BLM and Lander wild horse ranch offer adoption and free public days
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LANDER, Wyo. – The Wind River Wild Horse Public Off-Range Pasture, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management and Wyoming Honor Farm, will host a free public event and wild horse adoption May 31–June 1. The ranch owners share the BLM’s commitment to place excess wild horses and burros into private care in order to maintain healthy animals on healthy, productive public rangelands.
The Wind River Ranch, seven miles north of Lander, is a contract between the BLM and the Double D Ranch to provide a natural and free-roaming environment for excess wild horses removed from public rangelands.
Hours for the event are 12–5 p.m. on Friday, May 31, and 9 a.m.–3 p.m. on Saturday, June 1. An adoption, free wagon tours to view the wild horses, youth activities and a food vendor will be available both days.
Approximately 25 horses will be available for adoption. Halter-started horses from the Wyoming Honor Farm will be adopted by silent competitive bid, closing both days at 3 p.m. Bidding starts at $125 for trained animals.
Untrained horses will also be offered on a first-come, first-served basis for a $25 fee. The BLM launched a new wild horse adoption incentive program in March, making qualified adopters eligible to receive $500 within 60 days of the adoption date and an additional $500 within 60 days of titling for each animal. Titling normally occurs one year from the adoption date. The incentive is available for the untrained horses available at this adoption.
Wild horse public off-range pastures help the BLM care for excess wild horses that have been removed from overpopulated herds roaming Western public rangelands. They provide opportunities for people to learn more about the complexities of the wild horse and burro program, and to experience a piece of our shared American heritage.
The Wind River Ranch is located at 8616 U.S. Hwy. 287. It offers tours to see the horses and other educational opportunities from May through September each year. For more information about the event, contact the ranch at 307-438-3838 or www.windriverwildhorses.com. To learn more about the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program, visit BLM.GOV/WHB or contact the national information center at 866-468-7826 or wildhorse@blm.gov.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.