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This Week’s eNews: Read Our Latest Update On the Deadly Roundups in Nevada >>

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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 action you can take to protect wild horses and burros on Capitol Hill, and our latest updates from the concluded roundups in Nevada and Oregon.

Read on to learn more! 

Pass the SAFE Act, Stop Horse Slaughter

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. These horses suffer long journeys without adequate food, water, or rest to slaughter plants where they are sent to meet a horrific and terrifying end.

Please take one moment to urge your members of Congress to cosponsor the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R. 3475/S. 2307) to permanently ban the slaughter of equines for human consumption and to ban the export of equines to foreign countries for slaughter.

TAKE ACTION

Deadly Wild Horse Roundups in Nevada End

This week, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced the conclusion of two controversial large-scale capture operations in eastern Nevada, which sadly resulted in the tragic deaths of 39 federally-protected wild horses and the removal of more than 3,000. Read our press release here.

READ MORE

Oregon Roundups Conclude

The roundps of the wild horses from three of Oregon’s Herd Management Areas (HMA) have officially concluded. More than 190 mustangs in Palomino Butte lost their freedom, 63 were removed from their habitat from Stinkingwater, and 38 mustangs were captured from Hog Creek. AWHC’s observer was on the ground to bring you the latest. Read our summary report here.

READ MORE

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

— AWHC Team

How this brave band of wild horses defied the odds and outsmarted the helicopters

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We understand hearing about the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) helicopter roundups and seeing photos of the mistreatment our wild herds face can be emotionally taxing. So today, we’d like to tell you a story of resilience, bravery, and determination displayed by a courageous band of wild horses who defied the odds and outsmarted the helicopters.

Photo by Nenah Demunster for AWHC

Last week, AWHC deployed humane observers to document the BLM’s roundup in Oregon’s Palomino Butte Herd Management Area (HMA). The agency had planned to capture 225 wild horses and permanently remove 200 of these majestic animals from their homes. By the conclusion of the operation, the BLM rounded up 192 wild horses, and none were returned to the range. But during the roundup, one of our observers witnessed a captivating scene.

Amidst the chaos of the roundup, she spotted a band of six horses who were running in the opposite direction of the BLM helicopter that was chasing them. As the pilot engaged and attempted to push them towards the trap site, the horses abruptly turned around. It was not a matter of fatigue or unwillingness to move, but rather a display of an uncanny understanding of the danger they were in and a wilful determination to stay wild. In fact, they boldly challenged the helicopter, even attempting to push through it on several occasions!

Rather than sprinting, the horses employed an artful strategy to conserve their energy during the sweltering summer heat. They would intermittently halt, execute sharp turns, and break away in any direction except towards the trap. This intense standoff persisted for a grueling 30 minutes, but for the time being, the pilot would not give up.

The helicopter began maneuvering the horses closer to the trape site by flying low, urging them forward. For at least five minutes, the pilot hovered closely above them, creating a whirlwind of dust that obscured our observer’s view.


Photo by Nenah Demunster for AWHC

For a moment, it appeared that the pilot was on the verge of victory. But in a final move of clever defiance, the horses swiftly turned around away from the trap site. The pilot finally withdrew and began to search for horses elsewhere in the HMA, conceding defeat to this brave band of wild horses, while the victorious mustangs took to the hills in triumph.

Meredith, stories like these are a reminder of the strength, intellect, and perseverance of these incredible wild beings. But perhaps more importantly, they are a reminder of the deep rooted desire for freedom and family present in every wild horse. That is why we’re fighting every day to end cruel helicopter roundups and keep our wild herds in the wild – where they belong.

From deploying observers to the remote corners of the West where these roundups take place, to expanding our digital and TV ad campaigns to raise awareness about the plight of wild horses, your support is vital to ensuring we can keep up this fight. If you can, will you make a contribution today and help us continue this critical work to preserve the freedom and wellbeing of America’s wild horses?

DONATE NOW →

Thank you.

American Wild Horse Campaign

Time’s running out: Speak up for the McCullough Peaks wild horses!

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We wanted to make sure you didn’t miss our last email asking for you to take action on behalf of the wild horses who call Wyoming’s McCullough Peaks Herd Management Area (HMA) home.

