Fighting for America’s wild herds
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
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Wild Horse and Burro 2023
Wild Horse and Burro articles for 2023
SIGN ON: Demand transparency and accountability at government roundups!
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
In less than three weeks, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is set to begin its largest roundup of Fiscal Year (FY) 2024.
The BLM is planning to round up and remove over 2,800 wild horses from their homes in Nevada’s East Pershing Complex – putting the safety and even the lives of these innocent animals in danger.
During roundups like this, AWHC deploys our humane observation teams to document the BLM’s treatment of wild horses and burros, hold it accountable, and inform the public about what’s happening to our federally protected wild herds. The thing is, the BLM imposes a number of restrictions on public observation at these roundups, often placing observers up to a mile away from the trap site.
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AWHC had our observers on the ground at last month’s Clan Alpine roundup during which 1,605 horses were captured and 1,415 were permanently removed. There, our observers saw troubling signs, including visibly exhausted and very sweaty horses, as well as many horses who came into the trap site visibly in pain and limping.
But since the BLM isn’t required to install cameras on its helicopters, we don’t know how long the horses were run, how hard they were pushed, or if the BLM violated any Comprehensive Animal Welfare guidelines during the chase.
| TAKE ACTION |
Thank you!
AWHC Team
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Take Action for Arizona’s Wild Horses
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
We have both encouraging and concerning updates from Arizona to share with you.
First, the positive news: The recent lawsuit threatening the humane management of the Salt River wild horses was dismissed by the US District Court for the District of Arizona. The lawsuit was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and trophy hunting groups. The United States Forest Service (USFS), responsible for the Tonto National Forest where the horses reside, successfully moved to dismiss the lawsuit, exposing factual inaccuracies in the CBD’s complaint. The American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) and the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG) also filed a motion to intervene, highlighting misinformation in the CBD complaint.
In October of this year, the judge granted the USFS’s motion to dismiss, but gave CDB 30 days to amend its complaint. On November 30, the 30-day window closed without action from CBD, resulting in the lawsuit being officially dismissed in the lower court. This victory ensures the continued protection of the Salt River wild horses and safeguards the successful humane management program.
Now, the unfortunate news: In the Apache Sitgreaves Forest, just 150 miles from the Tonto National Forest, the USFS shipped 45 captured Alpine wild horses to a notorious slaughter auction in Texas. Fortunately, the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group and other organizations rallied together to find placement for all 45 horses. However, the USFS is continuing to roundup wild horses in an attempt to eradicate them from the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest, meaning more of these magnificent animals are at risk of being shipped to kill pens unless the agency changes its deadly policy.
Your voice can play a crucial role in safeguarding these beloved and historic animals. Join us in urging the USFS to adopt humane management practices that prioritize the protection and humane treatment of wild horses on our public lands.
The American Wild Horse Campaign
Thank YOU!
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
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One last chance…
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
This is Suzanne Roy, the executive director of the American Wild Horse Campaign.
AWHC is leading the charge for wild horse and burro conservation. This year, we’ve made great strides for our wild herds and, with your support, we know we can do the same next year. In 2023, we documented nearly all Bureau of Land Management (BLM) roundups, exposed the reality of overburdened federal holding facilities, and investigated the Adoption Incentive Program (AIP). Public awareness about the plight of these animals has never been higher, thanks to our national advertising campaigns, translating into growing support in Congress for reform. And so much more…
As Giving Tuesday — our most critical fundraising day of the year — comes to a close, we’re asking for your help to power our 2024 agenda.
| CHIP IN |
We have lofty goals for 2024 and we know we are on the precipice of change. With your help, we can make 2024 the most game-changing year yet.
| DOUBLE MY IMPACT |
I am profoundly grateful to everyone who has contributed to our cause. Your dedication is the driving force behind AWHC’s work, and we simply can’t do it without you. Thank you for making a difference for these animals we cherish, and who are so important to our nation and western public lands.
