Menu

Wild Horse and Burro 2023

Wild Horse and Burro articles for 2023

Our TV ads are on!

, , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

It’s official — our national ads are back on air and hitting television screens across the country! Watch our TV ad here and then help us keep our commercial live as we broadcast it nationwide with a donation now. >>

WATCH + DONATE TODAY!

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) commenced its summer roundups at the start of this month, beginning in Nevada’s Antelope Complex. AWHC has deployed our humane observers into the field where they have already witnessed several egregious injuries and preventable deaths of our beloved wild horses in just the first week of this massive roundup – from the stallion who snapped his leg trying to escape a BLM trap site, to the mare who broke her neck slamming into a panel, to the 5 foals who lost their lives. 

Yet, despite these tragedies, the BLM helicopter roundups will continue through the end of the year, guaranteeing that there will be more injuries and more fatalities.

At AWHC, we are fighting around the clock in the courts, in the field, and on the Hill to end this inhumane treatment of wild horses and burros and to keep them in the wild. And now, Meredith, we’re once again bringing the fight to protect our wild herds to TV screens all over the country.

WATCH + DONATE TODAY!

Wild horses and burros are an integral part of the western landscape and deserve to be treated as such. We know how important it is to shed light on the cruel treatment these iconic animals are facing because when the public learns about what’s happening to our wild herds, they’re angry, appalled, and ready to take action. 

We need to make sure Americans from coast to coast know exactly what their tax dollars are funding AND that there is a better way to manage our wild horses and burros that keeps them safe, free, and in the wild — where they belong. 

The BLM’s roundups tear apart families, injure and kill wild horses and burros – including tiny foals – and waste taxpayer dollars. Please, rush a donation today so we can keep our new ad on the airwaves as we work to educate the nation about the plight wild horses and burros face and to help us put an end to cruel helicopter roundups once and for all. >>

WATCH + DONATE TODAY!

Thank you.

Grace Kuhn
Communications Director
American Wild Horse Campaign

Announcing AWHC’s innovative Land Conservancy Project!

, 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We’ve got BIG news.

The American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) is excited to announce the Land Conservancy Project, an innovative new initiative that will significantly advance our mission to protect wild horses and burros and keep them in the wild where they belong!

This project aims to preserve and enhance key habitat for America’s wild herds to support self-sustaining wild populations in ecological balance with other wildlife. The project will focus on three critical areas: land acquisition, habitat restoration, and humane management.

Land Acquisition

Much of the public lands where wild horses and burros roam are surrounded by privately owned lands. In fact, private lands sometimes run through the federally-managed areas that wild horses call home, creating what is called checkerboard lands. This can sometimes give rise to conflicts between landowners and wildlife, including wild horses and burros. That’s why land acquisition is a vital component of AWHC’s Land Conservancy Project.

We believe the acquisition of key private lands in these areas presents an opportunity to secure and enhance habitat, resolve horse-human conflicts, and establish AWHC more firmly as a stakeholder in decisions about the future of wild herds.

To this end, AWHC has recently acquired 3,300+ acres of prime habitat in Nevada’s beautiful Carson Valley to serve as a pilot program for our Land Conservancy Project! Through this pilot, we aim to set the conservation standard for wild horse and burro protection by preserving and restoring habitat and developing partnerships with federal and local governments to further land and wildlife conservation goals.

FUEL THE LAND CONSERVANCY PROJECT

Habitat Restoration

According to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) own range evaluations, much of the land it manages is in degraded condition due to extractive uses such as overgrazing of livestock. These activities have caused significant damage to riparian areas, drained aquifers, and – along with fire and drought – depleted habitats for all wildlife, including protected species like wild horses and burros.

AWHC has a strong track record of addressing habitat challenges. In the Greater Reno Area, for example, we are currently working with local governments, developers, and businesses at the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center to improve habitat, preserve wildlife corridors, build water sources, and manage traffic safety hazards.

