It’s Suzanne, the Executive Director of American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC), reaching out one more time with an urgent update on our end-of-year fundraising goal.
We are SO close to the finish line on our $200,000 goal – and the clock is ticking. We’re already 95% of the way there, but we need a final surge of support before midnight to push us over the top. Your contribution right now is absolutely critical. Will you help us close the gap?
Don’t forget, thanks to a generous $100K matching gift, every dollar you donate before midnight will be DOUBLED — giving you the chance to make 2x the impact in protecting wild horses and burros.
Two young fillies — barely a year old — were found in a Texas kill pen this month. This is their story.
The pair survived a traumatic helicopter roundup in California’s Calico Complex last fall, which resulted in 42 deaths. After that, they endured months in federal holding facilities only to be sold through the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Sale Authority Program for just $25. Weeks later, they were nearly lost to slaughter.
Photo by RJF Equine
This tragic story isn’t unique. Thousands of federally protected wild horses and burros are at risk of entering the slaughter pipeline every year.
Thanks to our Rescue Fund and partners at RJF Equine, Inc. and the Oregon Wild Horse Coalition, these fillies got their happy ending. But so many more wild horses and foals still need our help. Our Rescue Fund is critical to stepping up when wild horses face life-or-death moments, and we urgently need your help to sustain it.
Thank you, RJF Equine, Inc., for giving these sweethearts a freedom ride from the kill pen and a safe place to heal before going to their forever home.
Thank you to the Oregon Wild Horse Coalition for helping coordinate their rescue.
Thank YOU, for standing with us to keep America’s wild horses wild, safe, and free.
Happy New Year,
AWHC Rescue Team
P.S. The clock is ticking! All gifts made through midnight on December 31 will be MATCHED, doubling your impact for wild horses in need. Donate today to power rescues like these two fillies’ life-saving freedom ride. Click here to give →
We are the voice of America’s wild horses and burros the courtroom, fighting tirelessly to protect these iconic animals from cruel and unlawful government actions. Thanks to your support, we’ve made remarkable progress in holding the Burea of Land Management (BLM) accountable through legal challenges — and our fight is far from over.
Your donation to our Policy and Litigation Fund empowers us to pursue justice for wild horses and burros in the courtroom and in Congress. Through litigation, we’ve already challenged the BLM’s harmful actions. Every contribution we receive before midnight on December 31 brings us closer to ensuring a future where these animals can roam free.
Here are a few examples of our recent legal victories and ongoing litigation efforts:
Wyoming’s Checkerboard Area: For over a decade, we’ve been engaged in a hard-fought battle to prevent the BLM from eradicating wild horses from over two million acres of habitat in Wyoming. After a disappointing decision from the lower court, we quickly filed an appeal to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Our legal team has laid out a compelling case, and we’re fighting to protect these herds and keep them free from unnecessary roundups.
Devil’s Garden Wild Horse Territory: In California, we’ve filed an objection to a flawed management plan that continues to impose outdated population limits on the Devil’s Garden herd. This is an area where we’ve expanded habitat, yet the United States Forest Service (USFS) has failed to adjust its restrictions to reflect the increased resources available for these horses. This is just one example of how we’re taking action to ensure that wild horses are treated fairly and kept free from outdated, restrictive policies.
FOIA Investigations: We also regularly use the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to investigate BLM policies and programs. With over a dozen active FOIA lawsuits against the agency, we’re demanding transparency and exposing abuse, fraud, and waste within federal programs affecting wild horses and burros.
Will you support us in this fight? Your donation to our Policy and Litigation Fund will fuel these ongoing cases and ensure we have the resources to keep fighting for justice.
With your help, we’ll continue to challenge the BLM’s unjust actions and secure a future where wild horses and burros remain free and protected on public lands.
Thank you for being a part of this crucial fight. Together, we can win for our wild herds.
Thanks to a generous $100,000 matching gift, we have the incredible opportunity to double your impact through December 31. Our goal is to raise $200,000 by midnight on December 31, and we need your help to make it happen.
As the year draws to a close, our commitment to holding the federal government accountable for the devastating impacts of helicopter roundups on our wild herds has never been stronger. With your support, we’ve made significant strides in exposing the reality of these inhumane practices.
