In this week’s eNews: AWHC at Desert International Horse Park!
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
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American Wild Horse Campaign
Last week, the United States Forest Service (USFS) suddenly restarted the Devil’s Garden wild horse roundup. The restart came with little-to-no notice and troubling restrictions: the USFS limited public observation to just two days and capped attendance at four individuals. AWHC is on alert to ensure this does not signal a change in the public’s already diminished right to view and document wild horse roundups. 
$120K roundup vs. $30 vaccine
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Porcine Zona Pellucida.
Better known as the PZP vaccine, this fertility control tool is a safe, effective, and humane solution for managing wild horse herds. Unlike cruel and costly helicopter roundups carried out by federal agencies, PZP allows wild horses to remain free on the range. Best of all, a single dose costs just $30.
| DONATE $30 ON JANUARY 30 |
Meet Empress, a wild mare from Nevada’s Virginia Range who has greatly benefited from American Wild Horse Conservation’s (AWHC) groundbreaking PZP program. Between 2014 and 2019, she has had five beautiful foals, contributing to the genetic health of her herd. Not only has our PZP program kept her free, but it has also kept her healthy. With a break from pregnancy, she is able to live out her golden years, thriving in the wild where she belongs.
Empress, a Virginia Range wild mare.
Despite PZP’s proven success, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is failing to use this humane management strategy at scale. One blatant example is Nevada’s Fish Creek roundup, which ended with nearly 200 horses captured earlier this month. This cruel, costly helicopter roundup could have been prevented.
Photo of Fish Springs HMA roundup taken by an AWHC observer.
Five years ago, AWHC submitted a formal proposal to launch a humane PZP fertility control program in the Fish Creek Herd Managment Area (HMA). The proposal underwent extensive review, but the BLM withheld final approval without explanation.
Despite this, we’re continuing to expand groundbreaking fertility control programs in other areas, proving the safety and efficacy of PZP. Since 2019, our groundbreaking fertility control program in northern Nevada has seen a 67% decline in foal births, stabilizing this population in areas where development is encroaching on their habitat.
The PZP vaccine keeps mares wild and free on the range for a mere lifetime cost of just over $3,500 — pennies on the dollar when you look at the staggering $48,000 it costs to keep just one horse in government holding for life.
| DONATE $30 ON JANUARY 30 |
Thank you for standing with us in defense of these iconic animals.
Sincerely,
Team AWHC
Thank you
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
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Rare Wild Horses Under Attack in Nevada
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
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The government is rounding up the Devil’s Garden wild horses AGAIN
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
The wild horses of the Devil’s Garden Plateau Wild Horse Territory in California are once again under threat. This roundup, initiated by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) in October 2024, has officially resumed with almost no notice and alarming restrictions on public observation. Our observers were only allowed to attend the roundup for two days, and they were restricted from visiting the holding facility where the recently captured horses were held.
Before the observation period started, AWHC sent a legal letter demanding full and transparent public observation of the roundup. When our observers reported even more restrictions while on the ground, we reached out again to the USFS.
Here’s what we know:
- According to the incoming Modoc Forest Supervisor, the new administration has issued a communications freeze and the USFS is not able to post any roundup updates to its website or social media.
- Our observation continued to be restricted at the roundup and the corrals. Without full access or any information shared, the public is fully in the dark and there is no opportunity to hold the government accountable.
Every American taxpayer has the right to witness how the government is treating these iconic animals. And we stand ready to defend that right.
| POWER OUR ACTION |
Devil’s Garden Plateau Roundup by an AWHC observer.
Will you join us in our fight to protect the right to observe government operations? Your support will help us:
- Continue legal efforts to ensure transparency and accountability.
- Provide on-the-ground advocacy to protect wild horses.
- Fight for humane, sustainable conservation practices.
| SUPPORT OUR ADVOCACY |
Together, we can stand up for the wild horses of Devil’s Garden and all our wild herds to ensure they are treated with the respect and care they deserve.
Thank you for standing with us,
Team AWHC
Wild Horses are good for the economy!