Our Land Conservancy Project aims to build on this strong record by bringing back these degraded habitats through the restoration of meadows, protecting creeks and springheads to provide life-sustaining access to water, and reseeding areas with native grasses to ensure that wild horses and other wildlife have the natural resources they need to thrive.

FUEL THE LAND CONSERVANCY PROJECT

Humane Management

For over a decade, AWHC has been a leader in the fight to reform federal management of wild horses and burros by advocating for a shift away from cruel roundups and removals towards humane fertility control like PZP vaccine programs. Through our PZP program on Nevada’s Virginia Range, the largest program of its kind anywhere in the world, we’ve proven that there IS a better way to manage our wild herds.

The acquisition of private land in and around federal wild horse and burro habitat will enable AWHC to support the expansion of fertility control programs – thus reducing the need for the inhumane roundup, removal, and warehousing of these majestic animals for life in dangerous, overcrowded off-range holding facilities.

FUEL THE LAND CONSERVANCY PROJECT

AWHC is proud to embark on this new and exciting program. With your support, the Land Conservancy Project can and WILL further our mission to better protect wild horses and burros and keep them in the wild where they belong.

If you’d like to help us support and expand this program to other areas of the West, please consider making a donation today. Your generosity will help ensure we have all the resources we need to make this initiative a success.

Stay tuned for future updates on the progress of this innovative project. And as always, thank you for standing with our wild herds.

American Wild Horse Campaign

On this week’s eNews: Meet Selena, a beautiful mustang with a heartwarming story

, , , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We’ve got a lot to share with you in this week’s edition of eNews, including the story of a beautiful mustang named Selena, our exciting new collaboration with CALLIDAE to drive progress in safeguarding wild horses, and an opportunity to hear AWHC’s Investigations Manager address the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) disastrous Adoption Incentive Program (AIP) during a meeting of the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board.

Read on to learn more! 

SHOP: These Products Are Helping Wild Horses and Burros

Did you know you can help wild horses while shopping? From a fully sustainable blanket featuring wild mustangs, to equestrian inspired apparel, to a candle that wafts the scents of the West into your home, our generous partners have what the wild horse advocate needs.

SHOP

Blog: One of the Lucky Ones: Selena

Selena is a special horse — not just because of her soft eyes, kind nature, and comfortable gaits — but because she has survived against amazingly dire odds. Read Selena’s story and learn how you can help mustangs like her!

READ MORE

Public Comment: AWHC Adresses AIP at the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board Meeting

It’s hard to sit through a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board meeting for a variety of reasons, but when it comes to the discussions on the Adoption Incentive Program (AIP), it becomes almost unbearable. Despite irrefutable evidence, the agency continues to publicly claim that no horses or burros are being sent into the slaughter pipeline as a result of this program. Take a moment to listen to AWHC’s Investigations Manager, Amelia Perrin address this in her comments to the Advisory Board this week.

LISTEN

Thanks for reading. And thank you for continuing to stand up for our cherished wild horses and burros!

— AWHC Team

For the ‘lead mares’ in your life

, , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We are thrilled to announce a partnership between CALLIDAE, the modern luxury equestrian lifestyle brand, and the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) in an effort to protect and preserve America’s Western wild horses. This collaboration, known as “The MARE Project,” aims to raise awareness and drive progress in safeguarding these magnificent animals.

SHOP

CALLIDAE’s commitment to social and ecological responsibility aligns perfectly with the mission of the AWHC. Through The MARE Project apparel campaign, 15% of the proceeds from sweaters, tee shirts, and other items featuring “MARE” and “Lead MARE” logos will be directed to support the AWHC’s vital work from today until September.

The MARE Project draws inspiration from the role of the lead mare in wild horse communities. In a herd of wild horses, the lead mare’s wisdom and experience make her the true leader. This project serves as a daily reminder of the power of collective action, led by females, to drive progress.

SHOP

AWHC actively engages in advocacy, lobbying, and on-the-ground conservation efforts to ensure the preservation of wild horses in their natural habitats. By joining forces with CALLIDAE, we aim to raise awareness among the US equestrian and horse communities while promoting the importance of protecting these beloved animals.