Thanks to our Observation Fund, AWHC representatives are on-site at nearly every Bureau of Land Management (BLM) helicopter roundup. Their presence is vital, shining a light on the harsh realities of these inhumane operations.
For example, this summer in Blue Wing, Nevada, our observers bore witness to the deadliestroundup of the year, where a staggering 42 wild horses lost their lives in just a few weeks. The critical importance of public observation became undeniable during this roundup when a documenter captured horrific footage of a government contractor repeatedly kicking and punching an exhausted wild horse in the head.
Scott Wilson, who documents wild horse roundups on behalf of AWHC, had this to say about the importance of public observation:
“Without difficult video captures such as these, abusive roundup actions would not be brought to light. The video raises the alarming question: Has the BLM lost sight of its protection mandate while losing control of its operation?”
— Scott Wilson, AWHC Photo Journalist
AWHC’s documentation of the shocking abuse at Blue Wing sparked outrage among wild horse advocates and struck a gruesome chord with the public through extensive coverage by national and local media outlets.
As you can see, these observations are vital to holding the BLM accountable for its inhumane practices and shedding light on the urgent need for change.
Without the powerful photos and videos captured by our observers, the public would be kept in the dark about the cruelty unfolding during these roundups. Many times, AWHC is the only organization present on the ground, documenting egregious animal welfare violations. This evidence is more than just eye-opening – it’s a catalyst for real change, fueling bipartisan support in Congress for humane fertility control programs and sparking calls for alternatives to helicopter roundups.
But this work is not easy.
Our team braves harsh conditions, traveling to remote and rugged areas, often in unforgiving weather, to capture the footage needed to expose the truth. It’s an emotionally and physically demanding job that requires resources for travel, equipment, and lodging.
With a huge number of horses and burros slated for roundup and removal in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, your support is more important than ever. Your donation enables us to keep our observers in the field, hold the BLM accountable, and advocate for a future where wild horses and burros are treated with the respect they deserve.
Our wild herds are suffering. Each year, thousands of innocent wild horses and burros are stripped of their freedom in cruel and costly Bureau of Land Management (BLM) helicopter roundups.
These operations are extremely traumatic events. Many horses and burros suffer severe injuries trying to escape the helicopters, and some even lose their lives during and after the roundups end. Those who do survive are often forced to endure the heartbreak of being separated from their families as they’re shipped off to overburdened government holding facilities.
To this end, we’ve assembled and trained a team of photographers and videographers to cover as many helicopter-capture operations as possible. Through their powerful reports, photos, and videos, we expose the harsh realities of these operations, creating undeniable evidence of cruelty and informing the public, the media, and Congress about the need for change. Our observation program is extremely critical to protecting wild horses and burros, but the truth is, we simply can’t do this without your support. Getting our observers out to the remote areas of the West where roundups are conducted (and keeping them there) isn’t easy. The average cost to cover their food and lodgings and to equip them with four-wheel-drive vehicles is approximately $2,500 for just one week at a roundup.
Your generous contributions enable us to send our observers to as many roundups as possible to ensure no wrongdoing against these cherished animals goes unrecorded. We are the boots on the ground, fighting to hold the BLM accountable for its inhumane and unsustainable management practices.
My name is Ari Zucker and I am an ambassador for American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC).
From the time I was a young child, horses were my world. I even stole the reins from my dad at 3 years and took off running with the pony when he would walk me on pony rides. I competed my whole life in Hunter/Jumpers and my main goal was always to rescue a horse from a situation and give him a loving home. I still have my horse Speck, who I rescued off the Kentucky race track at 8 months old. He will be 25 this coming year. I have always had a love for horses and I always will!
Joining the AWHC Ambassador Program has been an incredibly meaningful experience. It’s allowed me to connect with an inspiring community of advocates — from grassroots supporters to fellow public figures — who share my deep love for these majestic animals.
An unforgettable moment of my journey was visiting the Fish Springs range in Nevada with Suzanne Roy, AWHC’s Executive Director. Seeing wild horses thriving in their natural habitat was life-changing. Watching these magnificent animals interact — free and unbroken — filled me with awe and strengthened my commitment to this cause.
