I know in Florida there are several who take on 'stangs needing first touch and handling, progressing to ridden when appropriate age and maturity is reached.
These people do this for love of the animal and a safer place for a animal to land a forever home with people who want but not have the skills to take on a feral or near feral animal.
My understanding is there is not a large fee, but you do fill out BLM papers and investigation process same as anyone does.
Your housing, fencing, transport of the animals must meet with approval and vet, farrier are contacted to see if you have other animals and their care plan/protocol followed.
I think the fee is $125. If there is a return payment or stipend given IDK.
After 2 years, you are again interviewed if not visit done, checked conditions and the horses ownership is given to you if you meet the needs and have taken care of.
The person who does the initial gentle and work...somehow she must be given incentive but not sure what...maybe that $1000 knave referenced she is given and that affords the animal what she does...
I know here she often has 12 babies, sometimes more or less in various stage of interaction from pictures I've seen of her among her animals.
Maybe someone like that is in your area if you want a animal with a bit of training on it, but still much of a clean slate to mold and teach.
I know if you "adopt" a pregnant mare and she foals in your care you can sell the baby and not jump through hoops of the BLM and that baby is also not tattooed as all BLM adopted are. Today with how micro-chipping has progressed I don't know if that identifier is still branded seen or injected microchip.
Many 'stangs have multiple breeds mixed in by their appearances.
The range herds at times had exposure to private stock that got loose from ranches or that 'stangs crossed into protected range and actual riding herds just turned out for R&R periods of time....still happens today so indeed you can have Quarter Horse blood mixed in.
I've seen paint, appaloosa, some heavier draft influences seen, from smaller to 16+ hand horses in the adoption pens when they have traveled here to our state. I think more common I saw large 14 hand to mid 15 hand, stockier appearing, the bigger horses not quite as common thinking they are scooped up faster since today many are centered on larger sizes not necessarily traits fitting the job you wish to try with the animal.
I've never adopted myself because I feel I don't know enough, have enough skills to teach and gentle a feral and am honest about it.
I have the facility to have them with no problem, but not the confidence or hours I feel the animals deserve.
I see many day cowboys here, the range rider riding stangs and you could not give them enough to sell their mount...they are hardy and really smart. Their riders are very loyal to their animals.
🐴...
jmo...
