WHY DOES THE BLM OFFER WILD HORSES AND BURROS FOR ADOPTION? 

The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 gave the Department of the Interior’s BLM and the Department of Agriculture’s USFS the authority to manage, protect, and control wild horses and burros on the nation’s public rangelands to ensure healthy herds and healthy rangelands.

Federal protection and a lack of natural predators have resulted in thriving wild horse and burro populations that grow in number each year. The BLM monitors rangelands and wild horse and burro herds to determine the number of animals, including livestock and wildlife, that the land can support. Each year, the BLM gathers excess wild horses and burros from areas where vegetation and water could become scarce if too many animals use the area.

These excess animals are offered for adoption to qualified people through the BLM’s Adopt-a-Horse-or-Burro program. After caring for an animal for one year, the adopter is eligible to receive title, or ownership, from the Federal Government. While the challenges to adopting enough animals, is greater than ever, the program is a popular one. In fact, the BLM placed more than 207,000 wild horses and burros into private care from 1973 through Fiscal Year 2005.

WHAT ARE WILD HORSES AND BURROS LIKE?

Every wild horse or burro is different. They come in all shapes and sizes, and each animal has its own personality. They are of no particular breed, although some exhibit characteristics associated with certain breeds. A typical wild horse stands about 13 to 15 hands high (52- 60 inches) and weighs about 700 to 1,000 pounds. Wild burros average 11 hands high (44 inches) and weigh about 500 pounds. Because the BLM only recently removed them from public lands, wild horses and burros put up for adoption are not accustomed to people. As an adopter, your challenge will be to develop a trusting relationship with your wild horse or burro.

WHAT IS THIS PROGRAM ALL ABOUT?

This is a program where selected competitors adopt a mustang or burro that has not previously been handled. They are required to gentle and train their new equine friend for 100+ days to return to a final showcasing. The only horses allowed to be ridden are those in the mounted divisions only. Anyone in an in-hand division found to have backed their horse during the time it is in their care will be disqualified. At the end of their 100+ days, the horse/burro and the competitor return to a designated event arena for final competition to show the public what they have both learned over their time together.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM?

The primary purpose of this program is to bring an awareness of the Mustang breed to the general public in regards to their versatility, resilience, and adaptability to domestic life. Since they have not previously had human exposure, they become very bonded to their competitor and will do just about anything asked of them. Our secondary purpose is to assist our young competitors in gaining responsibility, self-respect, self-esteem and self-confidence not only in the areas of training a horse but in the areas of life that will be expected of them as they grow and become a part of the everyday world. The skills, lessons, and responsibilities learned during this process transfer to all areas of life. We have seen the proud humbled and the insecure become self-confident.

WHERE DO THE HORSES COME FROM?

All horses in our program come from the short term BLM holding facility in Hines/Burns, Oregon. They have been gathered from several wild horse herds in the southeastern Oregon area.

WILL I KNOW THE HERD MY HORSE CAME FROM?

Yes, all competitors will be given documentation of the herds from which their horse was gathered and a map showing where the herd is located in the state of Oregon.

I’VE NEVER TRAINED A MUSTANG BEFORE. WHERE DO I BEGIN?

Each competitor may have their own different methods. They will need to show and prove themselves trustworthy to the animal in most instances by going slow and steady. These are not like domestic horses. They have only had to do one thing in life and that is to survive. They are very good at doing just that. We are always available for questions and assistance.

HOW DO I GET A HALTER ON A WILD HORSE IF I CAN’T GET NEAR THEM?

All horses have the option of being haltered with a drag rope at the time of pick up. Halter and drag (lead rope) should be provided by the competitor. This will greatly facilitate the gentling process allowing you to gain trust and accessibility. This halter and lead should remain on the horse until you are certain you can remove it and put it back on safely.

HOW MANY HOURS A DAY DO I HAVE TO WORK WITH MY HORSE?

It is recommended that you work in 20-30 minute intervals. Maybe 20-30 minutes in the morning and another 20-30 minutes in the afternoon if time allows or you can even add in another 20-30 minutes somewhere during the day. Their retention is better in shorter time frames and the more time you spend with them the more they learn to trust you.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO TOUCH MY MUSTANG/BURRO?

Each equine is different but depending on your skill sets, that will determine the time for you. Most are curious (some are genuinely fearful) with those being generally easier to experience that “first touch” with than a fearful mustang/burro. Some competitors are able to touch their horses in a matter of hours and others in days or a couple of weeks. Taking it slow and gentle is the best approach. Mustangs do not like to be “cowboy-ed”

WHAT IF I AM A YOUTH AND MY PARENTS DON’T SUPPORT ME?

If they give you their permission but tell you that you are your own, it will definitely make it a little more difficult to not have them for emotional stability and general overall support. Parents are great sounding blocks and we encourage them to assist in the emotional support of your project. If you have another adult in your life you can use as a sounding block it helps as well.

WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE ANY SHOW CLOTHES FOR THE FINAL COMPETITION?