That trip wasn’t just inspiring. It was a call to action.
At that moment, I realized how urgent it is to protect wild horses from government roundups and shrinking rangelands. Since then, I’ve been using my platform to amplify their story through public campaigns and personal advocacy. In doing so, I’ve seen the impact we can have when we work together.
AWHC’s efforts have made a real difference in 2024:
AWHC launched the Wild Horse Film and Photography Project to showcase the world of wild horses through high-quality film and broadcasting.
AWHC has driven nearly 4,000,000 advocacy actions this year, including more than 20,000 letters to Congress supporting the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act that was introduced by Rep. Dina Titus to ban expensive, dangerous helicopter roundups.
I’m in awe of these initiatives for awareness and action. But the fight is far from over. Government roundups are still taking horses and foals from their families and the wild, and our window to stop this is closing.
That’s why I’m asking you to stand with me today. Your donation ensures AWHC can continue:
Fighting for humane conservation of wild horses.
Protecting their habitats from destruction.
Amplifying their stories through powerful campaigns.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for wild horses and burros in 2025. That’s why we’ve set an ambitious goal to raise $200,000 by December 31 to fund our lifesaving work. This goal is critical to sustaining our efforts to fight back against brutal helicopter roundups and overburdened holding facilities in the year ahead.
PLUS: Thanks to some of AWHC’s most generous donors, every contribution made before the end of the year will be matched, up to $100,000! That means your matching gift will DOUBLE your donation. Click here to give now →
The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) plans for Fiscal Year 2025 are nothing short of alarming: over 11,000 wild horses and burros are slated to be rounded up with more than 10,000 destined for permanent removal from their rightful homes on public lands.
Right now, more than 66,000 wild horses and burros already languish in overburdened federal holding facilities. Even worse,there are more wild horses in these dangerous holding facilities than in the wild. This is unconscionable.
Helicopters will be used for most of these roundups. The devastation caused by helicopter roundups is undeniable – lives are lost and families are shattered. That’s why here at American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC), we’re dedicated to documenting every roundup possible, exposing these cruel practices, holding the BLM accountable, and ensuring the public knows the truth.
Our Observation Fund is critical to this work. The photos and videos our observers take create an irrefutable record of cruelty, which helps us drive change in Congress and secure national and international media attention.
We understand that, during a season of warmth and hope, this is not an easy email to read. But we’ve seen change before, and we know our goals for 2025 are achievable with your help.
Just like Wild Horse Annie’s relentless advocacy led to the passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, our collective efforts today are paving the way for lasting change. Together, we can secure a future where wild horses and burros roam freely, safe from government mismanagement and inhumane roundups.
My name is Kimerlee Curyl, and I’m a wild horse fine art photographer and advocate. I have been involved with American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) since its inception well over a decade ago. It has been my honor to also be a Creative 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. Today I want to tell you about one of my favorite places to see wild horses and how AWHC is fighting to protect it.
The Red Desert is one of the most mystical, magical, and mysterious places to view the wildest of our American wild horses. This landscape is a wild and pure tonic for the soul. If you ever get the opportunity to travel here, I cannot recommend it enough.
Photo Credit: Kimerlee Curyl Photography
The thing is, most people will not get the chance to do so, and it is my sincere hope that through images and stories, we can inspire you to care as deeply as we do about this unique and rugged place.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to eliminate wild horses entirely from vast areas of the Red Desert and drastically reduce their numbers elsewhere. Despite meeting the “thriving natural ecological balance” required by law, the agency rounded up 3,500 horses — nearly 75% of the population — in the 2020-2021 helicopter roundup, at the behest of the Rock Springs Grazing Association (RGSA).
To combat the RGSA’s influence over the BLM, AWHC, Western Watersheds Project, and Animal Welfare Institute took them to court, along with myself and two other Red Desert photographers, Carol Walker and Chad Hanson. In fact, just this July our lawyers argued on behalf of these wild horses in federal court. While the judge’s ruling was not in our favor, we’ve appealed the decision to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.