Gratefully,
Suzanne Roy
Executive Director
American Wild Horse Campaign
What your support means for wild horses and burros
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Your unwavering support for the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) is the powerhouse behind our work and will help set the stage for our ambitious 2024 agenda. We are committed to upholding America’s promise of freedom for wild horses and burros. And we’re doing just that through our work in the field, in the courts, and on Capitol Hill.
Today, we wanted to share with you how pivotal each donated dollar is to sustaining our lifesaving programs. But first, can we count on you to contribute and help us achieve our $100,000 Giving Tuesday goal? Act now and every donation before midnight will be matched, doubling your impact!
| HAVE YOUR GIFT DOUBLED → DONATE NOW! |
Meredith, every dollar you donate to the American Wild Horse Campaign is a catalyst for change in our work:
- In-the-Wild Conservation:Not only does AWHC operate the world’s largest humane fertility control vaccine program for wild horses on Nevada’s Virginia Range, but this year we’ve taken steps to expand fertility control programs to other herds throughout the West. We’ve also recently acquired 3,300+ acres of prime habitat in Nevada’s beautiful Carson Valley to serve as a pilot program for our new Land Conservancy Project – an innovative program that aims to preserve and enhance habitat for America’s wild herds.
2. Government Relations: Your contributions drive our advocacy for wild-horse-friendly legislation, such as the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2023, which would end cruel helicopter roundups, the Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act, which would finally ban the slaughter and export of equines for human consumption, and the Ejiao Act, which would help protect the global donkey population from slaughter.
3. Investigations: With your help, we bring to light the reality of wild horse and burro roundups, expose holding facility conditions, and unveil the truth behind the Adoption Incentive Program, which is funneling hundreds, if not thousands, of mustangs and burros into the slaughter pipeline.
4. Rescue: Your generosity enables us to support the direct rescue of wild horses and burros at risk of slaughter. We grant funds to our partner organizations, including for veterinary care and transport for horses and burros after they are rescued.
5. Advocacy: We are bringing the issue of wild horse and burro protection into the mainstream by launching national awareness campaigns through the placement of billboards – including one in New York City’s Times Square through the holiday season – and through television and digital media ads, our celebrity ambassador program, and traditional media.
6. And so much more.
| HAVE YOUR GIFT DOUBLED → DONATE NOW! |
Thank you,
The American Wild Horse Campaign
The Most Important Day of the Year
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
We don’t say this lightly – today is THE most important fundraising day of the year for the American Wild Horse Campaign.
Can you chip in and help us get a headstart today? >>
Right now, we have a chance to double the impact of your donation, with a 2X match for ALL Giving Tuesday gifts! This means every donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar, doubling the impact of your support!
| DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT → DONATE NOW! |
Your support is critical to sustaining our year-round efforts to preserve the untamed spirit of America’s wild horses and burros. By generously contributing today, your donation will be matched 2X, DOUBLING your impact.
Your donations don’t just help set the stage for attaining our 2024 goals. Wild horses and burros are being rounded up right now in Nevada, and we have launched a nationwide awareness campaign to ensure that every American knows what’s happening to the West’s wild horses and burros.
| DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT → DONATE NOW! |
Every donation, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to our goal of preserving America’s wild horses and burros in the wild, where they belong. Whether it’s $10, $50, $100, or more, your contribution will BE DOUBLED and have a lasting impact.
Thank you!
— Team AWHC
Giving Tuesday is TOMORROW!
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Giving Tuesday is TOMORROW!
Matching Fund: unlocked
We need all hands on deck to help us hit our $100,000 fundraising goal for Giving Tuesday. Can you chip in right away?
We can’t believe it. Tomorrow is Giving Tuesday, and it’s our biggest fundraising day of the year.
What’s more, a generous donor has stepped up to match every contribution up to our $100,000 goal, giving us 2X the impact for Giving Tuesday. This is the best possible time to donate to the American Wild Horse Campaign because your donation will have double the impact.
Your donation will:
Double the impact on our work observing and documenting Bureau of Land Management roundups. This means more resources to monitor, document, and advocate for the humane treatment of these animals, ensuring their safety and well-being during these inhumane capture operations.
