National Wild Horse Adoption Day!

Posted by Laura Thompson Aug 31, 2009

A Suite101 reader recently asked:

"Hi Laura. I've heard a lot about adopting wild horses from the government. Is there any truth to this?"

Absolutely! The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) holds regular adoptions for wild horses and burros. Additionally, it is possible to privately adopt horses through rescue farms and other intermediaries. Most of these horses have been abused or neglected, while wild horses have had no human contact.

If you would like to know more about equine adoption, read "How to Adopt a Horse" or visit the BLM web site for wild horse adoptions.

Remember, though, that adopting a horse is serious business and requires a full-fledged commitment. You do have to pay for the horse you adopt ($125 or $250 for government adoptions) and you have to pay for its upkeep. Most equine adoption facilitators require you to sign a document agreeing not to sell or give the horse away.

Working with rescue horses and wild horses is no easy task. Both categories of equine require experienced riders with nearly infinite patience. I've worked with several rescue horses over the years, and although each one was a unique and satisfying experience, those horses challenged me every step of the way. It is vital to establish trust first and begin training second.

Good luck to those who are interested in adopting a horse this September 26 (or at any time!) and make sure to learn all you can about the process before you embark on it.

Got a question? If you have a horse question you'd like Laura Thompson to answer, e-mail her at horses@suite101.com and she'll answer in an upcoming blog post.