The future of our wild horses, not only in Wyoming but across the West, depends on our ability to fight back and win. At its core, the Wild Horse and Burro Program is strung together with a narrative that supports special interests and has very little to do with “protecting” America’s icons. That responsibility is up to us. Together, it is our job to protect wild horses and burros, and the lands they live on, by using our voices and supporting the organizations working so hard to ensure they have a future — one we will continue to enjoy for years to come.
It is my greatest hope that we win this case and restore wild horses to their rightful place in the Red Desert.
We must act now to ensure that future generations can witness the wild beauty of these horses, just as I have been fortunate enough to do. This fight is not just for the Wyoming mustangs, but for the soul of our public lands and all its inhabitants who thrive here.
As 2024 winds down, we’re reflecting on all that you helped us achieve for America’s iconic wild horses and burros. Thanks to your dedication and support, this year has been nothing short of transformative.
Here’s what we accomplished together for American wild horses and burros:
We’ve grown stronger together.
With nearly 900,000 advocates, American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) is leading the largest grassroots movement in history to protect wild horses and burros. Your voices have sparked powerful change — like the 20,000 emails sent to the Department of Interior in support of the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2023-2024, which would finally ban the use of helicopters in federal roundups.
We’ve kept wild horses wild.
Our first-of-its-kind land trust secured 3,300 acres of critical habitat for wild horses in Fish Springs, Nevada. This program is setting the standard for humane conservation efforts for wild horses. Not only that, but in the neighboring Virginia Range, we run the world’s largest wild horse fertility control program. Our efforts in Nevada have reduced foal births, proving that the humane solutions we advocate for every day actually work.
We’ve shined a light on injustice.
Our investigations work continued to shine a light on the hidden threats facing wild horses and burros, driving accountability and change. By exposing mismanagement and harmful practices, these investigations have sparked public outrage and fueled calls for reform. Our findings empower advocates and lawmakers to push for policies that prioritize humane, science-based solutions.
We’ve bridged divides.
In collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and livestock permittees in Utah, we pioneered a federal grant-funded fertility control and habitat stewardship program. This partnership has shown that humane solutions can eliminate the need for cruel helicopter roundups.
We’ve strengthened and upheld the law.
With a 90% success rate in court, we’ve successfully defended the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. This year, our lawyers argued for the lives and freedom of Wyoming’s wild horses in federal court. And in 2025, we’re continuing that battle at the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. In Congress, we secured support of 77 representatives and 12 senators for language in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 spending bill that redirected up to $11 million of the BLM’s budget toward humane management programs. Our efforts have improved conservation efforts, built effective models for state-federal partnerships, and preserved the freedoms of thousands of wild horses and burros who roam public lands across the West.
Today is a very special day… It’s National Day of the Horse!
In 2004, Congress designated December 13th as a day to honor the incredible contributions horses have made to the economy, history, and spirit of the United States. Here at American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC), we’re celebrating the best way we know how: by doubling down on our fight to protect America’s iconic wild horses and burros in the field, in the courts, and on Capitol Hill.
But that’s not all: We’re also pleased to announce that we’ve received ANOTHER $100,000 matching opportunity for all donations made towards our End-of-Year Goal! That means your holiday gift could go twice as far to help us protect these cherished animals.
Your support couldn’t come at a more critical time. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to round up over 10,000 wild horses and burros in Fiscal Year 2025. That’s thousands of innocent animals facing the risk of being torn from their families, injured, or even funneled into the slaughter pipeline through the BLM’s broken Adoption Incentive Program. And with 66,000 currently held in holding facilities, the threat of slaughter has never been higher.
Last month, Pyrite — a cherished stallion of Utah’s Onaqui wild horse herd — was found dead.Evidence from the scene suggests that Pyrite was shot, sometime during the week of November 3, and left to die on the range after succumbing to his injuries on November 10. So far, despite ongoing investigations no perpetrators have been brought to justice.
AWHC has stepped up to offer a reward of $6,000 alongside the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and other advocacy groups to incentivize anyone with information to come forward. The total reward sits at $30,000. But, Meredith, this tragedy demands more. Pyrite’s death is not an isolated tragedy. Since 2022, at least 60 wild horses and burros have been killed by senseless violence. Over the years, AWHC has offered a total of $35,000 in rewards, yet only two perpetrators have been convicted.