Double the impact on our work to amplify awareness about the plight of wild horses and burros through social and traditional media coverage.
Double the impact on our work fighting in the courts to defend the rights and habitats of wild horses and burros, standing firm against violations of the laws enacted to protect them.
Double the impact on our work urging federal and state lawmakers to enact policies that strengthen protections for wild horses and burros, and promote sustainable and humane management practices.
Double the impact saving wild horses and burros.
| Chip in $20 ($40 impact) → |
| Chip in $35 ($70 impact) → |
| Chip in $50 ($100 impact) → |
| Chip in more → |
Thank you for supporting our critical work.
Team AWHC
Giving Tuesday is just TWO days away!
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Our BIGGEST fundraising day of the year is just over 48 hours away. And we’ve got great news – last week, we raised $35,000 towards Giving Tuesday and unlocked a 2X matchfrom one of our generous donors!
As we gear up for Giving Tuesday, we’re setting the stage for our work in 2024. Achieving our $100,000 goal is more than just a number; it means having the resources to support and continue all of our vital programs that defend and protect wild horses and burros. And next year, our work will be more important than ever.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is gearing up to continue its cruel helicopter roundups across the West, posing a serious threat to the freedom and safety of thousands of wild horses and burros. These roundups often leave these animals traumatized, and many sustain serious injuries while trying to evade capture. Help us fight back. >>
This year, far too many innocent wild horses and burros, including many young foals, lost their lives thanks to government mismanagement. Once captured, these magnificent creatures are crammed into overburdened government-holding facilities where they face inhumane conditions, disease, injury, and death. Even worse, they are at risk of entering the slaughter pipeline through the BLM’s disastrous Adoption Incentive Program (AIP).
Your support this Giving Tuesday can help us fight back. Hitting this $100,000 goal would help power:
- Our direct rescue efforts to track and rescue victims of the AIP before they’re shipped to slaughter;
- Our investigations work to uncover the truth about how our wild horses and burros are treated during roundups and in holding;
- Our expanding fertility control programs that are proving to the BLM, Congress, and the public that there IS a better way to manage our wild herds;
- Our advocacy work in Congress and state legislatures across the country to pass legislation that strengthens protections for wild horses and burros,
- And so much more.
Thank you,
American Wild Horse Campaign
Your Black Friday purchase can help protect wild horses >>
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
We’re sure you won’t want to miss these wild gifts this holiday season!!
This Black Friday, use some of your shopping dollars to protect wild horses and burros! When you purchase any of these special items below, a portion of the proceeds will go directly toward the fight to keep wild horses wild!
For the Home
Wild Mustang Blankets from The Surrey
The Surrey, a luxury equestrian apparel and textile brand, has partnered with the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) to create a collection of wild mustang blankets featuring stunning images by fine art photographer Kimerlee Curyl.
The blankets are produced using Variant3D knitting technology. This process not only ensures the blankets are beautiful and of high quality but also promotes sustainability. Each blanket is made by repurposing 24 plastic water bottles. By employing this technology, every pixel of the featured wild mustang images is translated into a stitch, capturing the essence and expression of each horse and telling its own distinctive story. These blankets serve as both functional and artistic pieces.
50 percent of proceeds from each blanket supports the American Wild Horse Campaign’s efforts to keep wild horses wild on western public lands.
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Kimerlee Curyl Fine Art Prints
Kimerlee Curyl’s fine art photography is not just about capturing the essence of these magnificent creatures; it’s about sharing their stories with the world. Her goal is to inspire you to care about their well-being and join the movement to protect their natural habitats. By displaying her artwork in your home or workspace, you can spark conversations about conservation with your loved ones and colleagues.
Get a 20 percent discount on Kimerlee’s prints from Nov 17 to Dec 8, with 20 percent going to support the American Wild Horse Campaign.