Friday is the last day to submit public comments to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It is essential that every advocate voices their opposition to the BLM’s proposal, which would drastically reduce the population of this historic herd to unsustainable levels. 

We need everyone to speak out against this disastrous plan before the deadline. If you haven’t already, please submit a public comment to the BLM against this proposal and help us protect the McCullough Peaks wild horses!

TAKE ACTION

Latest eNews: Proposed ban on helicopter roundups, a wild horse photography workshop & more

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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 action you can take to protect our wild horses and burros on Capitol Hill, an invitation to join an exciting wild horse photography workshop, and a special highlight of our Utah Conservation Manager, Tandin Chapman!

Read on to learn more! 

Stop the Helicopters: Contact Your Representative Now

The roundups only began a month ago and yet, they have already resulted in thousands of mustangs being removed from public lands and dozens of deaths. But we have the power to change this. Congress Members Dina Titus (D-NV), David Schweikert (R-AZ) and Steve Cohen have introduced the Wild Horses and Burros Protect Act (H.R. 3656) to ban the use of helicopters in wild horse management! Please contact your member of Congress right now and urge them to support this critical piece of legislation.

ACT NOW

A Dream Come True: Wild Horse Photography Workshop, October 2023

Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature as you capture stunning photographs of over 200 wild mustangs and burros running free on a picturesque landscape of long valleys, rolling hills, and gray pines at Montgomery Creek Ranch (MCR) in Elk Creek, California. Guided by MCR Founder, Ellie Phipps Price, and led by renowned photographer, Tara Arrowood, this three-day workshop promises to be an unforgettable experience. Space is limited, reserve your spot TODAY! 

LEARN MORE

Spotlight: Tandin and the Cedar Mountain Herd

Photo by Tandin Chapman

Tandin Chapman was working as a civil engineer in Salt Lake City when he got the bug. It was October 2020, and he had just seen wild horses for the very first time: a band of mustangs from the Onaqui Mountain Herd in the west desert of Utah. Now, Tandin is AWHC’s Utah Conservation Manager, documenting and darting herds, progressing conservation efforts across the state, and working with the BLM, other field specialists, ranchers and private landowners in wild horse areas. Learn more about his work, and the incredible experience of tracking one of the West’s most elusive wild horse herds.

READ MORE

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

— AWHC Team

Our deadline is just hours away – and we’re falling short

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

 Our deadline to hit our $50,000 Observation Fund goal is TONIGHT at MIDNIGHT. And right now, we’re falling short. Please make a contribution of whatever you can afford now to help us reach our goal. >>

RUSH A DONATION →

Documenting the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) helicopter roundups is critical to not only shining a light on the true consequences of these operations, but also to holding the BLM accountable for the mistreatment of our beloved wild horses and burros. To that end, we’ve assembled and trained a team of photographers and videographers to cover nearly every helicopter capture operation conducted by the federal government this year.

In the past few weeks alone, the dual roundups in Nevada’s Antelope Complex have led to the traumatic deaths of over 26 wild horses, including nearly a dozen young foals. By documenting these tragedies, we’re able to show Congress, the press, and the public exactly what happens during these inhumane helicopter roundups and why we need to change the way the BLM manages our wild herds.

This is essential work. Without the photos and videos from our observers, the public would be in the dark about the dangers that wild horses and burros face during helicopter roundups. In fact, AWHC representatives are oftentimes the ONLY ones on site to document the animal welfare violations taking place.

We’re only about half of the way to our $50,000 Observation Fund goal right now, so we’ve got a lot of ground to cover if we’re going to make it before the deadline. Please, if you can, make a donation and power our observation efforts this roundup season – every dollar helps us continue this vital work.

POWER OUR WORK →

 

The evidence of cruelty we’re publicizing is changing hearts and minds, including in Congress. Both the U.S. House and Senate Committees on Appropriations just included bipartisan language in this year’s budget bills directing millions of dollars towards humane fertility control efforts for wild horses and, for the first time ever, the House Committee urged BLM to consider alternatives to helicopters. Our roundup observation program has never been more important. 