Show clothes are not required nor will you be judged on whether or not you are wearing them. You are required to have on clean clothes (jeans and a shirt) and look presentable to the public. You must also wear an acceptable boot for horses and not flip-flops or tennis shoes.

WHAT IF MY HORSE GETS SICK OR INJURED WHILE I HAVE IT?

When you have the Mustang/burro in your care, all equine related costs are your responsibility including but not limited to feed, farrier and veterinary expenses. You will also need to de-worm your equine partner to assist in ensuring it stays in good health.

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT DIVISION IN WHICH TO APPLY?

We base our age divisions on your age for pick up and the majority of the gentling/training process. As an example ~ if animals are picked up on April 1st and your birthday falls on April 15th that will change your age division we will bump you up to that division. If your birthday is more than thirty (30) days after pick up you will stay in the younger division.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE HORSE AT THE END OF 100+ DAYS?

When you return to the designated location for the final competition, there will be an auction at the conclusion of the show. All in-hand competitors will have the choice to keep their horse/burro or to place it through the auction. All mounted competitors must place their horse through the auction. If they would like to keep their horse they must bid on it along with the general public.

WHAT IF I DECIDE TO KEEP MY HORSE - DO I STILL HAVE TO GO TO THE FINAL COMPETITION?

Yes you do. All animals must return to the final competition regardless of whether or not they are going up for public adoption or will be kept by the competitor unless the animal or the competitor is injured or sick. A Dr. or Veterinarian’s note will be required.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO WHEN THE HORSES ARE AUCTIONED/ADOPTED?

The minimum bid is currently $500. All competitors receive 100% of the auction funds!

HOW DO I APPLY FOR THIS PROGRAM?

Applications come out once a year – usually mid to the end of January. They need to be returned to the event coordinator by the date designated on the application. Applications must be complete and contain all requested supplemental items. Incomplete applications will not be considered for the competition.

IF I SUBMIT AN APPLICATION AM I GUARANTEED PARTICIPATION?

No. This is a selection process and competitors will be selected upon the completeness of the application, their personal equine experience, references, and the essay portions of the application.

WHEN WILL I FIND OUT IF I WAS SELECTED?

A notification date will be posted in the application and all successfully selected applicants will receive notification via email by that date.

CAN I COMPETE WITH MORE THAN ONE HORSE OR BURRO AT A TIME FOR THE COMPETITION?

If the animals are available through the BLM, we have allowed for a 2nd horse or burro to be selected after all competitors have been assigned an animal.

DO COMPETITORS RECEIVE SOME MONEY JUST FOR COMPETING?

The Mustang Heritage Foundation supports the in-hand portion of the TIP Challenges through the Trainer Incentive Program. All funds are allocated to different portions of the event with in-hand competitors receiving a stipend of $200 to assist in offsetting some of the feed/care costs incurred with their horse/burro for the 100+ day time frame it is in your possession. Mounted competitors receive a $100 stipend. To qualify to receive these stipends you must return to the final competition with your animal and it must be in good health and passing the vet check with a body conditioning score of not less than three (3) on the Henneke Scale. Any competitor dropping from competition, returning their animal before the final competition or not abiding by the necessary stipulations will not receive their allotted stipend.

IS THE STIPEND PART OF THE AUCTION SALE MONEY OVER $200?

No. This is completely separate from the auction sale money. You will receive your allotted stipend in addition to the sale money as stated previously.

WHAT IF MY HORSE DOES NOT SELL AT THE AUCTION?

If the adopter is unable to keep their Mustang/Burro after the competition, and the animal is not auctioned or does not receive an auction bid, it is the responsibility of the original adopter to find a new adopter for the animal. NO ANIMAL IS TO BE LEFT BEHIND BY A COMPETITOR/ADOPTER IN A STALL OR ON THE SHOW GROUNDS IF A NEW ADOPTER IS NOT PRESENT.

CAN I TAKE IT HOME AND ADVERTISE IT FOR SALE FOR WHATEVER PRICE I WANT?

You are not supposed to do this. The title of the horse still belongs to the BLM and you are limited by the $125 reassignment fee until you have possession of the horse for over a year and title has been transferred to your name (parent’s name if competitor is a youth).

HOW DO YOU GET THE TITLE FOR YOUR ANIMAL?

After a year’s time, a BLM representative or volunteer will come and do a site inspection of the horse and make sure all is well. At the end of that inspection, they will sign off on your horse. You will mail the paperwork back to the BLM. You will receive title by mail a short time after they receive the papers from you.

DO I NEED TO BE A TIP TRAINER TO BE A PARTICIPANT/COMPETITOR IN THIS PROGRAM?

No, you do not.

I ALREADY HAVE A BLM APPLICATION APPROVED, AM I GOOD TO GO?

You will have to fill out a new application that is specific to this challenge and one that will go through the BLM office that will have jurisdiction over our horses. For us, that is the Hines. OR facility. If you have an approved application through that facility that has been submitted within the last six (6) months then they may use it.

WHERE DO I FIND THE BLM APPLICATION FOR THIS COMPETITION?

We will send one to you that should be submitted along with your MYWY competitor application.