The Trainer Incentive Program was started by the Mustang Heritage Foundation as a way to help BLM mustangs and burros find qualified adopters. Not everybody that wants a mustang or burro has the time, experience, or proper facilities to gentle a wild one. The Mustang Heritage Foundation started the TIP program as a way to increase adoptions.  Trainers pick out horses/burros from the local BLM facility and gentle them. The trainer helps to locate an adopter. The adopter pays the same $125 fee as they would if they were adopting a completely wild one but gets the benefit of the animals training as well as being able to pick the horse/burro up from the trainers facility instead of driving to the BLM holding facility. 

This one is easy, I wait and see the personality of the Burro or Mustang and see what comes to me. If an adopter picks out an animal prior to me getting to name them, the adopter will name their animal. From that point forward we will refer to them by their name.

I consider a training day any time I actively work on improving the Mustang or Burros response to humans for over 5 min at a time. I do spend some time with the horses or burros just cleaning stalls or stopping in to visit with them for a few minutes each day. Of course any time you spend with them helps with the gentling process I don’t consider these sessions “training”.

The mustangs and burros I have are being gentled as part of a Trainer Incentive Program. The adoption process is very similar to adopting a mustang directly from the BLM corrals, however, I must provide you with a Freezemark to write in at the space provided on the application. I do perform a basic screening of the people who are adopting an animal from me. My goal is for a successful adoption, so I need to make sure that you understand that these animals are not old Nellie from down the street that has been there / done that. I need you to understand that even though these Mustangs and Burros are gentle, they are not broke. Most importantly, I need to make sure you understand that these animals can still be unpredictable. Other than that, just like the BLM, it is OK with me if this will be your first horse Mustang or Burro long as you understand the training requirements.

From the first day these animals arrive I am looking for a “Commitment to Adopt”. Someone who is willing to say YES, when this horse/burro is available I DO want it and WILL adopt it. That’s it. No money needs to be exchanged, no deposit placed. Due to previous experiences with potential adopters backing out on their commitment I no longer list animals as adoption pending until the BLM has received and approved the adoption application. Once somebody “commits” to a animal I will stop showing it to other potential adopters as well as stop actively updating ads / soliciting adopters.

The Trainer Incentive Program requires that the mustangs can be haltered, lead, pick up all four feet and load into a trailer. I showcase mustangs and burros in training as soon as they arrive so depending on the stage of training the mustang or burro has he / she may not have learned all of those behaviors yet, but they will know them before they are leave my facility.

We welcome visitors almost any day of the week at our facility in Llano, CA. An appointment is required, 24 hr notice is appreciated.  We are happy to let you see the animals and learn about Mustangs, Burros and the various adoption opportunities offered by the BLM and Mustang Heritage Foundation.

Be sure to click on the Adoption Process link in the menu above. We have also created this short video to answer some of the basic questions we get about the mustang adoption process.

BLM has information available on their website at: https://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse/herdareas.php