How you can get $1000 from the Bureau of Land Management for adopting a wild horse

SACRAMENTO, Calif — If you are wanting to get a horse or donkey, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a deal for you.

The United States is currently struggling with large herds of wild horses and wild donkeys in 9 of the 10 states the BLM is monitoring.

The cost of adopting an untrained horse or donkey is $25. Within 60 days of the adoption, the BLM will give the adopter $500. The BLM will give the adopter another $500 within 60 days of the title date, the day the adopter officially owns the horse after a trial period.

Debbie Collins with the BLM's Wild Horse and Burro program said that the best way to start the adoption process is to visit their website blm.gov/whb or call (866)468-7826.

Collins said that although the training of the horses is a cost that the adopter would have to bear, the BLM hopes that the incentive will help in lessening the burden of adopting a wild horse.

Amy Dumas with the BLM said they cannot recommend trainers but would refer potential adopters to the Mustang Heritage Foundation for recommendations for trainers to gentle the wild horses.

Dumas said adoptions are important because the BLM is not able to easily thin out the constantly growing herds.

There are around triple the amount of wild horses and donkeys than the land can handle in the 10 western states, according to Collins. She said this has resulted in the horses and donkeys having a harder time surviving due to low food sources and a higher risk of death when searching for a new food source.

In California alone, there are 10,971 horses and donkeys and the BLM estimates that the land can only really handle around 2,200 wild horses and donkeys.

Check out some more facts about wild horses in the U.S. on this fact sheet:

RELATED: 

Inmate-trained wild mustangs up for adoption

Sacramento Zoo becomes only place in Northern California to see the rare Okapi

Agency built pen for possible horse slaughter

His home and pasture were destroyed, but this mini-horse survived California's Camp Fire

Emu and donkey, an inseparable pair, find their forever homes with Walking Dead actor

These 'cowboys' have saved thousands of animals from California wildfires

________________________________________________________________

WATCH MORE Get your wagon fixed on the outskirts of Oroville

A mechanic can fix your car, but what if you own an antique horse-drawn wagon? Well, for that you need a wheelwright, and there is only one of those in California. John Bartell takes us on the backroads of Oroville to meet the couple keeping wagon history alive.