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KT Merry Fine Art Prints
KT has over a decade of experience in fashion and editorial photography, and has earned a reputation for producing natural, ethereal, and painterly portraits. What sets her apart is her exceptional ability to capture fleeting moments that evoke both time and emotion. One of KT’s initiatives involves generously donating 20 percent of all retail sales from her Simply Wild series to the American Wild Horse Campaign. This Giving Tuesday, KT will be donating 40 percent of each item sold to AWHC, and each print will be 20 percent off! Support a good cause and add a unique touch to your space with KT’s stunning artwork.
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Thanksgiving Coffee
Are you looking for a great stocking stuffer for the holidays? Thanksgiving Coffee Company has partnered with AWHC to create Wild Grounds, a cause to save the wild horses. $3 rebate on every package sold online for the protection of wild horses!
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Legends of the West: A Portfolio Celebrating America’s Wild Mustangs and Their Rich History
“Legends of the West” is not just a book; it’s a visual journey into the heart of America’s most iconic symbol of freedom and untamed spirit – the Wild Mustang. Designed as a high-quality coffee table book, each page will be adorned with photographer Matt Dusig’s personally crafted fine art images that capture the raw, unbridled beauty of these majestic creatures.
12 percent of each book sold goes directly back to AWHC and our work to keep wild horses wild.
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For the Body
CALLIDAE – The MARE Project
CALLIDAE, an equestrian brand powered by and for women, has made the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) the first beneficiary of The MARE Project. This project aims to keep wild horses wild, with a portion of the proceeds from sales of MARE products going to AWHC. The lead mare, a seasoned mare who earns respect through wisdom rather than aggression, inspired the project. Since the launch of The MARE Project collection in July 2023, CALLIDAE has successfully sold nearly $10,000 worth of products that support AWHC’s work. The company has introduced two new holiday MARE sweatshirts in Forest Green and Plum, with 15 percent of the proceeds from each product donated to AWHC.
| SHOP → |
Roam the Range x Montana Territory Hat Company
Together, Roam the Range (RTR) and The Montana Territory Hat Company have created a unique hat to raise awareness and funding for the preservation of our wild mustangs and burros, and the Western public lands where they roam. During the month of November, all net proceeds from the limited-edition hats will be donated to AWHC.
Join the movement and purchase one of these hats to show your support for our wild horses and burros.
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Chantecaille – Lip Veil
In the Fall of 2023, global beauty brand Chantecaille, launched the Wild Mustang Collection, inspired by the hues of the American West’s wild mustangs and habitats. For the first time in company history, the line sold out, but you can still obtain one of the luxurious lip veils!
The funds raised from sales of Chantecaille’s Wild Mustang Collection support AWHC and our work protecting a remote herd of wild horses in Utah’s Cedar Mountains. The program aims to protect habitat and enhance water availability for the horses, keeping them humanely in balance with their environment.
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AWHC Apparel
Look great and know that you’re supporting the fight to keep wild horses and burros wild by shopping apparel from the American Wild Horse Campaign!
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Happy shopping!
— AWHC Team
How we’re fighting for Wyoming’s wild herds – and what you can do to help
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
In just a few days, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is set to begin an inhumane and unnecessary roundup of Wyoming’s McCullough Peaks wild horses.
This bait trap operation would remove up to 41 innocent mustangs from their home and would threaten the genetic health and longevity of this historic wild horse herd. We need to speak up against this disastrous plan before it’s too late.
That’s why we’ve been ramping up our awareness efforts, both in Wyoming and nationwide, to stop the BLM from moving forward with the McCullough Peaks roundup.
We’ve launched billboards in Cody, Wyoming just outside of where the McCullough Peaks wild horses live:
We’ve also launched billboards in Cheyenne, Wyoming where BLM leadership is located, and mobile billboards in Washington, DC which are driving around the National Mall — including to the U.S. Department of the Interior — to pressure policymakers into action:
To bolster our awareness, we are also running ads in local newspapers, such as the Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Casper Star-Tribune to spread the word about this pointless and cruel roundup. And finally, we launched TV ads on streaming services to bring national awareness to this issue.
