Wild Mustang Adoption Event Coming To Livingston

One of the most iconic symbols of the American West is the horse—but not just any horse. We’re talkin’ about the mustang. These wild horses carry a deep-rooted history, they are descendants of horses brought over by Spanish explorers and missionaries in the 1500s. Their legacy runs through the veins of the West, wild and untamed.

Fast forward to modern times, and managing these herds has become a big responsibility. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees wild horses and burros (that’s wild donkeys, for those unfamiliar) across 26.9 million acres of public lands. Meanwhile, the USDA Forest Service handles the herds that roam the National Forest System lands. With that kind of territory, proper management is critical. Like with most conservation efforts, these animals must stay within an Appropriate Management Level (AML). If their populations grow unchecked, it can lead to damage to native habitats and disrupt the balance of the land they roam.

One important method of keeping those numbers in check is adoption—and there’s a great opportunity coming up right here in our backyard. The BLM Montana/Dakotas is hosting the Upper Yellowstone Wild Horse and Burro Adoption event June 6–8 at the Park County Fairgrounds in Livingston, Montana.

The mustangs and burros available come from the Wyoming Honor Farm, a minimum-security facility in Riverton that’s been partnering with the BLM since 1988. The program helps inmates rehabilitate while giving horses a second chance at life.

There’ll be clinics, educational events, and a live auction. The clinic is being hosted by the one and only Mustang Matt, who is a well-known mustang horse trainer.

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If you are interested in adopting, you can put in a early application HERE and the adoption requirements are HERE.