We are honored to have the support of renowned celebrities and influencers who share our passion for this cause. Celebrities and influencers such as Julianne Hough, Nikki Reed, Beth Behrs, Brian Bowen Smith, and Millana Snow have joined us in opposing the cruel treatment of wild horses and supporting the AWHC’s mission.

Together, we can make a difference and ensure the preservation of America’s Western wild horses.

Happy Independence Day from AWHC!

, , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸🎉

Today, and every day, we celebrate the values that make America what it is: liberty, honor, and pride. But as we spend time with our family and friends honoring the founding of our nation, it’s important that we remember those whose freedom is currently under threat.


Photo by Sandy Sisti // Wild at Heart Images

The American Wild Horse is a symbol of the core values that we honor today. Their resilience, strength, and untamed beauty embody the American spirit unlike any animal. But as we speak, wild horses across the West are losing their freedom due to brutal helicopter roundups conducted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The summer roundup season officially began this past Saturday, putting the lives of thousands of these majestic creatures in grave danger. These helicopter roundup operations are extremely stressful to wild horses and often result in them being severely traumatized, injured, or even killed. 

We know it doesn’t have to be this way, Meredith. That’s why our team here at the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) is dedicated to ending these cruel helicopter roundups for good and shifting federal management of wild horses to more humane alternatives, such as fertility control vaccines.

And today, on Independence Day, we pledge to keep up the fight for these horses and their uniquely American legacy. 

Thank you, and Happy Fourth!

American Wild Horse Campaign

Time is running out

, , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

time is running out, so I’ll try to keep this quick:

In just a few short hours, the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) helicopters will take flight, marking the start of the summer roundup season. By the end of October, approximately 5,900 wild horses across the West will have lost their freedom, families — and, for some, their lives.

Our magnificent wild horses and burros need you, Meredith. They need all of us to stand together and continue to strongly oppose the BLM’s deadly roundups. 

Right now, we’re $9,612 away from reaching our $50,000 goal in preparation for another traumatic roundup season. Our team works day in and day out to uphold our promise to America’s wild horses and burros by ensuring their protection.

We are tackling this issue from all angles, from sending observers to document the cruel roundups, to launching strategic lawsuits, to alerting the media and the public to the inhumanity these animals face, and finally, working to reform government policy through our work on Capitol Hill. But we need your help to keep the momentum going. Will you rush a donation before midnight tonight to fuel our efforts and help us reach our $50,000 goal?

Photo by Kimerlee Curyl Photography

DONATE NOW →

The funds we’ve raised will go far, but reaching our $50,000 goal ensures we have every resource necessary to fight back, document any tragedies, and save the lives of as many of these iconic wild animals as possible.

So please, in these final hours before the roundups begin, will you donate whatever you can to help us reach our $50,000 goal and preserve the freedom of America’s wild horses and burros?

Thank you so much — we literally could not do this work without you.

For the wild ones,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suzanne Roy
Executive Director
American Wild Horse Campaign

That day, I lost half my family.

, , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

My name is Chance (that’s me at the front), and I’m really scared right now.

I’m a wild stallion living with my family within the 1.1 million acres that make up the Antelope Complex in Nevada. It’s my job to protect all of us from intruders and predators — but for the past few years, my herd has been targeted by “helicopters.” And now, they’re coming for us again this summer.

DONATE NOW →

When the helicopters descended on my family in 2021, we ran as fast as we could away from its deafening roar. But after over an hour of running, we were exhausted — especially my foals — and that’s when I noticed: The helicopters were funneling us into a trap.

I had to do whatever I could to get us out, so I led my family up and over one of the jute barriers with the little strength I had left. I thought everyone was behind me, but when I looked back, half of my family had been captured.

That day, I lost two mares whom I had been with for years, and all three of my foals. I don’t even know if they’re alive — I later learned that during this government “roundup” on the habitat I call home, 11 wild horses, including four babies, died at the trap, not even making it into the holding pens.