Pyrite’s story is a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers wild horses and burros face every day. His death must not be in vain, and it cannot be ignored. With your voice, we can send an undeniable message: These innocent animals deserve justice, and the violence must stop.
As the season of giving approaches, many of us are making our holiday gift lists—and checking them twice!
Here at AWHC, we’ve been working on a special list of our own: a collection of brands that generously support our mission to keep wild horses wild.
That’s why we’re reaching out today. By shopping from the thoughtful gifts on this list, you’re not only delighting your loved ones but also making a tangible impact. These amazing partners donate a portion—or in some cases, all—of their proceeds to AWHC, directly helping us protect America’s iconic wild horses and burros.
So why not make your Black Friday shopping truly meaningful this year? Every purchase makes a difference in the fight to safeguard these majestic animals and their freedom.
Home & Beauty
Jenni Kayne “West” Candle ($75). Fill your home with the earthy scent of the wild west. With notes of sage, cassis, and juniper, this soy-wax candle has a burn time of 50-70 hours. A portion of all JenniKayne.com sales on Giving Tuesday will also be donated to AWHC.
Chantecaille “Horse Joy” Compact ($44). For your favorite horse girl. Made using finely milled pigments that contribute to the exquisite colors and a feather-weight texture that brushes on lightly and blends seamlessly, each Cheek Shade leaves a gorgeous veil of flushed color.
Thanksgiving “Wild Grounds” Coffee ($19-$19.50). Thanksgiving Coffee is an award-winning family-owned coffee roaster on California’s Mendocino Coast. Choose medium roast, dark roast, or decaf.
Fine Art Photography
WilsonAxpe PhotoAdvocacy “Freedom Collection” Prints ($60+). Award-winning conservationphotographer, Scott Wilson, has created a stunning collection of wild horse prints taken in Sand Wash Basin, Colorado and 100% of every purchase from this collection supports AWHC.
Wild Horse Fine Art Photographer Kimerlee Curyl “Conservation Edition” Collection Prints. Photographer Kimerlee Curyl is known for her unique and artistic approach to capturing and celebrating our national icons. As part of her dedication to AWHC, Kimerlee is offering a 20% discount on every purchase and will donate 20% of every purchase from her Stay Wild Collection and Limited Holiday Release Collection to AWHC.
Matt Dusig Fine Art Photography. Photographer Matt Dusig is celebrated for his captivating images of horses from around the world, including the wild mustangs of the American West, the white horses of Camargue, France, and the untamed beauty of Sable Island’s wild horses. As part of his dedication to conservation, Matt offers a 10% discount on every purchase and donates 20% of the proceeds to AWHC.
My name is Patricia, and I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself as American Wild Horse Conservation’s new board chair.
During this season of gratitude, I find myself reflecting on the many gifts that enrich our lives — and for me, wild horses stand out as one of America’s most awe-inspiring treasures.
Like so many, I discovered their beauty and majesty later in life, only to learn about the heartbreaking threats they face: the separation of mothers and foals during helicopter roundups, indefinite confinement in government holding pens, and the cruel reality of slaughter.
Learning about the plight of wild horses led me to AWHC. I believe in our mission and see how AWHC is making a tangible difference. Together, we are setting a new vision for humane wild horse and burro conservation, and leading the conversation with stakeholders and policymakers to turn around the prospects for these cherished animals.
I have served on our board of directors for two years and am excited to take my work a step further and serve as AWHC’s new board chair.
I am deeply thankful to my predecessor, Ellie Phipps Price, for her decade of inspirational leadership, during which AWHC built the largest grassroots advocacy base for wild horses and achieved a 90%+ success rate in strategic litigation.
As I look forward to the next year, I am profoundly grateful for you — our supporters and advocates. Together, we’ve created a movement that embodies the spirit of freedom and compassion, and I know, together, we will create lasting change for our beloved wild horses and burros.
Sending you warm wishes for a season of gratitude, togetherness, and reflection!
Our wild herds are safest in the wild, where they can roam freely in their natural habitats with their families. But the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) inhumane policies are slashing wild horse and burro populations to dangerously low levels, depriving these iconic animals of their right to live freely on western public lands.
