BLM Wild Horse & Burro Program Adoption Experiences: Joker’s Journey

It’s been one year since Amy Dunn of Cullman, Alabama adopted Joker, the Mustang. During this time, after plenty of head scratches, lots of laughs, and tons of treats, they have forged a lifelong bond. Dunn adopted Joker at the Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Bureau adoption event at the Cullman County Agricultural Trade Center in September 2023, but his journey to her began when he was born at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center (NNCC) in January 2021. 

Joker’s mother was gathered by BLM from the Antelope Valley Herd Management Area in July 2020 due to an emergency response to the lack of available forage and water on the range. The inmate staff cared for Joker and helped BLM prepare him for adoption by assisting with the veterinarian care and hoof trimming prior to Joker heading east. 

In August 2023 Joker was ready to head east to Cullman, with a stopover for rest at the Elm Creek, Nebraska Wild Horse and Burro Corral. He arrived in Cullman on September 19, completing a roughly 2,300-mile journey from Carson City. 

As fate would have it, Dunn was searching for a new four-legged best friend when she came across “9074” (the neck tag number assigned to Joker by the BLM) at the adoption event.  

“From the moment I saw 9074, I knew he was the one I’d be taking home,” said Dunn. “He was in the back of the pen playing with his water trough. It was so cute.” 

Dunn said she wanted to keep an open mind and check out the other available horses but realized she was just going through the motions as Joker was in the back of her mind the entire time. 

“I was deciding on a name for him,” Dunn said. “Once we brought him home, he was super curious about everything and again playing with the water trough. That’s when I decided the name Joker was the right fit for him.” 

Dunn admitted she was originally planning on training Joker and then finding him a new home within the community, but those plans changed when she fell head over heels for him.  

“Joker is staying with me,” said Dunn. “I love him. I am planning on coming back to the adoption this September to see if any other horses or burros catch my eye.” 

The Bureau of Land Management will return to the Cullman County Agricultural Trade Center September 19-21 and will be offering approximately 100 wild horses and burros for adoption. Read more about the event here. 

To learn more about the program, go to BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program.