Wally wasn’t found on the open range — he was found on Facebook

The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

This is how Wally was found.

Not out on the open range. Not with his family band. But in photos posted to Facebook Marketplace — listed for sale like an object, not a living, breathing being:

Earlier this year, our rescue partners at Wild Heart Restart Ranch came across Wally’s listing while monitoring online sales. The photos showed a horse quietly waiting — vulnerable, unprotected, and one step away from disappearing into a system where horses are bought, flipped, and too often funneled toward slaughter.

Meredith, this should never happen — yet bad actors have exploited wild horses for years. That’s why AWHC responds wherever harm occurs by uncovering abuse through investigation, taking legal action to hold perpetrators accountable, and supporting rescue partners when we can to make a lifesaving difference.

In Wally’s case, your support made it possible for us to give a grant to Wild Heart Restart Ranch to:

• Fund Wally’s purchase, removing him from immediate risk,
• Cover his veterinary care,
• And pay for his September board so that he could recover safely with our trusted partners.

Because of you, Wally is no longer a listing on Facebook. He’s a mustang with a future.

Your support allows us to respond when horses need help, dig deep when exploitation must be exposed, and take decisive legal action to protect wild horses from those who profit off their suffering.

Every gift made between now and December 31st powers lifesaving work like this, Meredith. Will you make a 2X-Matched donation towards our $100,000 year-end goal to power our critical work like Wally’s rescue and more?

With gratitude,

The AWHC Team