Congratulations on your interest in adopting one of America's wild horses! Across the country owners of wild horses are discovering the true value of these intelligent, hard working and sure-footed animals.

We sincerely hope that anyone who wishes to adopt a wild horse is looking for a friend and companion and not a yard ornament. Some people who decide they want a wild horse think they are saving it from death or slaughter. The wild horses which are protected by The Wild Horse and Burro Act, and are cared for by the Bureau of Land Management, are not sold for slaughter or killed. Some people who want a wild horse do not intend to use the horse; instead they want to turn him out to pasture to live out his days. Unfortunately, this seldom works to the horse's benefit. Wild horses are herd animals that depend on other members of the band or herd for their physical and mental well being. Without this interaction with his own species or a substitute, such as a human companion, the wild horse becomes a ghost of his true self.

Additional problems arise if the wild horse becomes ill or if basic "hands-on" animal care is required. If not properly gentled, such items of husbandry as hoof trimming, cannot be safely done. These horses are frightened of new people, places, and things and when pressured they will act "wild." Yet the wild horse and the domestic horse are alike in many ways. Both fear the unknown and will react by trying to run or escape from something that frightens them. In the wild horse this instinct to flee is more highly developed than it is in most domestic horses.

There will be much to think about before you decide to adopt; special preparations to be made before you bring your horse home and precautions to consider that will prevent injury to yourself and your horse during the gentling process.

Although only one member of the family may be adopting a wild horse, everyone will be affected by the decision. The hours necessary to gentle and train a wild horse may put additional pressures or responsibilities on other family members. Even if the horse is not being adopted for family use, Make sure the other members of your family are willing to support your decision in adopting a wild horse.

You may be able to approach, touch and ride a trained domestic horse immediately, but a wild horse will require time to adjust to everything from feed and housing to trusting human beings. Your expectations as to how soon you will be getting started handling and training your new adoptee should be realistic and be based on the horse's needs, not your own ambitions. During this time, a little patience and the pursuit of some knowledge about basic horse behavior will likely pay big dividends in the long run.

Many factors will determine how long it will take before your wild horse can be ridden. In general, a domestic horse is ready to carry a rider on his back when he is about 2½ years old. Most gentle domestic horses will receive 30 to 60 days training to reach the "green broke" stage. At this stage a horse knows the basic commands, signals, and cues and is comfortable with a quiet, competent rider on his back. (It should be noted, however, that high impact work should be avoided at this age since the growth plates in a young horse's joints are not yet fully formed.)

With your adoptee, his age at the time of adoption is but one item which will have to be considered. Particularly if coming from poor range, it may take as long as long as six months for your horse to be physically fit before you can begin actual training. In addition, before the horse bears the weight of a rider he should have been appropriately trimmed or shod for sufficient time that his stride and foot flight are correct and his tendons have adjusted to the dynamics of human farriery.

While mounting your adoptee may be some time off, ground work and the gentling of your wild horse should start right away. Here again, an understanding of how a horse behaves and how he decides whom is his social superior and social subordinate has a significant impact on how readily and comfortably he accepts your control. The wild horse has grown up in the equine social order and if you appear to him as a competent leader by his standards, he will be comfortable following you.

Aggressive behavior and / or overreaction by humans do not register high marks on the horse's "competent leader" scale. Overembellishment with goodies, while perhaps a positive distraction when the horse is first getting adjusted, does nothing to establish the human as a qualified superior. In fact, you may find it even more difficult to become recognized as the herd leader when you have spent your entire introductory period "advertising" yourself as a walking goodie wagon.

Thoughtful grooming is a courtesy and reward exchanged between horses. It is a social behavior which, when done correctly, is instinctively appreciated. Scratches and strokes are easy rewards you can provide for good behavior. Hard "pats" should be avoided as such sudden contacts, which might be regarded as playful by your dog, are generally considered as aggressive or negative advances by horses.

You should respect your horse's space and he should respect yours. A competent leader does not make sudden moves or loud noises that would upset his herdmates unless danger was eminent and flight was required or he intended to discipline his subordinates. A competent herd leader is watchful and looks out for the safety and well being of everyone (and every horse).

If you set yourself up in the horse's mind as a leader, it is his instinct to follow. When you get this pattern working for you, those things which would ordinarily be difficult can become easy.

(Or as one adopter recently posted on the "wildhorses" list server, "Money can't buy happiness, but 125 dollars will get you sheer joy!")

The Wild Horse, and Adopter's Manual is no longer in print. If another edition is released, we will post information about it in the Wild Horse Store.
Adapted for this site with permission from Barbara Eustis-Cross

Webmaster's Note: It's not the purpose of this site to promote anyone's books or products, however Barbara and Nancy have provided a ton of good material in this book. In addition to information which is "wild horse specific," they have provided a great deal of information on general horse care, feeding, veterinary considerations, practical anatomy, horse behavior, housing, basic training, bitting and saddling, first aid, etc. Thus I would offer that this work is valuable to anyone who is contemplating for the first time the bringing up of young horses, building practical animal housing, undertaking basic training, and so forth. In spite of its stereotypical title, it is useful to more than just those who are interested in acquiring a BLM wild horse.