But the truth is, it’s grueling work. Our observers go out in the field in all kinds of weather, and watching these beautiful wild animals lose their freedom and families, and sometimes their lives, day in and day out is emotionally draining. It’s also expensive to get our observers out to these remote areas, keep them equipped and in the field with 4-wheel drive vehicles, and provide them with places to stay after long days.

Roundups are set to commence in several more states in the coming weeks. Please help us hit our $50,000 Observation Fund goal by midnight tonight to ensure we can continue this vital work to hold the BLM accountable as we get into the thick of the 2023 roundup season. >>

DONATE NOW →

Thank you. Your passion for helping save America’s wild horses and burros is helping us make a difference.

The AWHC Team

URGENT: Helicopter roundups are set to begin in several more states over the next two months

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Over the past month, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) helicopters have descended on Nevada’s mustangs as the agency captures 3,000 of the Antelope Complex wild horses in its largest planned roundup of the year. So far, this operation has claimed the lives of 21 wild horses, including young foals. 

As the summer months continue on, so do the roundups. The BLM is gearing up to begin its removal operations in several other states over the next two months – putting thousands more of these innocent animals in grave danger.

The BLM is preparing to round up nearly 400 wild horses from Oregon’s Palomino Butte, Stinkingwater, and Hog Creek Herd Management Areas (HMAs) starting in August. And in September, the agency will begin removing over a thousand wild horses and burros in Idaho, Colorado, and California.

Documenting the cruelty wild horses and burros suffer during these operations is an essential part of our work to hold the BLM accountable. That’s why we’ve set a $50,000 goal to refuel our Observation Fund and ensure we can deploy our humane observers to every roundup possible. Will you make a contribution to help us reach our goal before the deadline tomorrow night so we can continue documenting the mistreatment of wild horses and burros this roundup season?

DONATE NOW

Getting our observers out to these remote areas where roundups are conducted (and keeping them there) isn’t easy. The average cost to cover their food, lodgings, and to equip them with four-wheel-drive vehicles is approximately $2,500 for just one week at a roundup. 

This work requires a lot of time, effort, and resources, but it’s vital to ensuring the public knows exactly what is happening to these iconic wild horses and burros during brutal helicopter roundups. For example, tragic footage captured by one of our observers of the wild stallion who broke his leg trying to escape a BLM trap site helped bring national news coverage to the horrific incident.

Make no mistake, our roundup documentation is making a difference. As heartbreaking as they are, images like this help bolster our argument on Capitol Hill that more humane methods must be implemented to manage wild horses and burros. Just recently, in part thanks to evidence collected by our observers, members of Congress have included language in the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations Interior budget bill urging the BLM to consider alternatives to helicopter roundups for the first time ever!

Your support is what makes this critical work possible. So please, chip in whatever you can afford to help us reach our $50k Observation Fund goal and help us continue to hold the BLM accountable by documenting the often tragic reality of wild horse and burro roundups.

DONATE NOW

Thank you,

American Wild Horse Campaign

Chilly Pepper – A Birthday 911! Another call – 2 unhandled Mares – 1 With new baby & 1 ready to foal. Shipping to slaughter if we don’t save them

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The following is from Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang:

mama baby ps birthday

newborn baby july

pg skinny mamaAnother Call, Another 911! 4 LIVES TO SAVE!

More wild/unhandled horses heading to slaughter. There is a brand, new baby, (in pretty rough shape), with Mama who is set to ship. Mama is NOT being listed or offered to anyone else, and we are Her Only Chance!! (Baby won’t ship with Mama), but they NEED to stay together.

Mama is emaciated. If you look closely you can see her ribs. Her topline is horrible and her hips are sunken. I will post better photos later. You can see baby looks bad as well. (Look at how skinny and sunken his/her neck is). That is from Mama being starved while he/she was in utero.

Mom 2, who is said to be getting ready to give birth is also slated to ship if we don’t save her. She is also emaciated. She is the pretty girl with the blaze. She will NOT be offered to anyone else. We are Her only hope as well. We need to save both her AND her unborn baby.

I have until Friday to come up with the money. I need to raise $4000 to help purchase, transport for vetting and then get them home.

When I drove to NV to set up a chute to get the last wild mares, and the pregnant donks vetted, the bill for the Coggins and Health Certs was $636, just to get blood drawn so we could legally transport them.

