The state's first wild horse and burro adoption of 2017 will be held in Riverton on May 20th, hosted by the Bureau of Land Management and the Wyoming Honor Farm.

Honor Farm Wild Horse Supervisor Curt Simmons and the trainers say they have "nice lineup" of about 30 halter and saddle-started horses and burros available for adoption.They say all of the horses have been haltered, led, trailered, had their feet handled and are in various stages of the gentling program.

“May is a great time to adopt a gentled wild horse, with the whole summer still ahead for continued training,” said Scott Fluer, BLM program specialist for the Wyoming Honor Farm.

Gates will open on Saturday, May 20, at 7:30 a.m., and competitive bidding will start at 10:30 a.m. If you'd like to preview the horses in advance , you can do that from 1:00-3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 19. Both events are free and open to anyone interested in wild horses, the Honor Farm gentling process and the BLM wild horse and burro adoption program.

Horses that have been gentled by the trainers at the Honor Farm trainers are used in a number of different ways, including  hunting, trail riding and ranch work. A release from the BLM details one story of horses and those who adopted them

"Ted and Maureen Shuler of Powell adopted Waddy, Smokey and Sasha—all from the Salt Wells Herd Management Area southeast of Rock Springs—at the spring 2016 adoption. Since then, the family has ridden them on several pack trips in the mountains, including some overnight trips.

'We thought the mustangs would be nervous and somewhat uneasy,' said Maureen Shuler. 'We were pleasantly surprised that they acted like they had been doing this for years. They load into the horse trailer smoothly. They like to be petted and they follow Ted around like he is leading them on a rope. We are so happy with our three new mustangs.'"

Photo Courtesy Wyoming BLM
Photo Courtesy Wyoming BLM
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Applications for adoption will be accepted on both Friday and Saturday, and lunch concessions will be available. The Wyoming Honor Farm is located one mile north of Riverton just take US-26 to Honor Farm Road.

For more information about the BLM’s wild horse and burro program, visit www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro or call 866-4MUSTANGS (866-468-7826).

Below are some of the rules and restrictions from the BLM.

"Only covered stock or slant load style trailers are authorized for loading. Two-horse trailers are not allowed unless they are a stock or slant type, with no internal dividers.

Please remember that firearms, alcohol, drugs and dogs are not allowed onsite at any time. Cell phones, cameras, video equipment and tobacco products must be kept locked in one's vehicle while onsite. In order to maintain a positive environment for visitors, a reasonable clothing standard must be adhered to. Shorts and form-fitting clothing are prohibited."

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