For over a decade, we’ve been fighting in federal court to prevent the BLM from eliminating 2.1 million acres of federally designated habitat for wild horses in the state and slashing the state’s wild horse population by one third, including entirely eradicating the Salt Wells Creek and Great Divide Basin populations.
At issue is the BLM’s decision to eliminate wild horses from the 2-million acre Wyoming Checkerboard area at the demand of the Rock Springs Grazing Association. This decision sets a terrible precedent, essentially handing over our public lands to private interests and allowing private landowners to dictate the presence of wild horses on public lands.
In July, our 12-year legal battle culminated when our lawyers traveled to Wyoming to argue against this dangerous plan in court. Unfortunately, the lower court issued a decision in August that approved the BLM’s plan.
Given the political landscape in Wyoming, we anticipated that this case would likely be resolved by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. With so much at stake for Wyoming’s wild horses and herds across the West, we moved swiftly to appeal. Just days after the lower court decision, our coalition of wild horse advocates, and animal welfare and conservation groups filed our notice of appeal. And just last week, we submitted our opening brief.
This opening brief is a crucial step in the appeals process, laying out our arguments as to why the BLM’s actions clearly violate the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act and why the lower court’s decision is flawed. Our attorney, Bill Eubanks of Eubanks and Associates, has crafted a powerful case, and since we have previously succeeded on similar issues before this appellate court, we believe we have a strong chance of winning.
When wild horses and burros are in need, every moment is vital. Here at American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC), we created the Rescue Fund to empower local rescue organizations with the tools and support they need to save lives. But we can’t do this work without you.
Our Rescue Fund goes beyond funding emergency rescues. It provides capacity-building grants to give rescue partners the resources they need to care for wild horses and burros over the long term. These grants have funded everything from medical equipment to daily necessities – making it possible for rescue organizations to grow, respond faster, and provide better care.
With your help, we’ve supported the purchase of:
A squeeze chute for safe veterinary care, essential for treating wild horses and burros.
A flatbed truck to deliver hay and supplies to animals in remote sanctuaries.
An ATV to help manage large paddocks where the animals roam.
A 4×4 vehicle for critical rescue operations.
Flatbed truck purchased thanks to an AWHC rescue grant
Photo by WilsonAxpe PhotoAdvocacy
These grants provide more than just equipment – they pave the way for brighter futures. With more resources and support, our rescue partners can provide life-saving care, offer sanctuary, and help these magnificent animals heal and thrive.
But we can’t continue this important work without your support. Your donation today will directly support the AWHC Rescue Fund, allowing us to provide more support to the rescue organizations working tirelessly on the frontlines to save wild horses and burros in need. Will you chip in whatever you can afford to help power our Rescue Fund today?
Just this past week, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wrapped up another brutal helicopter roundup targeting the wild horses, including many young foals, who call the Twin Peaks Herd Management Area along the California-Nevada border home. More than 900 animals were captured and removed, and four tragically died.
As with nearly every federal roundup, American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) observers were on the ground with the goal of documenting the cruel reality these equines face in real time, but here’s the unbelievable truth: The public observation is often abysmal.
The trap site, where wild horses and burros are driven at the end of a helicopter chase, is the most dangerous part of a roundup. It’s here where severe injury and even death are most likely to occur.
Despite public observation of a government operation being guaranteed under the First Amendment, AWHC observers are frequently positioned up to two miles away from those trap sites — so far they can’t see them at all. Even with the most powerful camera lenses, observers can see and document only a small fraction of the dangerous moments unfolding during a roundup.
Is that what transparency looks like?
These pictures were taken by roundup observer Darlene Smith when she was deployed to the Sulphur roundup in Utah.
Photos by Darlene Smith at the Sulphur roundup in summer 2024.
Our observation teams are doing their best to document what’s happening to these iconic animals, but there’s only one way to guarantee no BLM atrocity goes unrecorded: Cameras on helicopters.
BLM roundups already take place in some of the most remote regions of the West — outside the public eye. Limitations on observation only further shroud the BLM’s irresponsible, unscientific management practices from the American people.