We’re doing all we can to make sure the McCullough Peaks wild horses stay wild and free – but we need your help. Here’s how you can help STOP the roundup of the McCullough Peaks wild horses:
- Send an email to the BLM, DOI, and Wyoming leadership by visiting keepwywyld.com
- Make the Calls:
- Nada Culver, BLM Deputy Director: 202-255-6979
- Andrew Archuleta, BLM Wyoming State Director: 307-775-6001
- Tracy Stone Manning, BLM Director: 202-208-3801 (press 0 to be directed)
You can say: “Hi, my name is [NAME] and I am calling to ask that you please halt the removal of the McCullough Peaks wild horse herd. This removal does not need to happen right now and should at least wait until after winter to assess the condition of the population.”
- Click here to send an automated Tweet/X to BLM and DOI leadership
Thank you for stepping up. Together, we can stop this disastrous plan and protect this iconic wild horse herd.
– AWHC Team
P.S. We’ve got one week left to reach our $100,000 Giving Tuesday goal, and every donation made between now and then will be 2x MATCHED. Will you chip in and help us reach our goal so we can keep fighting for wild horses and burros in 2024?
Urgent: Last Chance to Unlock $100,000 Giving Tuesday Match for Wild Horses
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Giving Tuesday $100,000 Matching Gift Fund
Unlocked at $35,000 raised
This is it. Our absolute last chance to unlock the incredible $100,000 Giving Tuesday match. We urgently need your support.
A generous donor has pledged to match Giving Tuesday contributions to help us double our impact for wild horses and burros. However, there’s a catch – we must raise $35,000 before midnight tonight to unlock this generous match.
Despite the incredible support we’ve received from wild horse advocates like you, we’re still falling short of our $35,000 goal. Time is running out and we can’t afford to miss this opportunity.
| CHIP IN → |
At the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC), our dedicated team is tirelessly working in the courts, in Congress, and in the field to ensure that wild horses and burros are protected in the wild where they belong. Just this month, we shared the impactful story of our work during the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) roundup in the Roberts Mountain Complex in Nevada, where we took decisive action to document and report what would otherwise go unseen.
During the Roberts Mountain roundup, our humane observers were on the ground every single day, documenting this heartbreaking operation. When the roundup was over, 858 wild horses had been captured, and 10 horses were killed.
AWHC was determined to ensure that this loss of freedom and life would not occur out of public view. We shared photos and footage online, reaching over 400,000 people. We also worked with the Las Vegas Sun on a story about the consequences of our government’s inhumane management practices. Our goal: amplify growing public opposition and generate critical public support for reform.
But our work doesn’t stop there. Our advocacy team mobilized thousands of people, generating over 24,000 messages to the BLM and to Congress, demanding transparency and accountability to effect real change.
Every step of the way, AWHC is committed to documenting, sharing, and mobilizing people to protect wild horses and burros. But we can’t do it without your help.
| UNLOCK THE MATCH → |
Thank you,
Bringing the wild into your home
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
My name is Kimerlee Curyl, and I’m a wild horse fine art photographer and advocate. I have been involved with the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) since its inception well over a decade ago. It has been my honor to also be an AWHC Ambassador, using my imagery not only to assist in AWHC’s advocacy efforts but also to raise funding to support its mission to protect these beautiful animals.
SHOP 20% OFF, 20% TO AWHC NOW THROUGH DEC 8
Wild horses are threatened by mismanagement and private interests that seek to eradicate them from the West, so these animals need powerful, professional advocates in their corner. I was proud to join AWHC this year as a co-plaintiff in its lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over its plan to eradicate two of my favorite herds in the Red Desert of Wyoming and drastically reduce the population of another. This area is already meeting the thriving natural ecological balance and allowing this to happen would set a horrific precedent for the future of not only Wyoming’s wild horses but every wild horse herd across the West.
AWHC is tirelessly and ceaselessly fighting on behalf of our wild herds, serving as their voice. This is why, beginning today through December 8, I am offering 20 percent off my fine art prints, with 20 percent of the proceeds going to AWHC, and the fight to protect Wyoming’s wild herds.
