Where the Wild Horses Roam in Kansas: Locations that partner with the Bureau of Land Management
Wild horses are an iconic symbol of the American West, but due to overpopulation and resource concerns, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages their numbers through programs like Off-Range Pastures and adoption opportunities. Kansas plays a unique role in this effort, hosting wild horses at several locations across the state.
Svaty Ranch & Wild Horse Sanctuary
Thanks to Svaty Ranch in Ellsworth, Kansas is one of only three states where the public can safely see wild horses up close. In partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), only four ranches in the U.S. participate in the Public Off-Range Pasture program. Svaty is one of them. These ranches provide land to hold wild horses and agree to give educational tours that are open to the public.
Taking one of these guided tours last May, I learned several interesting tidbits. For example, horses at the Svaty Ranch are all mares. Horses have a number on their rump. If it's white, they were freeze-branded, not hot-branded. The freeze makes the hair come in white. Ranches receive a per diem for the horses. But ranchers must cover all costs, like vet care, feed, and repairs. Svaty Ranch also works with the BLM's adoption program. Allowing for private adoptions of the horses.
What to Know:
Remember, this is a busy working ranch. If you're interested in a tour, book it well in advance.
Svaty Ranch did a great job of making the visit accessible, but you'll need to be able to get up and down from the bed of a work truck.
If you're considering adopting a horse, think long and hard about it. It's a true commitment.
Learn more by visiting svatyranch.com
The Flint Hills
In the Flint Hills, some ranches participate in the BLM's Off-Range Pasture program. But, they are entirely private, with no access to the public. Your only option is to see the horses from the road, which is a game of chance. One location to try your luck is Teter Rock.
Teter Rock is a landmark east of the community of Cassoday. It's the more popular spot for those attempting to see horses in the Flint Hills. It's never a given, though. Ranchers will move the herds to different pastures for grazing. I was fortunate to see the horses on my trip to Teter Rock. You can read more about my experience here.
What to Know:
While the horses could be seen in any season, I recommend late spring or early summer. The Flint Hills show off best in June.
In most situations, wild horses are not worked with and don't have much human interaction. They are skittish and may run off. Be as quiet and non-disruptive as possible. Please don't call to the horses or interact with them.
I want to reiterate that the horses are on private land. Stay only on the road.
Hutchinson Correctional Facility
The Kansas Department of Corrections Hutchinson facility is one of only two correctional facilities that work with the BLM. It has created a rare opportunity for both horse and man. As an Off-Range Corral, a dozen minimum-security individuals train horses for adoption. This program finds homes for the horses and provides individuals with skills and work experience they can apply in the future.
Each spring, Kansas Correctional Industries holds an auction for horses that are available to be adopted. Horses not adopted are transferred to long-term holding locations.
What to Know
The Hutchinson Correctional Facility can hold up to 350 horses.
The material used by the facility to work with and house the horses has been donated.
More Questions & Disclaimer:
I'm not an authority or expert on the BLM Wild Horse & Burro program. Just an interested observer. Raised around horses, I appreciate the majestic beauty and power of these creatures. There may be misconceptions about the program. I know some have concerns about wild horses in Kansas, especially in the Flint Hills. Fearing they will ruin the landscape. My recommendation would be to learn more about it at www.blm.gov/whb.
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