IF we don’t save the mares, they will ship on Saturday. I HAVE to say yes by Friday evening to save them.

I would love to celebrate my birthday tomorrow knowing we will save them!!

THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU, FOR BEING SO AMAZING FOR THESE PRECIOUS SOULS! YOU are the reason so many lives are saved!

I will keep fighting the good fight as long as I can afford to. I so appreciate all of you and so do the critters.

If you want to help with the Vet Bill, call Goldendale Veterinary at 509-773-0369.

I appreciate every single one of our Chilly Pepper Family. God has truly blessed this rescue!

Have a safe, blessed and life saving 2023!

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HELPING US SAVE MORE LIVES, YOU CAN GO TO:

-<You can go to gofundme<-

You can go to Paypal<-

PLEASE NOTE – Paypal shows Wild Horses in Need, as we are dba- Chilly Pepper

if you would like to help these horses.

->You can donate via check at: (PLEASE NOTE NEW PO BOX #)

Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang,

PO Box # 233

Golconda, NV 89414

You can also donate via credit card by calling Palomino at 530-339-1458.

NO MATTER HOW BIG OR HOW SMALL – WE SAVE THEM ALL!

SAVING GOD’S CRITTERS – FOUR FEET AT A TIME

Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang, WIN Project – Rescue & Rehab

We are now part of the WIN Organization

WIN (WILD HORSES IN NEED) is a 501c3 IRS EIN 55-0882407_

If there are ever funds left over from the cost of the rescue itself, the monies are used to feed, vet, care for and provide shelter and proper fencing for the animals once they are saved.

 

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

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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

The hard work of holding the BLM accountable

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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

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

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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

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

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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

ACT NOW: Idaho’s wild herds need your help!

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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 speak up on behalf of Idaho’s three wild herds, a video showing the heartwarming reuinion of a beloved mustang pair after they were separated during a helicopter roundup, and some useful tips on how you can advocate for wild horses and burros at the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) upcoming Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board meeting.

Read on to learn more! 

BLM to Drastically Reduce Three Idaho Herds – ACT NOW!

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Owyhee Field Office is proposing a 10-year plan for the wild horse populations within the Black Mountain, Hardtrigger and Sands Basin Herd Management Areas (HMAs) in Idaho and we need your help.

The agency plans to reduce the wild horse populations drastically to a mere 30 for Black Mountain, 66 for Hard Trigger and just 33 for Sands Basin. According to leading equine geneticists, in order to ensure genetic viability, no population should be reduced below 150 animals. As if that isn’t bad enough, the agency is considering the use of GonaCon in these HMAs. Instead, the BLM should use the humane and scientifically proven fertility control vaccine PZP. Please take action today!

TAKE ACTION

BLM Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board to Meet in Reno

At the end of the month, the BLM’s national Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will meet June 28-30 in Reno. This is a citizen-based advisory committee hand-picked by the BLM to offer recommendations to the agency on wild horse and burro management. The public is invited to attend both in person and virtually and each will have the option to provide public comment. Please take one moment to learn more and submit your comments today!

LEARN MORE

AWHC Mustang Ambassadors Make The Dodo!

Beloved mustang pair, Stargazer and Nora, from the Onaqui Herd Management Area (HMA) are on the viral animal video platform, The Dodo! The new video shows their reunification after being separated during a helicopter roundup and the pair taking their first steps of freedom together. Click here to watch!

WATCH NOW

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

— AWHC Team

Thanks to your generosity, these sweet horses are in safe hands

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Your support for our Rescue Fund powers a variety of critically important work – from providing life saving medical care to foals on Nevada’s Virginia Range to even outbidding kill buyers at slaughter auctions to protect victims of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) failed Adoption Incentive Program (AIP).

We are proud to have helped support the rescue of hundreds of innocent wild horses and burros over the years, and today, we’re going to give you an update on a few of our most heartwarming rescues. But before we do, we’d like to ask that you please consider chipping in to our Rescue Fund to fuel future rescue efforts like these.

FUEL OUR RESCUE FUND

First up, meet Fran and Nellie.

Back in January 2021, as part of our ongoing investigation into the AIP slaughter pipeline, AWHC staff were monitoring a slaughter auction in Texas when they discovered a young, red roan BLM-branded mustang, now named Fran, and her small domestic companion, Nellie.

