Catching wild horses in Wyoming is illegal under federal law. The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act gives the Bureau of Land Management exclusive authority over these animals, and taking one off public land without authorization can bring a fine of up to $2,000 and up to a year in prison. The only lawful way to bring a wild horse home is through the BLM’s adoption or sale program.
Why Taking a Wild Horse Is a Federal Crime
Wild horses on federal public land belong to the United States. The BLM and the U.S. Forest Service manage them, and no one may remove, convert to private use, harass, or kill a wild horse without authorization from the Secretary of the Interior.1Bureau of Land Management. About the Program
The criminal provisions at 16 U.S.C. § 1338 reach a wide range of acts: removing a horse from public land without permission, converting one to private use, causing its death or harassment, processing remains into commercial products, and selling a horse maintained on private land under the Act. Each violation can carry a fine of up to $2,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 16 U.S.C. 1338 – Criminal Provisions The federal government keeps legal ownership of every wild horse until it formally transfers title through the adoption process. Possession without paperwork is unlawful possession.
If a Wild or Unclaimed Horse Wanders Onto Your Land
This is where Wyoming landowners run into the most confusion. Under Wyoming law, if unclaimed horses show up on land you own or control, you can gather them without a permit. You then have to present them to a brand inspector in your county without unnecessary delay so the inspector can determine ownership. You are responsible for the cost of the gather and the animal’s feed and care until that inspection happens. If the owner cannot be found, the horses are disposed of under Wyoming’s estray laws; they do not become yours by default.
Taking up or keeping an estray without the owner’s knowledge or consent, or restraining one for personal use, is punishable under Wyoming law. If the animal carries a BLM freeze brand, it is still federal property and the federal criminal provisions apply on top of state consequences. The safe step is to contact both your local brand inspector and the BLM when unbranded or freeze-branded horses appear on your property.
Adopting a Wild Horse Through the BLM
The adoption program is the main way an individual legally obtains a wild horse. Federal law allows the Secretary to have excess animals “humanely captured and removed for private maintenance and care” when qualified individuals can provide humane treatment, including proper transportation, feeding, and handling.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 16 U.S.C. 1333 – Powers and Duties of Secretary You can adopt no more than four animals per year unless the BLM determines in writing that you can humanely care for more.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old with no record of animal abuse.4Bureau of Land Management. Adoption Program There is no explicit land-ownership requirement, but your facilities must meet every BLM specification whether you own or lease the property. The BLM holds in-person adoption events using competitive bidding, lottery draws, or first-come, first-served selection, and also runs an Online Corral where you can browse horses and submit applications electronically.
Facility and Trailer Requirements
Your property has to meet specific standards before the BLM will approve your application. These are hard requirements, not suggestions.
- Corral space of at least 400 square feet per animal, with access to food, water, and shelter.
- Fencing at least six feet high for adult horses, five feet for yearlings, and four and a half feet for burros, built from materials the animal can see, such as wood or pipe.
- A sturdy, three-sided shelter that protects the animal from wind and weather.
Transportation trips up a lot of first-time adopters. The BLM will not haul the horse for you. You need a stock-type trailer with rear swing gates, a covered top, sturdy walls and floors, smooth interior surfaces free of sharp protrusions, adequate headroom and ventilation, non-skid flooring, and removable partitions to separate animals by size when needed.5Bureau of Land Management. Direction for the Sale of Wild Horses and Burros – Interim Guidance Drop-ramp trailers, divided two-horse trailers, and trucks with stock racks will not be accepted for adult horses. The BLM inspects your trailer on pickup day and will refuse to load the animal if it does not meet these standards.
Application, Fees, and the One-Year Wait for Title
Applications go on BLM Form 4700-4, the Application for Adoption and Care of Wild Horses and Burros. You can download it from the BLM website or pick one up at a regional field office. The form asks for your contact information, the physical address where the horse will be kept, and detailed descriptions of your corral dimensions, fencing materials, gates, water sources, and feed. Including photos or diagrams of your facilities helps the BLM verify compliance and prevents delays.
Signing the application certifies that you will provide humane care and will not sell or transfer the animal to anyone who intends to send it to slaughter or process it into commercial products. A false statement is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 1001.4Bureau of Land Management. Adoption Program The anti-slaughter certification remains binding even after you receive title.
The minimum adoption fee for an untrained wild horse or burro is $25 at lottery or first-come, first-served events. Trained or gentled animals carry a minimum fee of $125, and competitive-bid events can go higher.6Bureau of Land Management. Adoption and Purchase Frequently Asked Questions
Paying the fee and taking the horse home does not make you the owner. The federal government holds title for the first twelve months, and during that period the animal must stay in the United States.6Bureau of Land Management. Adoption and Purchase Frequently Asked Questions The BLM contacts first-time adopters within six months to check on the animal’s welfare, either by phone, in person, or by virtual inspection, and a percentage of untitled animals are randomly inspected each year.
After the one-year anniversary, the BLM sends instructions for obtaining title. You submit a signed letter from a qualified person, such as a veterinarian or county extension agent, verifying humane care and treatment. The BLM then issues a Certificate of Title, and the horse is legally yours.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 16 U.S.C. 1333 – Powers and Duties of Secretary Until that certificate is in hand, you cannot legally sell, give away, or transfer the animal.
Buying Through the Sale Program
The BLM also sells wild horses and burros outright, but only animals over 10 years old or those passed over for adoption at least three times. Sale prices start at $25, and individuals can purchase up to four animals every six months.7Bureau of Land Management. Wild Horse and Burros Sales Program
A sale transfers ownership immediately through a Bill of Sale. There is no one-year probationary period and no separate certificate of title. You still have to meet the same facility and trailer standards, sign the same anti-slaughter certification, and have no record of animal abuse. The sale program often suits experienced horse owners who want an older animal without waiting a year for title.
The Adoption Incentive Program Has Ended
For several years the BLM paid monetary incentives to adopters who successfully obtained title. A federal court order issued on March 3, 2025 shut that program down. The BLM stopped issuing incentive payments for any animal not titled before that date and discontinued further participation.8Bureau of Land Management. Adoption Incentive Program If you are weighing adoption now, the incentive payment is no longer part of the math; the fees and procedures above are what apply.