BLM Colorado Wild Horse Inmate Program

Cañon City houses BLM’s largest wild horse and burro holding facility, and is one of five facilities in the nation with a Wild Horse Inmate Program (WHIP). The WHIP is a cooperative agreement between BLM and the Colorado Department of Corrections, in which select wild horses and burros receive personal and extensive training as part of an inmate rehabilitative program.  In addition to providing training services, inmates feed and care for all other wild horses and burros at the facility.

The WHIP program offers trained horses to people who may not have the experience, time, or the facilities to train an animal on their own. The WHIP program was formed in 1986 and was the first of its kind. The facility takes in horses from throughout the country and can hold up to 2,000 wild horses and burros. This holding capacity will soon jump to 3,000 after construction to expand the facility is complete in July.

The inmates also benefit by learning meaningful and marketable work experience they can use when they are released. On average seven to 10 horses are trained every month and are ready to be adopted.

For information about the Cañon City WHIP visit the Colorado Department of Corrections page at http://www.coloradoci.com/

You Can Adopt a BLM Wild Horse in Colorado Year Round

BLM holds adoptions at the East Cañon Correctional Complex outside Cañon City two Fridays per month. You can usually choose from more than 1,000 wild horses and burros. Minimum adoption fee is $125 per untrained animal, $1,025 for saddle trained mustangs, and varying prices for halter trained animals.

You must be a pre-approved adopter in order to make an appointment. Please schedule your appointment no later than the Tuesday before the Friday adoption you would like to attend.

To request an application call the Royal Gorge Field Office at 719-269-8500 or download an application here.

Individuals interested in adopting a wild horse or burro may obtain information from the Bureau of Land Management by:

• Writing BLM 3028 E. Main, Cañon City, CO 81212
• Calling the Royal Gorge Field Office at 719-269-8500

Field Offices are responsible for Herd Management in their areas. Occasionally volunteers are needed for foal-count or gathers. Please contact the respective field office if you wish to offer your services. There are four herd management areas in Colorado:

1. Little Bookcliffs Grand Junction Field Office at 970-244-3000
2. Spring Creek  Mancos|Dolores Field Office at 970-882-7296
3. Sandwash  Little Snake Field Office at 970-826-5000
4. Piceance/E. Douglas  White River Field Office at 970-878-3800

Inportant Links:

• National WH&B Home
• National Internet Wild Horse Adoption Site