Our team knew we had to act fast, so we quickly reached out to our partners at Montgomery Creek Ranch (MCR) to check to see if they had room for them in their sanctuary and adoption program. Once they confirmed they could take the pair in, we leapt into action and sprung them both from the kill pen and transported them to MCR. Shortly after they arrived to safety, we confirmed that Fran was in fact a victim of the AIP.

These two young horses arrived at the sanctuary scared and in poor condition from their long journey. But thanks to the kind and loving care from the MCR team, they have both grown up to be beautiful and healthy horses! In fact, Nellie has completed all of her pre-riding groundwork training and is actually available for adoption now!

Fran and Nellie are in safe hands thanks to our herd of wild horse advocates – from the incredible sanctuaries and rescue groups who take in these forgotten animals, to people like you whose generosity powers our Rescue Fund and our other life saving initiatives. But the sad truth is, there are thousands of other innocent mustangs and burros like them who need our help – and we need to ensure we have the resources to be able to help save as many of them as possible. Will you make a donation to our Rescue Fund today to help us save the lives of more wild horses and to ensure they stay wild and free?

POWER FUTURE RESCUES

Next, we’d like to introduce you to Elsa and Sven!

Photo by Wilson Axpe

Almost one year ago, AWHC partnered with Skydog Sanctuary to help rescue Elsa and 15 other formerly-wild BLM mustangs from slaughter. Like Fran, and thousands of others, they too entered the slaughter pipeline through the AIP. 

Upon rescue, two of the mares were discovered to be pregnant – including Elsa – so they were transported to the Colorado Sanctuary For the Love of Aria (FTLOA) to await the birth of their babies. After months of loving care at the sanctuary, Elsa gave birth to Sven who is now growing into a big, healthy colt!

Photo by Wilson Axpe

Our Rescue Fund enables us to help support the direct rescues of mustangs like Elsa (and her unborn baby at the time!) AND fund the ongoing care of rescued equines at our partner sanctuaries – including supporting critical initiatives like gelding clinics or hay funds. 

That’s why it’s critical we ensure our Rescue Fund has the sufficient resources to power this important work. Please make a donation and bolster our Rescue Fund today!

FUEL OUR RESCUE FUND

Thank you,

AWHC Team

🚨 Helicopter roundups are less than a month away!! 🚨

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

In less than a month, government helicopters will descend on America’s beloved wild herds as roundup season begins in full force.

Families will be broken apart, thousands of innocent animals will lose their freedom forever, and many will be seriously injured or worse, killed as a result of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) brutal helicopter roundup operations. 

HELP US FIGHT BACK

AWHC has been fighting tirelessly to bring an end to this inhumane practice – but until these tragedies stop for good, we must keep them in the public’s view. That’s why we send observers to document as many of these roundups as possible. We must show the world what is happening to our wild horses.

Your support enables us to send our observation teams to the most remote corners of the West, where the BLM conducts many of these brutal operations, to ensure no animal welfare violation goes unrecorded. With just a few weeks left until the beginning of roundup season, will you make a contribution today to help us hold the BLM accountable?

DONATE NOW

Earlier this year, the BLM announced that it’s planning to round up more than 7,000 wild horses and burros from our public lands beginning on July 1st – permanently removing 5,857 – even though over 61,000 wild horses and burros are warehoused in BLM holding facilities.

The largest of these roundups is set to take place on Nevada’s Antelope Complex, where over 3,000 wild horses are going to be removed from their homes. And that’s just the start. Thousands more will be subjected to these deadly helicopter roundups in Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, California, and Oregon as well.

If there’s one thing we know, it’s that when people see the atrocities our wild horses and burros face, they are outraged. That’s why we need to ensure we have enough funds to send our observers into the field. Without them, the BLM’s actions will continue to be shrouded in secrecy.

We don’t just document these animal welfare violations, we compile our observers’ photos and videos to use in legal action when we can. Not only that, but we create a record of cruelty and provide it to change makers in Congress.

Please help us sustain our roundup observation program and help us hold the BLM accountable with a donation today.