The next series of roundups start tomorrow. My friends at the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) are working hard to stop these brutal helicopter operations from being used against wild herds — can you please help them keep fighting for us by supporting their work today?

DONATE TODAY

I don’t understand why the government would do this to wild mustangs and our burro neighbors. Our friends at the AWHC say it’s because powerful ranching private interest groups have lobbied for roundup and removals in Washington for decades — they want to use more and more of the public land we live on to graze their privately-owned livestock since it’s subsidized by your tax dollars.

But the AWHC is standing up for my family and all wild horse and burro herds across the West, both on the Hill and out in the field. We need them – and they need you. Without your support, they would not be able to do the necessary work to fight for wild horses like me. Can you make a contribution to support their efforts today?

DONATE NOW →

Thank you for standing up for those who don’t have a voice, friends.

Chance the Stallion

Your generosity allows us to be a voice for these innocent animals

, , , , , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

In addition to documenting the cruelty that wild horses and burros are subjected to during Bureau of Land Management (BLM) helicopter roundups, my teammates and I investigate what happens to these innocent animals after they’ve been captured.

Our Investigations Team files Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to obtain government documents that reveal the harsh reality wild horses and burros face after they are rounded up and funneled into the BLM’s overburdened holding system. Our findings consistently show that the inhumane treatment these animals suffer continues well after the helicopters are grounded.

HELP HOLD THE BLM ACCOUNTABLE

Our FOIA work helps uncover indisputable evidence of the often unreported death toll of roundup operations, as well as the cruel impacts of the BLM’s holding system. For example, late last year, we filed FOIA requests that illuminated the deaths of over 30 burros at a Utah holding facility between August and September 2022.

The records we secured revealed that six burros died from hemorrhaging during gelding, and four were euthanized. These same records showed that the majority of the burros died from a preventable blood disease that they can get when they experience extreme stress.

Tragedies like this prove that the deaths don’t stop once the helicopters do. But if it weren’t for the work of our Investigations Team, the truth about what happened to these burros may have never been made public. 

With thousands of wild horses in the BLM’s crosshairs this summer, we’ve set a goal of raising $50,000 before the start of the roundups to power our work to stand up for wild horses and burros – including funding our investigations program. Will you make a contribution to help ensure our Investigations Team has the resources we need to continue showing the American public the cruelty our wild herds suffer in BLM captivity?

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL

Just like our observers who document violations at roundups in the field, our investigations work has shed a light on some serious animal welfare concerns within the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program. In the past few years, FOIA has helped us to uncover:

  • The horrific slaughter pipeline resulting from the BLM’s disastrous Adoption Incentive Program (AIP) which has landed at least 1,100 wild horses and burros in kill pens since the start of our investigation;
  • The deaths of 16 horses at the U.S. Forest Service’s Double Devil Wild Horse Corrals and the BLM’s Bruneau Wild Horse Off-Range Corrals;
  • The BLM’s use of IUD’s in wild mares despite the lack of scientific research about the efficacy and safety of these devices in wild populations;
  • And so much more.

These findings were only made possible thanks to the grassroots support of wild horse-allies like you fueling our work. With roundup season just days away, will you help us reach our $50,000 goal to continue powering our investigations program?

DONATE TODAY

Thank you for your support,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amelia Perrin
Investigations Manager
American Wild Horse Campaign

We are less than THREE days away from the start of roundup season (!!)

, , , , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) summer roundup season begins this weekend. From July 1 to October 31, government helicopters will descend on America’s wild herds in six different states. This roundup season, the BLM plans to round up more than 7,000 wild horses and burros, permanently removing 80% of the captured animals.

Our cherished wild herds need your support now more than ever. Please rush a contribution today and help us defend America’s wild horses and burros this roundup season!

HELP US FIGHT BACK

The first herd in the BLM’s crosshairs is the Reveille Herd Management Area (HMA) in Nevada, where dozens of wild horses are scheduled to be removed beginning as early as this Saturday. And that’s just the start. The largest roundups planned this summer are set to take place on Nevada’s Antelope Complex where over 3,000 wild horses are slated to be removed. Thousands more of these innocent animals will also be subjected to inhumane helicopter roundups in Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, California, and Oregon.

