Adoption Incentive Program begins its third year with important changes to the program

Participation in the BLM's Adoption Incentive Program accounted for more than half of all adoptions of wild horses and burros for the BLM in Fiscal Year 2021. The $1,000 cash incentive paid to qualified adopters was popular for many seeking to off-set the expense of caring for or training a formerly wild horse. It was particularly helpful for adopters in regions facing historically high hay prices in 2021!  

Recently, the BLM implemented changes to the AIP to enhance existing protections for adopted wild horses and burros. Now compliance inspections must occur within six months of adoption instead of within the first year; title applications must be signed by a veterinarian or BLM-authorized officer and the incentive payment will now be made within 60 days after the title date, rather than half at the time of adoption and half at title date. Additionally, the minimum adoption fee for animals adopted through the AIP is increasing from $25 to $125.  

Like many who participated in the program, the incentive helped them realize their dream of adopting an icon of the American West. Take Nicole Melton, a young lady working for her family’s hunting and guiding business in Idaho’s backcountry, for example: “A big part of the reason I chose to adopt Bridger, as a young horse that I knew would require a lot of training, was the cash incentive offered by the BLM. Knowing that I would have the money to help support his training and care while he was being prepared to join me out on the job gave me a feeling of confidence. I was willing and able to take on a completely untrained horse knowing that I wouldn’t have to spend our company resources supporting an animal that wouldn’t be ready to use for another year or more.”  Melton said she used part of the incentive from adopting Bridger to purchase various training aids to help gentle the gelding, and the rest of the incentive helped to purchase feed and routine veterinary services for the horse.

Read more about Melton's story. 

The BLM has an unwavering commitment to the humane care and placement of America’s wild horses and burros. In this vein, vital public input from various stakeholders will be gathered during roundtable sessions this spring to consider non-cash incentives.  The BLM placed 8,637 animals into private care in Fiscal Year 2021, which was the most animals adopted/sold in the last 24 years.  

Access the Instruction Memorandum for the Adoption Incentive Program