DONATE NOW

Thank you,

American Wild Horse Campaign

ICYMI: The BLM has finally released its 2023 roundup schedule

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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 Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) recently released 2023 roundup schedule, an inside look at a BLM adoption event in New Hampshire, and an open call to all burro lovers!

Read on to learn more! >>

Bureau of Land Management Releases 2023 Roundup Schedule and On-Range Population Numbers

Photo: Tandin Chapman

It’s officially here. After a several month delay, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) finally released its 2023 roundup schedule for wild horse and burros last week. While the target number is a marked departure from the initial planned number of 20,000, when all is said and done, more than 5,800 wild horses and burros will be added to the already overburdened holding corrals. In addition to the release of this schedule, the BLM is asserting that there is a slight increase in the on-range population, but we have questions. Check out our latest on this development below.

LEARN MORE

Eyewitness Report: BLM Adoption Event in New Hampshire

Photo: Mary Koncel

Last weekend, AWHC program specialist, Mary Koncel, traveled to Vermont to attend and document a BLM wild horse and burro adoption event at the Cheshire Fairgrounds in Swanzey, New Hampshire. This was the first of several adoption/sales events that will be held in the Northeastern States District of the BLM. Click the link below to read more.

READ MORE

Calling All Burro Fans! Submit Your Content to be Featured

Photo: Tara Arrowood/MCR

Wild burros have the same rich history and are just as culturally significant as wild horses, but they receive far less attention. In 2012, AWHC started Burro Awareness Month to promote awareness and appreciation for these amazing and unique residents of the American Southwest. Do you have photos of wild burros that you would like to share? A story about an experience you had on the range? Please submit your content to grace@americanwildhorsecampaign.org to be featured during the month of May on AWHC’s social media!

SUBMIT YOUR CONTENT!

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

— AWHC Team

[IT’S HERE!] Today is National Help a Horse Day 🐴💞

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

In honor of National Help a Horse Day, we set a goal of raising $30K by midnight tonight to power our fight to defend our nation’s wild herds in 2023. Right now, we’re at $21,548 — within striking distance of our goal — can you help us get across the finish line by pitching in ASAP?

Happy National Help a Horse Day!

Today, and every day, our team is fighting to secure the freedom and safety of wild horses and burros across the West. On Monday, we told you about one avenue of our work — rescues — but today, we want to highlight how we’re helping horses through our legal and legislative efforts.

Already this year, we’ve made great strides for our wild herds both on the Hill and in state capitols throughout the country:

  • In North Dakota, we supported a resolution that passed in the state legislature urging the National Park Service to keep the state’s only wild horse herd in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. (SCR 4014).
  • In Nevada, we rallied public support and testified for legislation that just passed in the state Senate that would make the wild mustang Nevada’s official state horse. (SB90).
  • In Colorado, we supported legislation that just passed the state Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee that would increase resources to support the work of existing volunteer groups to maintain sustainable wild horse populations through a robust fertility control and stewardship program, minimizing the need for future roundups. (SB23-275).
  • And on Capitol Hill, we’ve won the support of nearly 100 members of Congress who are calling for the diversion of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) funds away from costly roundups and toward humane management and other important measures in the Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill.
POWER OUR WORK →

But that’s not all. We’re stepping up for wild horses in the courtroom as well:

  • Right now, we’re gearing up to take the BLM to court over its proposed plan to zero-out two iconic wild horse herds in Wyoming and eliminate grand swaths of their habitat, a case with the potential to set a precedent for herds throughout the West.
  • We’re also pushing forward in our ongoing legal battle against the BLM’s disastrous Adoption Incentive Program (AIP), which is sending thousands of wild horses and burros into the slaughter pipeline. In our case, we allege that the agency implemented the AIP without any of the analysis and public comment required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Friend, we wouldn’t be able to do any of this critical work without your support. Your generosity allows us to stand up on behalf of wild horses and burros everywhere. That’s why this National Help a Horse Day, we’re asking you to make a contribution of whatever you can afford to help us reach our $30k goal and fuel our fight to defend our precious wild herds in 2023. As of now, we’re only $8,452 away – so if everyone reading this pitches in, we can hit our goal before the deadline at midnight!

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL!

Thank you for standing with our wild herds, and Happy National Help a Horse Day!

