Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Event in Ft. Worth, Texas
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FORT WORTH, TX - The Bureau of Land Management will hold a wild horse and burro adoption event in Ft. Worth, Texas, Sept. 15-16, 2017. 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 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15 and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16.
The BLM will offer untrained animals for the minimum adoption fee of $125 (set by law). Trained animals available for adoption are featured as part of the Extreme Mustang Makeover, and may be adopted by competitive bid beginning at noon on Saturday. The top 10 finalists may be adopted by competitive bid after the event Saturday night.
“We are excited to bring several horses from the Sulfur, Utah Herd Management Area to Ft. Worth. The Sulfur herd is known to have buckskins, grullas, and horses with tiger-striped legs,” said Pat Williams, Program Manager.
Available for adoption 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 program is essential for achieving these important management goals. Since 1973, the BLM has placed more than 235,000 of these “living legends” in approved homes across the country.
BLM staff can approve applications onsite. Perspective adopters must be at least 18, with no record of animal abuse. Adopters must have a minimum of 400 square feet of corral space per animal, with free access to food, water and shelter. A six-foot corral fence is required for untrained adult horses; five feet for yearlings and trained horses; 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 adopters through the short application process.
The BLM designed an incentive program for successful applicants, in order to find homes for older horses that might otherwise be destined for long-term pastures at taxpayer expense. The BLM pays a one-time $500 care-and-feeding allowance to adopters of untrained horses that are at least four years old. This allowance is paid one year after the adopter has received official ownership title for their horse(s). All standard adoption conditions and fees apply. A limited number of eligible horses will be available. Younger horses, burros and trained animals are not eligible for this incentive.
The Will Rogers Center is located at 3400 Burnett Tandy Drive, Ft. Worth, Texas. Pictures of these animals are available on the Wild Horse and Burro Program’s Facebook page.
For more information about the event please contact Crystal Cowan at or 405-826-3057.
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.