SHOP 20% OFF, 20% TO AWHC NOW THROUGH DEC 8
Alongside AWHC, I am dedicated to shedding light on the challenges that wild horses and burros face. I aspire to use my art as a medium to advocate for mustangs and burros, their preservation, and the conservation of their habitats on our public lands.
Each one of my pieces is designed to bring a touch of the wild right into your home and to spark meaningful conversations about our wild herds and the organizations and individuals advocating for their conservation.
SHOP 20% OFF, 20% TO AWHC NOW THROUGH DEC 8
Watching Wyoming’s wild horses run free for all these years has been one of my greatest joys. Supporting AWHC is one of the most effective ways to make sure that they continue on running – for generations to come.
Stay Wild,
Kimerlee Curyl
Fine Art Photographer
Will you help double our impact for wild horses and burros?
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
We have a chance to DOUBLE our impact for wild horses and burros next year — but to do it, we need your help. >>
We set an ambitious $100,000 Giving Tuesday goal in order to raise the funds we need to continue our critical work in 2024. Well, thanks to the generosity of one of our major donors, every single donation towards our goal will be matched, bringing our total Giving Tuesday impact to $200,000.
The thing is this 2X match will only unlock once we raise an initial $35,000. This will show that we have the support to hit our Giving Tuesday goal. This is a huge opportunity we cannot let go to waste.
We can’t stress how impactful this match would be for us. Giving Tuesday is our most important fundraising drive of the year, and with this 2X offer from our generous donor, we have an incredible opportunity to significantly bolster our efforts to protect our wild herds in 2024.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is planning to round upthousands more wild horses and burros this fiscal year. That means thousands more of these innocent animals are in danger of losing their freedom, their families, and even their lives.
Our Giving Tuesday fundraising will be critical to helping us fight back for our wild horses and burros – from fueling our expanding fertility control programs, to supporting our rescue efforts, to powering our Legal Fund as we battle the BLM in the courts. And your support could help DOUBLE the impact of all these different efforts.
Thank you!
Team AWHC
Remembering our beloved Blondie
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Earlier this year, we told you about the heartwarming story of Blondie, a stallion from the Fish Springs Herd Management Area (HMA) in Nevada. He was torn from his home after he and all 17 members of his family were captured during a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) bait trap operation. Fortunately, AWHC board member and founder of Freedom Reigns Equine Sanctuary, Alicia Goetz, stepped up to provide him and his family a forever home in her refuge.
Today, we write to you with a heavy heart to let you know that our beloved Blondie has passed.
Video taken by John T. Humphrey
Blondie was a monumental figure in the Fish Springs HMA. Named after his ash-blonde mane, he immediately stood out from other horses. As a result, he was extremely popular amongst not just locals, but people from all over the country – and all over the world – who would flock to the area in hopes of catching a glimpse of his beauty.
But first and foremost, Blondie was a loving father. He was instinctively paternal and deeply protective of his herd. He would often watch stoically from the sidelines as his young ones chased birds, and, seemingly in amusement, welcome them back as they proudly ran to him.
After decades of overseeing the range, Blondie and his family were rounded up by the BLM early this year and separated in holding.Thankfully, our friends at Freedom Reigns Equine Sanctuary were able to take in and reunite all 18 of Blondie’s herd, keeping his family intact.
But last month this elder stallion passed away due to a colic episode and a ruptured bowel. According to Freedom Reigns, his sons Cree, Big Red, and Rustler, stayed with his body for a while, almost as if to hold vigil for the patriarch of their herd.
Photo of Blondie and his herd by Troy Wright Photography
Our team at the American Wild Horse Campaign is incredibly grateful to Alicia and Freedom Reigns for providing Blondie a safe home with his family for the last 8 months and for saving him from a lifetime of confinement in government holding facilities. And we pledge to honor his memory by continuing our fight to end the cruel roundup of the thousands of other wild horses like him throughout the West.
