More than 8,000 wild horses and burros were adopted or sold from the Bureau of Land Management during the 2023 fiscal year — and they want to continue that success this year.

These programs are designed to prevent overpopulation of wild herds and to keep healthy both the herds and the 26.9 million acres of public lands across 10 Western states. The wild herds have few natural predators but arid rangeland offers limited food and water. From time to time, the Bureau of Land Management collects some of the wild animals and houses them until they find new homes.

The horses and burros receive food, water, veterinarian care, and in some cases, training, so adoption and sales reduce the costs to taxpayers for their long-term care.

Here are some things you need to know if you're considering adopting a wild horse or burro:

1) You need to be able to show you can provide a good home. This includes certain facility and trailer requirements. Find general information here and an adoption requirements flyer here.

2) There are several ways you can adopt or purchase, including scheduled adoption events, off-range corral visits, and an online corral that offers online adoptions and sales. Click here for an overview and access to important documents, including an application and care and feed guide.

3) There is an adoption incentive program. Qualified adopters can receive up to $1,000 for adopting an untrained wild horse or burro. They still need to pay the $125 fee at the time of adoption, but the incentive money is paid up to 60 days after the title date, which is at least 1 year after adoption.

Despite starting life as wild animals, adopted horses and burros can forge close, loving relationships in their new home and can be trained for a variety of purposes. To learn more and find upcoming Montana adoption events, click here.