BLM AND RCCC ANNOUNCE SADDLE STARTED WILD HORSE ADOPTION DURING DAYS OF THE AMERICAN WEST

ELK GROVE, Calif. - The Bureau of Land Management and the Rio Cosumnes Corrections Center (RCCC) have announced a saddle-started wild horse adoption event taking place from July 23-30, 2026, through the Wild Horse and Burro Online Corral. The animals will be offered as part of the Days of the American West Wild Horse and Burro Private Care and Placement Blitz.

Up to four saddle-started wild horses and two wild burros -trained by the RCCC inmates and Walt Rodman -will be offered for adoption or sale. These once-wild horses originate from the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area in California, range in age from three- to four-years old, and vary in weight and color. Each animal has completed at least 120 days of training as part of the RCCC inmate training program.

"RCCC continues to do a great job highlighting the versatility of these animals and showcasing their true athleticism." said Travis Tolbert, BLM Headquarters Wild Horse and Burro Private Care Coordinator (acting). "I am excited for the opportunity to work with this program and offer these animals nationally as part of the Day of the American West celebration through the Online Corral platform. The horses have made immense progress in their training and have come along well in a short time."

"The RCCC Wild Horse and Burro Training Program continues to be one of the many reentry and vocational programs we are proud to offer. The dedication and hard work demonstrated by both inmates and staff reflects our commitment to rehabilitation, personal responsibility, and positive community impact,"said Sergeant Ed Igoe, spokesperson for the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office. "We are honored to play a role in preparing these remarkable animals for new homes, while helping participants develop valuable skills for a successful future. We offer multiple programs that benefit both the animals and the inmates by providing valuable vocational training."

Animal marketing descriptions and training demos will be available to the public through YouTube, which can be found in the animal marketing description in the Online Corral. To view this training demo, please visit the individual animal page via the Online Corral. Starting bids for the animals will begin at $125 and the auction will start on July 23^rd at 3 p.m. PST and end on July 30^th at 3 p.m. PST.

Potential adopters should apply through the Online Corral website to participate in the auction event. For specific questions, please contact Travis Tolbert at [email protected].