Horses

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

As the winter snows melt away, wild horses across the West are experiencing one of the most dynamic times of the year—spring!

This season brings these iconic animals new life, shifting social dynamics, and fierce competition. Mares who have carried their foals through the harsh winter finally welcome their newborns. Within just an hour of birth, these tiny but resilient foals are on their feet, ready to keep up with their bands and begin their journey in the wild.

Stallions feel the change, too. With the foaling season comes heightened competition—males battle for dominance, engaging in dramatic displays of strength to protect or expand their families. Meanwhile, young bachelors test their skills, preparing for the day they might lead bands of their own.

Photo by Tandin Chapman

And with fresh forage emerging, wild horses roam farther, grazing on the new vegetation that restores their strength after surviving the winter’s hardships. Spring is truly a season of renewal for these iconic animals!

But the challenges they face don’t fade with winter, Meredith. While government roundups are paused until July to allow foals to be born, the threats they face are everlooming. That’s why we fight every day to protect wild horses and burros on the public lands they call home.

Your support helps ensure that foals born this spring grow up wild and free. Will you make a gift today to support our work to protect them?

Thank you for standing with wild horses in every season.

With gratitude,

American Wild Horse Conservation

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Did you know that wild horses have the largest eyes of any land mammal? With nearly 350-degree vision, they can spot danger from almost every angle — one of the many ways American wild horses have survived and thrived across the West for centuries. These incredible animals aren’t just running free — they’re carrying the spirit of the open range and keeping nature in balance, one hoofbeat at a time!

Saddle up, because we’re about to share seven WILD facts about our cherished icons: 

They’ve got spring in their step! Wild horses have a built-in shock absorption system in their legs, helping them cover miles of rugged terrain without breaking stride.

Herds stick together. A lead mare charts the course, while a dominant stallion stands guard. Young bachelors eventually break away to start their own herds.

Foals find their footing fast. Within just one hour of birth, a wild foal is already up and trotting alongside Mom — because in the wild, there’s no time to horse around!

They have a secret language. Wild horses “talk” through ear flicks, tail swishes, and subtle shifts in body posture — but when words fail, a well-placed squeal or kick gets the message across.

Nature’s lawnmowers at work! Unlike cattle, wild horses don’t rip grass up by the roots, keeping grasslands healthy and thriving. You could say they have a knack for natural landscaping.

They don’t hit the snooze button. Wild horses get very little REM sleep and often sleep standing up, ready to flee at a moment’s notice if danger approaches.

They’re a native reintroduced species! Wild horses evolved in the North American continent. Research shows they crossed the Bering Land bridge, going locally extinct, but they never went globally extinct and were reintroduced by Spanish colonizers.

The wild horses of the American West are in a race against time. Government helicopter roundups are driving them from their homes, replacing freedom with fences.

In fact, as we speak, more “federally protected” wild horses are living in captivity than roaming free on public lands.

Your support is essential to wild herds where they belong. Can you chip in today to fuel the fight to preserve and protect American wild horses?

One more thing! On March 1 — National Horse Protection Day — we’re taking action for wild horses. You can get a headstart by clicking here to sign our petition to #HaltTheHelicopters and end cruel, costly government helicopter roundups! 

For the wild ones,

Team AWHC

The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

In the untamed beauty of Nevada’s Fish Springs Range lives a love story like no other.

Blue and Lady are the king and queen of this wild desert landscape. Blue embodies the spirit of a true wild stallion — fiercely protective and resilient, shaped by grit and molded by the harsh desert sun. Lady, a stunning and wise mare, has raised generations of wild horses, her innate intuition keeping her family safe and free.

Photos of Blue and Lady at Fish Springs Range by John T. Humphrey

For years, these two remarkable wild horses have stood by each other’s side. When Blue naps, Lady stands watch. When visitors spot Lady, they know that Blue is never far away. Their unwavering love has withstood fierce challenges from rival stallions, bitter winters, and the ever-changing demands of life in the wild.

This Valentine’s Day, will you join us in honoring a love as wild and enduring as that of Blue and Lady by supporting the American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC)?

Your gift will help us preserve the Fish Springs landscape and protect our wild herds by conserving vital water sources, restoring their natural habitat, and funding humane fertility control to keep families like Blue and Lady together and free.

Looking for more Blue and Lady content?! Check out the Wild Hearts Project, which we launched just this month to shine a light on powerful stories of family and freedom — stories like this one.

Thank you for standing by wild horses and the enduring love stories they inspire.

For love that runs free,

Team AWHC