RIVERTON WYOMING — The grounds of the Wyoming Honor Farm were abuzz following the Bureau of Land Management–Honor Farm spring wild horse adoption, as happy adopters discussed the variety of plans they have for their new charges. Some of these versatile horses will carry their owners when they hunt, trail ride or work on the ranch. Others will be used by outfitters or to teach students how to ride.

Attendance was at a near record high—122 potential adopters and interested onlookers gathered Saturday morning at the Honor Farm. The adoption kicked off with the high bid of the day—$600 for 4-year-old Luna. Luna is a blue roan gelding from the Crooks Mountain Wild Horse Herd Management Area southeast of Sweetwater Station. Luna’s winning bid was followed by bids on 18 saddle-started horses, 2 halter-started horses and 2 burros.

Stephen Lynn has been attending Honor Farm adoptions on and off for 25 years and adopted a gray mare from the Adobe Town Herd Management Area named Bridgette. “This is a great program,” said Lynn. “The guys are doing a better job training than ever before.” Lynn will take Bridgette hunting, where she will lead a pack string of mules and help keep them together at hunt camp.

Rancher Pete Arambel of Rock Springs, who adopted four saddle-started wild horses, had never been to an Honor Farm adoption before. Arambel is a BLM grazing permittee who ranches in the same area where many of the horses came from and never thought he would be adopting a gentled wild horse.

“The ground work they do is a big benefit,” said Arambel. “This is a super deal. I noted three other horses that I will come back and look at in September if this works out.”

Two adoptions are held at the Honor Farm each year and the next one is scheduled for September 12. There are several other opportunities to adopt a wild horse in Wyoming this year. The Honor Farm will be offering saddle and halter-started horses at the Wyoming State Fair Mustang Days Event August 15. The complete adoption schedule can be found by visiting http://blm.gov/hvld.

As Lynn was filling-out his paperwork following the adoption, an Honor Farm employee familiar with Bridgette’s skills, training and popularity among the trainers told Lynn, “You got the deal of the century.”

“That’s what everyone’s telling me,” said Lynn. “I got lucky.”