Public equine adoption is facilitated through the Bureau of Land Management's program for wild horses and burros, while private adoptions usually occur between buyers and private parties, such as horse rescue farms. Either method is an excellent way to adopt a horse as long as the buyer understands what he or she is taking home.
Wild Horse Adoption
Buyers who are interested in training a horse from the ground up might want to consider wild horse adoption. There are thousands of wild mustangs still roaming free in the United States – mostly in the western part of the country – and the BLM holds auctions on a regular basis to find homes for these horses.
The horses adopted through wild horse adoption are usually thinned from large herds where animals outweigh food sources. They are vaccinated before they are adopted out, and occasionally mares and foals are adopted together. According to the BLM, National Wild Horse Adoption Day is September 26 for 2009, and falls around that date every year.
It is important to understand, however, that wild horse adoption is not the safest form of equine adoption. These horses have experienced very little human contact and are therefore unpredictable. Only serious and experienced riders should adopt wild mustangs and attempt to train them.
Domestic Horse Adoption
Private horse adoption usually involves domestic animals who have been abused, neglected or abandoned by former owners. Horse rescue farms all over the United States host equine adoption for these animals and work hard to find them good homes.
Although domestic horses are far less volatile than wild mustangs, they too can present unique challenges. Those who have been abused or neglected may not trust humans at all and may be difficult to handle. It is best to only adopt a horse from a reputable farm or dealer to ensure the horse is appropriate for the rider's skill level.
Adoption Fees
The phrase "adopt a horse" might be slightly misleading. Although wild mustangs and horses adopted from rescue farms are much less expensive than horses sold for profit, there are still costs to the buyer. Adoption fees vary depending on who is controlling the adoption, but generally range from $100 to $2,000.
Equine adoption facilitated by the BLM will cost the buyer either $125 or $250. The higher rate is for mares who are sold with their unweaned foals. With private equine adoption, rescue farms and other individuals are free to set their own adoption fees, and it is up to the buyer to determine whether or not the cost is reasonable.
Equine Adoption Requirements
Neither the BLM nor private facilitators will adopt a horse out to just anyone. In order to take a horse home, buyers must meet certain criteria. The rules vary depending on where the horse is adopted, but in general buyers must have:
- Access to adequate and safe facilities for the horse
- No convictions for animal cruelty
- Approved trailer in which to transport the horse
- Ability to purchase food and water
- No intention of selling or giving away the horse
The criteria is sometimes more strict, and some agencies and rescue farms require the horse be kept on property owned by the adopter rather than a boarding stable. In some cases, the available green pasture space must be a certain size.
After an equine adoption takes place, the entity through which it was facilitated might require submission to regular compliance checks for the first year of ownership. This is to ensure the horse has found a safe environment in which to live, and should not disrupt the buyer's life in any way.
To adopt a horse is often to save a life, and it is an excellent way to support the equine community. However, buyers should seriously consider this major step as well as their own abilities before committing to such an enormous undertaking.
Source:
Bureau of Land Management, National Wild Horse and Burro Program, 29 August 2009
Laura Thompson - Laura Thompson is a horseback riding instructor and freelance writer living in Houston, Texas. She is proud to be the feature writer for ...
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