
The Adoption Incentive Program is currently paused and not available for new adopters. The BLM will provide additional information as soon as possible. Adopters who previously enrolled in the program will receive further guidance when available.
Adoption Incentive Program
To encourage more adopters to give a wild horse or burro a good home, the Adoption Incentive Program provides up to $1,000 to adopt an untrained wild horse or burro from the BLM. The goal of the program is to reduce BLM’s recurring costs to care for unadopted and untrained wild horses and burros while helping to enable the BLM to confront a growing over-population of wild horses and burros on fragile public rangelands.
The Adoption Incentive Program allows qualified adopters to receive up to $1,000 up to 60 days after title date.
The incentive is available for all untrained animals that are eligible for adoption, including animals at BLM facilities, off-site events and on the Online Corral. A $125 fee applies at the time of adoption.
- Frequently Asked Questions
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Which animals are eligible to participate in the Adoption Incentive Program?
All untrained animals offered at any BLM off-range corrals, online corral events, satellite events and any BLM approved events and locations are eligible to be adopted through the Adoption Incentive Program regardless of species, age, sex, color, herd management area or the number of times the animal has been offered for adoption. Animals purchased through the Sales Program are not eligible.
As a Trainer Incentive Program trainer, am I eligible to receive an incentive?
No. TIP trainers are not eligible to receive the incentive.
Are animals trained through a BLM training program or the Mustang Heritage Foundation’s training programs eligible?
No. Trained animals are not eligible for an incentive.
Can I receive an incentive for purchasing a wild horse or burro through the Sale Program?
No. Only adopted animals are eligible for the incentive program.
Can I retroactively receive the incentive for an animal I adopted prior to March 12, 2019?
No. Only animals adopted on or after March 12, 2019 are eligible for the incentives.
Do I still have to pay an adoption fee?
Yes. A minimum fee of $125 is still required at time of adoption.
How will I receive the incentive?
Adopters will receive a Title Eligibility letter in the mail within 12 months after the adoption date. Title Eligibility letters for animals adopted through the Adoption Incentive Program must be signed by a veterinarian or a BLM authorized officer in order to receive the incentive payment. The incentives will be deposited at your preferred financial institution. You must authorize electronic funds transfers in order to receive the incentive. (See Example)
Is there a limit to the number of animals for which I can receive an incentive?
The BLM may allow each adopter participating in the incentive program to adopt and maintain a maximum of four untitled animals annually; however, as each participating animal is titled, the BLM may allow an adopter to adopt additional animal(s) (up to a maximum of four untitled animals at any one time) through the Adoption Incentive Program.
Can I combine the Adoption Incentive with other incentives offered by the BLM?
The Adoption Incentive Program replaces all previous incentive programs, such as the Buddy System and the $500 incentive for horses four years and older common in the New Mexico region.
Are BLM employees, contractors or partners eligible to participate in the incentive program?
BLM employees, immediate family members (spouse, domestic partner, cohabitant, child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, grandparent, great grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or first cousin (that is, a child of an aunt or uncle), sibling, half-sibling, stepsibling, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships) of BLM employees, and individuals or organizations receiving BLM funds either through a contract or agreement and their immediate family members are NOT eligible to participate in the Adoption Incentive Program.
- Upcoming Changes to the Adoption Incentive Program