Rest In Peace, Blondie.
AWHC Team
Our work shedding light on roundups.
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently concluded the Robert’s Mountain Complex wild horse roundup in Nevada. The American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) deployed humane observers to bear witness to and document every single day of this heartbreaking operation, reporting back what would otherwise go unseen.
Meredith, this roundup was a hard one to witness. In a little over two weeks, 858 wild horses were captured, and 10 horses were left dead.
Tragically, a wild stallion, in a desperate attempt to reclaim his freedom, vaulted from the trap, only to become ensnared in the fence panels and suffer a broken leg. Although he achieved a fleeting moment of freedom, the cost was his very existence; after being recaptured, and to due his severe injury, he was euthanized.
Photo by Nenah DeMunster for AWHC
Just one day later, a semi-truck carrying 39 recently captured wild horses from the roundup flipped onto its side while transporting the horses to a holding facility. As a result, seven horses died, three in the accident and four more were euthanized due to their injuries.
This is unacceptable. We know all too well that this is not the first time that wild horses have died during government operations, and sadly, it won’t be the last. AWHC is working to document these tragic deaths, expose the reality of roundups, and take the information to the media and Congress – but we need your help. Can you chip in to help us continue our work bringing light to these brutal practices?
Our photos and footage from the Robert’s Mountain roundup have been seen by more than 400,000 people on social media and we worked to get a piece in the Las Vegas Sun exposing what was happening to these wild horses during this operation.
Photo by Nenah DeMunster for AWHC
We also mobilized advocates to take action, including calling for cameras on helicopters and all wranglers. This resulted in over 24,000 messages being sent to the BLM and Congress calling for transparency and accountability.
Every step of the way, the American Wild Horse campaign is working to hold the BLM accountable for its treatment of wild horses and burros during these roundups.
Thank you for caring about wild horses and burros,
The American Wild Horse Campaign Team
For the lead mare in your life
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
In the West, wild horses travel in herds that typically consist of one or two stallions, a group of mares, and their offspring. While the dominant stallion protects the herd and steps in when danger arises, the leader is usually a seasoned mare, often called the lead mare.
The lead mare’s dominance is established not through aggression, but through the respect of her wisdom. When she whinnies, the herd listens. Where she goes, the herd follows.
When the American Wild Horse Campaign’s (AWHC) partner, CALLIDAE, a Los Angeles-based equestrian brand, learned about the plight of wild horses, they wanted to help. As a company powered by women and for women, CALLIDAE was entranced by the concept of the lead mare. As a result, they made AWHC the first beneficiary of The MARE Project with a portion of the proceeds benefiting our work to keep wild horses wild.
Photo of a mare from Salt Wells in Wyoming by Kimerlee Curyl
Since the launch of The MARE Project collection in July 2023, CALLIDAE has successfully sold nearly $10,000 worth of products and has continued to support our mission. As part of the company’s commitment to fostering a spirit of giving during the holidays, CALLIDAE has introduced two new holiday MARE sweatshirts in Forest Green and Plum.
With a portion of the proceeds from each MARE product donated to AWHC, you’ll not only be spreading holiday cheer but also contributing to the conservation of America’s wild horses and burros.
Many of us know a powerful woman who embodies the characteristics of a lead mare: clear and confident communication, inspiration, and leadership toward positive change. At AWHC, we’re lucky to have many lead mares guiding our mission, including board member Patricia Miller who has made a name for herself as an innovative leader in sustainable consumer product manufacturing and design. Patricia, an avid equestrian and advocate, has recently teamed up with CALLIDAE to promote The MARE Project and the company’s social and ecologically driven mission.
Patricia Miller, AWHC Board Member in The MARE Short Mane Sweatshirt (top) and The MARE Bar Sweatshirt in Plum (bottom)
The MARE Project serves as a daily reminder of the power of collective action, led by females, to drive progress. This holiday season, consider a purchase from CALLIDAE for the lead mare in your life, and together, let’s drive continued progress for wild horse protection.
– The AWHC Team
Did you see our email?