BLM roundups targeted more than 16,000 wild horses and burros last fiscal year— and more than 200 have died. These numbers include thousands of foals born mere months or weeks before being senselessly chased down and locked up, often separate from their mothers. AWHC is fighting every day to end costly, inhumane helicopter roundups. But until we can stop them for good, we need to ensure that we hold the BLM accountable for the cruelty wild horses and burros face during these tax-funded operations.
Across the West, our nation’s iconic wild horses and burros are rounded up at an alarming rate. These helicopter chases cause deep trauma – and the impacts on survivors left behind on the range can be devastating.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) claims that roundups are necessary to maintain healthy wild horse and burro populations, but the facts don’t support this. Beyond the immediate suffering that mustangs and burros face during helicopter roundups, these operations actually threaten the long-term viability of America’s wild horse and burro herds.
Photo by Tandin Chapman
Family bands – critical social structures for wild horses – are torn apart by roundups as new generations are stripped from the wild, separating them from their families and weakening essential bonds for survival. Older, experienced horses are often removed, and with them, the wisdom needed to thrive in the wild is lost. Additionally, the BLM often sets the Appropriate Management Level (AML) of wild horse and burro herds below the standards recommended by equine geneticists to maintain herd genetic viability in the long term.
The fact of the matter is that roundups are not an effective way to maintain healthy populations of wild horses and burros. Here at American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC), we’re fighting for more humane and effective alternatives to roundups, such as PZP fertility control, which keeps horses and burros safe and in the wild where they belong.
On October 10th, 2024, from 3:30-4:30 PM PST, the United States Forest Service (USFS) is holding a virtual public hearing on the use of helicopters in wild horse roundups in the Modoc and Inyo National Forests. This is a crucial opportunity to speak up for a more humane way of managing our wild horses and burros.
On October 10th, 2024, from 3:30-4:30 PM PST, the United States Forest Service (USFS) is holding a virtual public hearing on the use of helicopters in wild horse roundups in the Modoc and Inyo National Forests. This is a crucial opportunity to speak up for a more humane way of managing our wild horses and burros. If you agree, can you attend this meeting and give public comment?
Thank you for following our updates over the past few heart wrenching months of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) helicopter roundups. Your dedication to staying informed and engaged means the world to us and, more importantly, to the wild horses and burros we work every day to protect.
This year, BLM roundups have already taken a significant toll on our beloved herds. In just seven roundup operations, 89 animals have tragically lost their lives.
For the next few weeks, federal helicopter roundups have been paused. But the somber reality of what our magnificent horses and burros have lost so far weighs heavily on all of us at American Wild Horse Conservation.
Because, we know there’s a better way.
That said, your unwavering support gives us hope — hope that, together, we can continue to fight for a future where wild horses and burros roam free, unthreatened by this cruel, costly federal mismanagement.
To express our gratitude, we’ve created a special graphic that you can download and set as your mobile phone’s home screen. It’s a small but meaningful way to keep the spirit of these magnificent animals close to you — and a reminder of the impact you’re helping to make.
As we look ahead, please know that we remain committed to advocating for these animals, and we will continue to push for changes that ensure their safety and well-being. Your voice, your support, and your compassion are what make this work possible, and for that, we are profoundly grateful.
Thank you once again for standing with us. We will keep you updated in the fight that lies ahead and share ways you can remain a part of this critical mission.
With gratitude and hope,
Suzanne Roy
Executive Director
American Wild Horse Conservation
Meet Fergie, a beautiful mare who lives on Nevada’s Virginia Range. Here, the American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) oversees an innovative fertility control program designed to ensure her well-being and the preservation of her wild herd.
Fergie’s last foal was born in 2021. And thanks to our PZP fertility control treatments, she has been able to enjoy a well-deserved break from the demands of nursing and pregnancy. This respite has allowed her to maintain strong health and a steady weight, thriving in her stallion Will’s band of five.
The benefits of these treatments extend beyond Fergie. Her two offspring, both fillies, have also thrived without the strain of early pregnancy, giving them the time they need to grow strong and healthy. It’s stories like these that highlight the essential role of humane fertility control in ensuring a better future for our wild horse herds.
‘©Photo of helicopter roundup in action by WilsonAxpe PhotoAdvocacy
