POSTPONED: Wild horse and burro event in Ocala, Florida

***UPDATE: This event has been postponed due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, we anticipate returning to the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion in Spring 2025.***

FLOWOOD, Miss. — The Bureau of Land Management will host a wild horse and burro placement event, offering a limited number of excess animals gathered from western rangelands, October 17-19, 2024, at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion in Ocala, Florida.

“The BLM has placed nearly 300,000 wild horses and burros into private care since 1971,” said Southeastern States District Manager Robert Swithers. “This is an opportunity to provide a good home to one of America’s Living Legends.”

Around 100 animals are expected to be available for adoption at the event, which will be open to the public October 17-18 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and October 19 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. BLM staff will be onsite to provide more information and assist with the adoption application process.

To qualify to adopt a wild horse:

• · Applicants must be at least 18 years old with no record of animal abuse.
• · Homes must have a minimum of 400 square feet of corral space per animal, with access to food, water, and shelter.
• · Corral fence must meet height requirements: Adult horses - 6 feet. Yearlings - 5 feet.
• · Trailers must be stock type, covered, with swing gates and sturdy walls/floors.

The BLM’s Adoption Incentive Program allows adopters to receive $1,000 when they receive title to their animals after successfully caring for the horse for one year. To learn more about BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro program, visit To learn more about BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro program, visit https://www.blm.gov/whb.

For all press inquiries, please contact Hunter Paffrath at (769) 366-4821 or hpaffrath@blm.gov