AWHC Team

The BLM just announced their 2023 Roundup Plans. Help us fight back >>

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Last week, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) unveiled its schedule to continue the unscientific and inhumane helicopter roundups of our nation’s iconic, federally protected wild horse and burro herds.

The BLM announced that it’s planning to round up more than 7,000 wild horses and burros from our public lands beginning in July – permanently removing 5,857.

There are already over 60,000 wild horses and burros languishing in overburdened BLM holding centers as a result of the agency’s aggressive 2022 removal schedule. If the BLM follows through with its recently released plan, thousands more of these innocent animals will be subjected to brutal helicopter roundups and crammed into crowded facilities where they are in danger of deadly disease outbreaks and where many could be funneled into the slaughter pipeline via the BLM’s disastrous Adoption Incentive Program (AIP).

That’s why it’s critical we prepare NOW to ensure we’re ready to fight back for our wild herds – whether it’s in the field through our efforts to implement in-the-wild humane management across the West, in courts through our legal team, or on the Hill through our government relations work. With just one day left, we are nearly halfway to our $30,000 National Help a Horse Day goal. Will you make a contribution today to help us reach our goal before the deadline tomorrow and bolster our efforts to defend wild horses and burros in 2023?

DONATE NOW →

In December, Congress included an important bipartisan provision in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 appropriations bill requiring the BLM to utilize up to $11 million for reversible fertility control to sustainably manage wild horses and burros – marking the second year we’ve managed to secure this critical pro-horse and burro language into the omnibus package, and the third year our work has led to Congress recognizing the importance of the expansion of humane fertility control programs. 

Despite this, the BLM plans to implement fertility control on just 1,575 wild horses and burros. This is nowhere near enough. The BLM must meaningfully shift course away from inhumane roundups and towards on-range conservation through the use of proven fertility control as a far more safe and cost-effective way of managing the West’s populations.

We’re using every resource at our disposal to ensure wild horses and burros stay where they are safest — in the wild, with their families. But we can’t do it without your support. Your contributions fuel our fight to protect our wild herds from the BLM’s inefficient “management strategy.” Before the deadline tomorrow night, can you make a donation to help us reach our $30,000 National Help a Horse Day goal and power our work as we prepare for the 2023 roundup season?

FUEL OUR FIGHT →

Thank you,

Suzanne Roy
Executive Director
American Wild Horse Campaign

IT’S EARTH DAY!! 🌎 3 ways to take action for wild horses and burros today…

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Happy Earth Day!

Admittedly, every day is Earth Day for our team at the American Wild Horse Campaign, BUT that doesn’t mean we won’t take the opportunity to celebrate a little extra on this day

Today, we invite you to join us in focusing on the protection of our beautiful planet and all of the amazing creatures who inhabit it — and we can think of no better way than doubling down on our commitment to our cherished wild horses and burros. 

Here are 3 ways you can take action for our herds today:

  1. Over 60,000 mustangs and burros are stuck in government holding facilities.Recent welfare assessments at some of these facilities show widespread and concerning violations including facility maintenance, vaccine protocols, and inadequate access to food and water. Even more concerning, as more mustangs and burros are funneled into this overburdened system, disease outbreaks are becoming all the more common. Take action now to protect these captive animals!
TAKE ACTION →
  1. When people hear about what’s happening to wild horses, they care.We need you to help educate your friends and family about what is happening to our wild horses and burros right now! Take a second to share this video to your social media pages and get started!
SHARE THE VIDEO →
  1. We’re fighting to keep wild horses and burros wild, and every purchase you make with us helps fund that fight.Go wild this Earth Day with our apparel and partnerships!
SHOP FOR WILD HORSES →

Every single day, our team sees firsthand the threats that wild horses and burros face — the dangerous Adoption Incentive Program, crowded and unsafe holding pens, and inhumane government management practices driven by private interests – not conservation experts.

The Bureau of Land Management’s current strategy for wild horses and burros is not a path forward, friend, it’s a path toward ecological destruction. And we can’t stand by and let it happen — please take action for those who don’t have a voice this Earth Day.

Onaqui Herd Mare and Foal Photo: Kimerlee Curyl

Thank you for standing with our wild herds. Happy Earth Day!

– AWHC Team

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