AWHC is fighting hard to put an end to the cruel practice of helicopter roundups and prove there is a better way to manage America’s wild herds. But in the meantime, it’s vital that we hold the BLM accountable for the abuses wild horses and burros suffer during these operations. That’s why we’re preparing to send trained observers to as many of the planned helicopter roundups as possible to document the inhumane treatment of our wild herds – and we need your help to make it happen. 

In order to fuel the critical work that lies ahead over these next few months – including funding our roundup observation program – we’ve set a goal to raise $50,000 by the start of the summer roundup season on July 1. Will you make a contribution to help us reach our goal so we can fight for the thousands of wild horses and burros in danger of BLM helicopter roundups this summer?

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL

These helicopter roundups are a threat to the safety and wellbeing of all wild horses and burros. They are traumatizing, they rip families apart, and they often result in grave injuries or even deaths. 

Your support will help us ensure that the often harsh reality of federal wild horse roundups is in full view of the American public, including members of Congress who have the power to make change.

With less than three days to go until the first roundup is scheduled to begin, hitting our $50k goal will be critical to helping us stand up for wild horses and burros this summer. Please make a contribution today and help us reach our goal!

DONATE TODAY

Thank you,

American Wild Horse Campaign

ACT NOW: Help end the slaughter of wild horses for consumption

, , , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We’ve got a lot to share with you in this week’s edition of eNews, including an opportunity for you to stand up for North Dakota’s iconic Theodore Roosvelt wild horse herd, a call to take action against the curel slaughter of wild horses for human consumption, and a tribute to a dedicated wild horse advocate.

Read on to learn more! 

Stop Horse Slaughter, Pass the SAFE Act!

The Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R. 3475/S. 2037) would prohibit the sale, transport, and export of horses for the purpose of slaughter, as well as the sale of horse meat for human consumption. The bill also includes provisions to prevent the use of federal funds for horse slaughter inspections, which would effectively ban horse slaughter in the United States. Please take action right now to protect horses and burros from slaughter and help ensure that their meat is not sold for human consumption in the United States or abroad!

TAKE ACTION

July 12-13: Join Rally to Save the Teddy Roosevelt Wild Horses

Photo by Sandy Sisti

The efforts to save North Dakota’s historic Theodore Roosevelt wild horse herd from eradication by the National Park Service is picking up speed! Join local organization, Chasing Horses and fellow advocates on July 12-13 in Medora, ND for a rally, film screening and field tour! Click here to learn more about the events and how you can attend!

LEARN MORE

Remembering a Dedicated Advocate

In December, our community lost Nancy Killian, wild horse advocate extraordinaire, President of the Virginia Range Wildlife Protection Association (VRWPA), and longtime American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) volunteer. Nancy was a pioneer of AWHC’s groundbreaking fertility control darting program for the Virginia Range horses and was the first member of our “1K Club”, delivering over 1,000 treatments to wild mares to manage this population that is challenged by habitat loss due to development. AWHC is proud to have granted $5,000 towards the completion of a memorial garden for Nancy, which you can learn more about below!

READ MORE

Thanks for reading. And thank you for continuing to stand up for our cherished wild horses and burros!

— AWHC Team

SURVEY REMINDER: Last chance to supply donor feedback →

, , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

 Our Donor Feedback Survey closes tomorrow at midnight. Will you take a few moments before then to provide us with any feedback you may have and let us know how we are doing?

TAKE THE SURVEY

First, we want to extend our deepest gratitude for your ongoing support for our work here at the American Wild Horse Campaign. It is because of you that we are able to continue our policy, awareness and conservation programs.

As one of our most dedicated donors, we’re hoping to get to know you better through your answers to a few questions about our programs and how we, as the leading wild horse conservation organization, are doing.

This will help us understand how you came to AWHC, why you stay involved, and help us make sure that we’re sending updates that help you support our work and America’s wild horses in the best way possible.

