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Hello Website Visitor,
As adopters of three Wild Horses L. T. and I have learned a bit about adopting a Wild Horse or Burro. We would like to share what we have learned. In the following page things not in the official BLM information are in italics. They are, however, things that are important to know and consider before you take your adopted animal home.
One final thing. Adopting a wild horse or burro should not be done on a whim. These are living creatures who need love, respect, and care. In a perfect world each one would go to a loving, permanent home. We want that to happen. We hope you want the same thing.
Sincerely,
Carol Jennings
You must be 18 years of age or older to adopt. You can't have been convicted of animal abuse. You have to be able to pay for the feed, vet bills, farrier bills, tack etc that your adopted animal will require. You and you alone will be responsible for your adopted horse or burro's feeding and care even during the first year when you are caring for him but do not yet own him. You do not own an adopted animal for one year from the date of adoption. Only after you have cared for it for a year can you apply for the title to your animal.
You must have the following facilities ready for your animal when you adopt:
A corral. It should be at least 400 square feet (20X20) but not more than (50X50) with a 12X12 foot stall or three sided shelter attached.
Fences must be at least 6 feet high for horses and 5 feet high for burros and yearlings.
Fences should be made of at least five rounded pipes, poles, or wooden rails. No barbed wire, electric wire, t-posts or anything else that the animal could get hurt on. Once the animals are gentle they can be kept in the pasture. It is important to keep them in the 20x20 foot pen until they will allow you to approach, halter and lead them. Why? Because if you turn them loose in a large pasture before you can do so you may never catch them. I have heard of that happening. Don't let it happen to you.
You must have filled out an Application For Adoption of Wild Horse(s) or Burro(s) and had it approved.
You must pay the adoption fee the day you adopt. Usually $125. per animal.
Your adopted animal and your facilities may be inspected by a BLM representative during the first year of the adoption. This was a little frightening when it actually happened to me. Not because I wasn't taking good care of my adopted horse but because I had watched too many TV shows where a government person came out and threw their weight around. In reality the man who came out was extremely nice and thanked me more than once for taking such good care of my adopted horse. When he left I was glad that he had come and hoped he would check on each and every horse adopted, because I thought, "He really cares about the horses."
Our local facility is The Eastern Holding Facility. It is open Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. - Noon. The facility is located at 22295 Sheep Farm Rd. Ewing, IL 62836
For more information go to the BLM website: http://www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov
