Wild Horse and Burro Program

The Tales from the Trails blog pulls together wild horse and burro stories from across the Bureau of Land Management. These are stories about our work to manage and protect wild horse and burro herds on public lands, how animals are cared for in our off-range holding facilities and where they end up after they've been adopted to a good home. Read more >>

Read some recent featured stories: 

• True Grit: Whitney's Journey to BLM's Partner Hosted Mustang Challenge Event
• From the Open Range to the Las Vegas Lights Meet Cinder from South Steens
• Annual plan for wild horse and burro gather and fertility control operations in Fiscal Year 2025 builds on progress towards healthy herds and healthy lands
• Celebrating Five Years of the Adoption Incentive Program: A Win-Win for Animals and Taxpayers
• Wild Horse Annie: The Original Champion of America's Wild Horses and Burros
• Gin and Finley Ride Across America
• From failed meet cute to forever; A life changing journey to Mustang Mania
• Wild horses trained by Veterans in Colorado
• BLM investing in healthy wild horse herds and wildlife habitat in Sand Wash Basin

The BLM manages free-roaming wild horses and burros on public lands as part of its multiple-use mission, with the goal of supporting healthy wild horses and burros on healthy public rangelands.  The BLM is responsible for determining and maintaining appropriate management levels (AML) for each herd and works to achieve that population target through a variety of management processes, including limiting reproduction in some herds through the use of birth control and gathers that remove excess animals from the range. Read more >>

Learn more about:

• Maintaining range and herd health
• Wild horse and burro herd management areas
• Gather, removal and fertility control actions
• Science and research
• Maps

The BLM works to place excess animals into private care through its Adoption and Sales Programs as well as successful partnerships with organizations across the nation.  Many have found it personally challenging and rewarding to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro.  It is a chance to care for, and then own, a part of America’s heritage. Read more >>

Learn more about:

• Adoption Program
• Sale Program
• How to adopt or purchase a wild horse or burro
• Adoption Incentive Program
• Wild horse and burro adoption and sale events
• Off-range corral adoption and purchase locations
• Visiting and adopting or purchasing from a public off-range pasture
• Frequently asked questions

Managing, protecting, and finding homes for America’s wild horses and burro is challenging as it is rewarding. There are many opportunities to get involved in the management and protection of America’s wild horses and burros. The BLM relies on the hard work and determination of thousands of volunteers, partners, donors and contractors. Read more >>

Learn more about: 

• Partnerships that support wild horses and burros
• Funding opportunities for off-range facilities and more
• Volunteer Service Program
• Other volunteering opportunities

The National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board provides advice and recommendations to the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service as the agencies work to carry out their missions to manage and protect wild horses and burros on public lands. Read more >>

Do you have questions about the Wild Horse and Burro Program, or would you like to request program data? We recommend first checking our data page, which provides decades of population, adoption, removal and other historical data, as well as our Frequently Asked Questions page. 

For additional questions or data requests, please contact the National Information Center prior to submitting a request under the Freedom of Information Act. We strive to provide substantive responses as quickly as possible and reduce the need to submit FOIA requests. FOIA requests undergo a legal process that can be time intensive and costly, which consumes agency resources and funding that otherwise can be used to help fulfill our mission of managing healthy wild horses and burros on healthy public lands. 

Finally, please report any suspected inhumane treatment of wild horses and burros to the National Information Center. 

Wild Horse and Burro National Information Center
866-4MUSTANGS (866-468-7826)
wildhorse@blm.gov

Contact information for off-range corral facilities can be found on each facility webpage. 

Contact your local BLM state, district or field office for specific questions regarding submitting an adoption application, obtaining title and more. 

To submit a FOIA request, please visit the BLM's FOIA website. 

Photo credit: John Wheland