To provide us with your feedback, please fill out our survey at the button below:

TAKE THE SURVEY

Thank you for your feedback,

American Wild Horse Campaign

The hard work of holding the BLM accountable

, , , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

One of the most important parts of our work here at the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) is documenting the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) helicopter roundups of our cherished wild horses and burros.

To this end, we’ve assembled and trained a team of photographers and videographers to cover as many helicopter capture operations as possible. The reports they compile are then used to file complaints to BLM officials, provided to the media, are used in our advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, and help us establish an irrefutable pattern of cruelty.

Oftentimes, our representatives are the ONLY ones on site to document any violations taking place. And with the summer roundup season just over a week away, it’s vital that we have the resources we need to support our observation teams as we start to deploy them and as they begin the work to hold the BLM accountable. Will you make a contribution today to fuel our Observation Fund and ensure no animal welfare violations go unrecorded?

DONATE NOW

This is grueling work. Watching these beautiful and innocent wild animals lose their freedom and families, day in and day out, is emotionally draining. The days can be incredibly long, with start times as early as 4 AM and roundups going until dusk – sometimes amidst extreme heat or cold depending on the location of the operation.

On top of that, these operations often occur in some of the most remote corners of the West, making it challenging to even get there. The closest airports are usually between 1.5 to 5 hours away from roundup areas, and hotels aren’t always easy to find near them.

In fact, the first roundup scheduled this summer on Nevada’s 1.1 million acre Antelope Complex will be over 200 miles away from the nearest airport. And to make matters worse, there will likely be two roundups occurring in the Complex at the same time in both Elko and Ely, Nevada. That means we need to send out two sets of documenting teams to make sure we don’t miss any animal welfare violations. 

Meredith, our observers play an integral role in our work to hold the BLM accountable. But the truth is, it is expensive to get them to these remote areas and keep them equipped and in the field with four wheel drive vehicles and places to stay after such exhausting days. Your support is what makes this critical work possible.

So please, chip in whatever you can afford to our Observation Fund and help us hold the BLM accountable by documenting the often cruel reality of the government’s wild horse and burro roundups!

DONATE NOW

Thank you for your support,

AWHC Team

It’s today! Donor Update Meeting Information

, , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Please join our American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) team on Thursday, June 22, 2023, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at our fight to preserve and protect wild horses and burros in 2023.

This session will feature an exciting update on “Setting the Conservation Standard” for wild horses and burros with members of our Government Relations and Field teams. We’ll also have dedicated time for an open Q&A with AWHC leadership and staff.

Please RSVP to reserve your spot!

Hello!

This is a friendly reminder that our Private Donor Update is today at 4:00pm Pacific/7:00pm Eastern via ZOOM.

Here is the link for your convenience: (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82030364204?pwd=b3ZXT2hSUlUzczBTcS8xb2JTWkwwZz09).

We’re looking forward to seeing you!

VIEW FLYER

Last chance! RSVP for AWHC’s Private Donor Update tomorrow!

, , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Please join our American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC) team on Thursday, June 22, 2023, for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at our fight to preserve and protect wild horses and burros in 2023.

This session will feature an exciting update on “Setting the Conservation Standard” for wild horses and burros with members of our Government Relations and Field teams. We’ll also have dedicated time for an open Q&A with AWHC leadership and staff.

Please RSVP to reserve your spot!

Hello!

We hope you can make it to AWHC’s Private Donor Update tomorrow, June 22nd, at 4pm PT/7pm ET.

This is just your friendly reminder to RSVP. If you can’t attend, we thank you for supporting our work and we hope to see you next time!

Thanks so much,

The AWHC team

VIEW FLYER

TAKE ACTION: Tell the BLM Advisory Board to protect wild horses and burros!

, , , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will meet from June 28 – June 30 to discuss wild horse and burro management, and we need your help to stand up for our cherished wild herds ahead of this meeting. Will you submit public comments to the Advisory Board demanding the BLM implement key reforms to ensure the protection of wild horses and burros?

TAKE ACTION

This citizen Advisory Board is supposed to represent broad stakeholder interests, but its membership, appointed by the BLM, is heavily weighted in favor of livestock interests and pro-slaughter advocates. One of the current board members is even on record as previously stating that wild horses could be a “protein source!” With individuals like this sitting on the Board, it’s vital that we raise our voices as loud as possible in support of protections for our wild herds.

Thankfully, the Advisory Board is currently accepting comments from the public, so we have an opportunity to speak out against the BLM’s flawed management approach and demand key reforms, including:

  • Ending the cash incentives as part of the BLM’s Adoption Incentive Program (AIP), which an investigation by AWHC and our rescue partners revealed as a pipeline to slaughter for untold numbers of mustangs and burros;
  • Investing in and increasing collaboration with wild horse nonprofits to implement humane fertility control programs in herds across the West;
  • Mandating cameras be installed on helicopters used during roundups to ensure transparency and accountability for the BLM’s contractors;
  • And more.

So, will you join us in standing up on behalf of our beloved wild horses and burros by submitting public comments to the BLM Advisory Board calling for the termination of the AIP as we know it and a shift towards humane, in-the-wild management?

TAKE ACTION

Thank you,

AWHC Team

Will you let us know how we’re doing?

, , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

There is still time to provide us with any feedback you may have.

Will you take a few moments to fill out our Donor Feedback Survey and let us know how we are doing?

First, we want to extend our deepest gratitude for your ongoing support for our work here at the American Wild Horse Campaign. It is because of you that we are able to continue our policy, awareness and conservation programs.

As one of our most dedicated donors, we’re hoping to get to know you better through your answers to a few questions about our programs and how we, as the leading wild horse conservation organization, are doing.

This will help us understand how you came to AWHC, why you stay involved, and help us make sure that we’re sending updates that help you support our work and America’s wild horses in the best way possible.

To provide us with your feedback, please fill out our survey at the button below:

TAKE THE SURVEY

Thank you for your feedback,

American Wild Horse Campaign

The work we do together to change wild horse policy

, , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

My name is Holly, and I’m AWHC’s Director of Government Relations. My team and I work day in and day out to enact lasting protections for wild horses and burros at the congressional level. Because the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service (USFS) are federal agencies, Congress is the only governing body that is able to provide oversight, force accountability, and reform these agencies, making our work in Washington, D.C. essential. And your work advocating for a better way by contacting your federal legislators is a key part of our efforts.

So earlier this week, our team asked for your help harnessing support for three critical bills that could save the lives of our cherished wild herds. First, I wanted to say thank you — when supporters like you send messages to your elected officials, they listen. And when our team goes to Capitol Hill or state legislatures across the West to educate lawmakers on the issues wild horses and burros are facing, your calls for action help make our effort successful.

Once we get to sit down with these officials, we show them that there is a better way to manage these federally protected icons, including a focus on implementing humane fertility control vaccines to stabilize populations. And after many long hours fighting in Washington, D.C. and across the West, we’ve achieved some pretty remarkable legislative victories for our wild herds!

For the last two years, we’ve secured $11 million in BLM funding during the annual appropriations process to explore humane fertility control vaccines as an alternative to helicopter roundups. Recently, we worked on a historic bill in Colorado to support fertility control programs for the state’s herds.  We’ve also advocated for passage of legislation to protect California’s wild horses from slaughter. Not only that, but we’ve garnered congressional support to reform the BLM’s Adoption Incentive Program, we’ve worked with federal legislators to address practices at the U.S. Forest Service that endanger animal welfare, and we’re supporting bills such as the SAFE Act to ban horse slaughter and the Wild Horse Protection Act of 2023 to eliminate the use of helicopters.

Our Government Relations team is working around the clock to do this critical work. Will you donate whatever you can afford right now to help fuel our legislative efforts to protect America’s wild mustangs and burros?

DONATE

Thank you for being in this fight with us,

Holly Gann Bice
Director of Government Relations
American Wild Horse Campaign

Here are 3 steps you can take NOW to help wild horses and burros

, , , , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Roundup season is just around the corner, so we’re fighting on all fronts to protect our cherished wild horses and burros – whether that’s in the field, in the courts, or on Capitol Hill.

Our Government Relations team has been working tirelessly to help advance pro-wild horse and burro legislation in Congress, and our efforts have been building momentum. But we need your help to keep up the pressure. 

Here are three actions you can take NOW to help fight for the protection and conservation of our cherished wild mustangs and burros:

1.) Urge Your Representative to Cosponsor the SAFE Act (H.R. 3475)!

Each year, tens of thousands of American horses — both wild and domestic — are brutally slaughtered in Canada and Mexico for human consumption in foreign countries. That’s why we’re supporting the SAFE Act, legislation that would permanently ban the slaughter of equines for human consumption and ban the export of equines to foreign countries for slaughter.

TAKE ACTION

2.) Call On Your Representative to Cosponsor the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act (H.R. 3656)!

Federal helicopter roundups terrorize wild horses and burros. Far too many of these innocent animals are injured, or even killed, as a result of this inhumane practice. That’s why we’re working to pass the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act. This critical bill would prohibit costly and inhumane helicopter roundups of wild horses and burros.

TAKE ACTION

3.) Tell Congress to Protect Wild Horses and Burros in the Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill!

Congress will soon begin consideration of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 spending bills, providing us a key opportunity to advocate for humane reforms to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program. With the removal of more than 20,000 wild horses and burros from the wild last year, and thousands more to follow as roundup season begins next month, wild horses and burros need your voice more than ever!

TAKE ACTION

Thank you for stepping up for our wild herds.

— AWHC Team

Donor Feedback Request for Meredith Hodges

, , , 0

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

First, we want to extend our deepest gratitude for your ongoing support for our work here at the American Wild Horse Campaign. It is because of you that we are able to continue our policy, awareness and conservation programs.

As one of our most dedicated donors, we’re hoping to get to know you better through your answers to a few questions about our programs and how we, as the leading wild horse conservation organization, are doing.

This will help us understand how you came to AWHC, why you stay involved, and help us make sure that we’re sending updates that help you support our work and America’s wild horses in the best way possible.

To provide us with your feedback, please fill out our survey at the button below:

TAKE THE SURVEY

Thank you for your feedback,

American Wild Horse Campaign

Raising our voices for the Teddy Roosevelt wild horses

, , , , 1

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

If there is anything our public awareness campaigns have taught us, it’s this: When Americans are made aware of the cruelty wild horses and burros face, they are upset, angry, and ready to take action. 

It’s imperative that we continue to build our grassroots movement, and we need your support. Will you chip in to fuel our work today?

DONATE NOW

These efforts are exactly why, despite the National Park Service’s proposal to eliminate the historic Teddy Roosevelt wild horses from the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, momentum has been growing in the grassroots movement to keep the herd where they are — in large part thanks to supporters like you. Even the media is taking notice: 

DONATE NOW

Since we launched our North Dakota campaign:

  • We launched billboards in key areas to raise awareness about the Teddy Roosevelt horses;
  • More than 19,000 comments have been submitted to the park service — over 13,000 from AWHC supporters, with a resounding majority supporting keeping horses in the Park;
  • Governor Doug Burgum has signed into law a unanimous resolution urging the park service to keep the historic wild herd in the Park;
  • AND, hundreds of AWHC supporters like you have taken action to ask North Dakota legislators like Rep. Kelly Armstrong to support keeping the horses in the Park, where they have thrived for generations.

We are committed to doing everything we can to keep the Teddy Roosevelt wild horses on the lands they call home — and our awareness efforts are the first step.

There is still time to take action. We will rally, spread awareness, and fight hard to protect these innocent animals. To power our awareness efforts to preserve this historic herd in North Dakota and across the country, please rush a donation to support our work today!

DONATE NOW

Thank you for your support,

AWHC Team

Load More