POMPEYS PILLAR, Mont. — Eleven wild horses stepped off a trailer at Stoltz Ranch on Fly Creek Road on March 12th, marking a milestone not just for one family’s passion project, but for wild horse adoption access across the entire northwestern United States.
Stoltz Ranch, owned and operated by Trent Stoltz, has been approved as a Branded Adoption Center through Forever Branded, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that partners with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program. The designation makes Stoltz Ranch one of two Forever Branded Adoption Center for wild horses in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the greater Northwest region — bringing wild horse adoption closer to thousands of potential adopters who previously had no nearby option.
What Is a Branded Adoption Center?
Branded Adoption Centers are privately operated facilities contracted through Forever Branded to house and offer federally protected wild horses and burros to the public. Each center must pass a rigorous application, interview, and on-site BLM facility inspection, and must be equipped to safely care for at least 20 animals at one time. Operators are vetted for horsemanship skills, safe handling experience, and alignment with the program’s humane treatment standards.
The horses currently at Stoltz Ranch arrived from a BLM holding facility in Oregon, offering adopters the rare opportunity to build a one-of-a-kind partnership with a true American wild horse.
2026 Public Sale Events at Stoltz Ranch
Five public adoption and sale events are scheduled at Stoltz Ranch (1801 Fly Creek Rd., Pompeys Pillar, Montana) in 2026. BLM representatives will be on hand at each event to answer questions and assist with the adoption process.
• April 30-May 3, 2026
• June 27–28, 2026
• July 25-26, 2026
• August 22–23, 2026
• September 26-27, 2026
In addition to sale weekends, horses will be available for adoption on an ongoing basis throughout the spring and summer as new animals arrive. Interested buyers do not have to wait for a sale event.
How to Adopt
All interested adopters must submit an application through the BLM Wild Horse and Burro website prior to purchasing a horse. Applications can also be completed the day of any sale event, and BLM representatives will be available on-site to walk prospective adopters through the process.
BLM Wild Horse & Burro Adoption Applications: https://wildhorsesonline.blm.gov
Rooted in a Love of Horses
Stoltz Ranch applied to the Forever Branded Adoption Center program out of a longtime passion for horses and a desire to give these animals — and the people who might love them — a better chance to find each other. The ranch is committed to humane handling standards and the natural horsemanship principles promoted by Forever Branded.
There are currently just 11 Branded Adoption Centers operating across the United States. Stoltz Ranch fills a significant geographic gap, giving horse-minded families across Montana, Wyoming, the Dakotas, and Nebraska a regional destination for wild horse adoption.
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Stoltz Ranch