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Did you see our email? Thanks to a generous donor, we have the opportunity for your donation towards our Giving Tuesday goal to be doubled, bringing our total Giving Tuesday impact to $200,000! Since we sent this email, we’ve seen an outpouring of support from donors like you, but we still really need your help to unlock this matching opportunity.
Thank you,
Suzanne Roy, Executive Director
On Tuesday, November 7th, American Wild Horse Campaign wrote:
Giving Tuesday $100,000 Matching Gift Fund
Unlocked at $35,000 raised
We have some great news.
Giving Tuesday is just three weeks away and we have set an ambitious goal to raise $100,000 to continue fueling AWHC’s critical work. But today, we are excited to announce that a generous donor has offered to match every single Giving Tuesday donation, bringing our total impact to $200,000! But we can’t do it without you. Can you add your donation right away? >>
Giving Tuesday is our most critical fundraising day of the year. With this generous matching opportunity, we have the chance to double our impact so we can keep up our work in the field, on the courts, and in Congress in 2024.
But here’s the thing. This matching opportunity will only be unlocked once we raise $35,000 towards our goal ahead of Giving Tuesday.
Thanks to ongoing federal mismanagement, wild horses and burros face terrifying roundups, life in captivity, and the threat of entering the slaughter pipeline. The reality is the system is broken and right now our work is more important than ever. Our team has exposed these cruelties, and every single day we work to hold the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) accountable and fight to keep wild horses and burros wild.
But we need to act now.
Unlocking this 2X match would be a huge boost for the work we can do in 2024, and it could double your impact for wild horses. This generous donor has stepped up for Giving Tuesday, and now we’re asking you to do the same.
MATCH OPPORTUNITY! (Giving Tuesday)
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Giving Tuesday $100,000 Matching Gift Fund
Unlocked at $35,000 raised
We have some great news.
Giving Tuesday is just three weeks away and we have set an ambitious goal to raise $100,000 to continue fueling AWHC’s critical work. But today, we are excited to announce that a generous donor has offered to match every single Giving Tuesday donation, bringing our total impact to $200,000! But we can’t do it without you. Can you add your donation right away? >>
Giving Tuesday is our most critical fundraising day of the year. With this generous matching opportunity, we have the chance to double our impact so we can keep up our work in the field, on the courts, and in Congress in 2024.
But here’s the thing. This matching opportunity will only be unlocked once we raise $35,000 towards our goal ahead of Giving Tuesday.
Thanks to ongoing federal mismanagement, wild horses and burros face terrifying roundups, life in captivity, and the threat of entering the slaughter pipeline. The reality is the system is broken and right now our work is more important than ever. Our team has exposed these cruelties, and every single day we work to hold the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) accountable and fight to keep wild horses and burros wild.
But we need to act now.
Unlocking this 2X match would be a huge boost for the work we can do in 2024, and it could double your impact for wild horses. This generous donor has stepped up for Giving Tuesday, and now we’re asking you to do the same.
Thank you for supporting this critical work.
The American Wild Horse Campaign Team
WATCH: Our purpose >>
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
In 1971, America made a promise to protect wild horses and burros by passing the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. This legislation assured America’s wild herds the freedom to roam the western landscape without fear of capture, branding, harassment, or death.
But more than 50 years later, that promise remains unfulfilled.
Wild horses and burros face terrifying roundups and a life in captivity. In fact, the number of animals confined in holding facilities is rapidly approaching that of those in the wild. The reality is the system is broken.
There’s a better way.
The American Wild Horse Campaign is the nation’s leading wild horse and burro conservation organization. We work to preserve the freedom of and habitat for wild horses and burros. Our sole purpose is to protect our beloved wild horses and burros on the public lands they call home.
This short film captures that mission and illustrates how, with your help, we can uphold the promise Congress made to these beloved animals over five decades ago.
With your continued advocacy, we can reshape outcomes for our wild horses and burros, Meredith. Thank you for being a voice for the voiceless.
— American Wild Horse Campaign