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Did you know that wild horses are not only iconic symbols of the American West, but also powerful drivers of ecotourism?
Photo by Yasmin Tajik
In a recent article featured in Bustle, the spotlight was on the growing potential of wild horse ecotourism. As word gets out that America’s public lands are home to these iconic animals, people want to travel to them and experience the beauty and freedom of wild horses in their natural habitats.
This isn’t just great news for wild horses and those who love them — it’s great for local economies too! Research shows that thriving wild horse ecotourism could help support local communities, and small businesses like tour operators, hotels, and restaurants near wild horse habitat.
But here’s the thing: This incredible economic and cultural boon is at risk due to the federal government’s mismanagement. And with a new Congress just sworn in, it’s more important than ever that we highlight the role wild horses play — not just as a symbol of our heritage, but as contributors to thriving communities and ecosystems.
American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) is fighting to protect these animals and keep them where they belong: in the wild. From implementing humane fertility control programs to safeguarding and enhancing critical habitats, our team is on the ground every day, making a difference for our wild herds.
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Thank you,
American Wild Horse Conservation
93 Lawmakers. 15 Million Advocates. And we’re just getting started…
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Over the past couple of years, we’ve chartered new frontiers in the conservation of America’s wild herds. In 2024 alone, we worked with 93 members of Congress to serve as a clear voice for wild horses and burros on Capitol Hill. Last year our grassroots advocacy reached a staggering 15 million people on social media and earned 278 media mentions, which reached an additional 5.4 million viewers. Our team spent nearly 200 days in the field documenting every major government helicopter roundup. We defended wild horses in the court room and preserved their future through humane, science-backed fertility control on the range.
Our work in advocacy, litigation, documentation, and conservation have all led us to this moment — and to our impactful agenda for 2025. This year, our wild herds continue to face serious threats including habitat destruction, federally funded abuse, and more.
| SUPPORT OUR 2025 ACTION |
Our plan for this year is straightforward and impactful, but we know we have challenges ahead. Here’s what we plan to achieve in 2025:
- Protect public lands from competing interests such as private livestock grazing.
- Secure stronger wild horse protections at the state and federal levels.
- Fund humane, science-based wild horse and burro conservation.
- Partner with local organizations to rescue at-risk wild horses.
But we can’t do it alone. Your contribution directly impacts our fight to save wild horses and burros. A gift of $25, $50, $100, or any amount will help us target our advocacy efforts toward key decision-makers, rescue wild horses in immediate danger, and develop innovative programs that balance conservation and public land use.
| SUPPORT OUR 2025 ACTION |
Every dollar makes a difference. Together, we can ensure wild horses continue to roam free across America’s open spaces — just as they were meant to.
Wild horses embody our shared heritage and the spirit of freedom. By donating today, you’re not just supporting a cause — you’re standing with thousands of others who believe in a future where wild horses thrive.
Let’s do this together.
For the wild ones,
Team AWHC
Special Thanks to Wild Horse Champions in the 119th Congress
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Both a new administration and a new Congress have been sworn in.
Please join us in celebrating with renewed thanks and congratulations to four members of Congress who have gone above and beyond for America’s wild herds. The following wild horse and burro champions were sworn in earlier this month after being reelected to serve their constituencies:
- Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV)
- Congressman David Schweikert (R-AZ)
- Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ)
- Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN)
To these members of Congress: Thank you for standing firmly by our side in the fight to reform the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) cruel, costly herd management practices. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to protecting these majestic symbols of the American West. Your work on Capitol Hill exemplifies hope and progress toward our mission to preserve the freedom and dignity of American wild horses and burros.
We look forward to continuing this vital work together with the 119th United States Congress.
Will you join us in thanking these members of Congress for their past work and renewing the call for meaningful reform to conserve our iconic wild herds in 2025? Save this graphic to your camera roll and share it on your personal social media accounts. Don’t forget to tag @freewildhorses!
Together, we can keep America’s wild horses free and thriving. Thank you for being an essential part of this mission!
Stay Wild,
Team AWHC
Everything changed when the helicopters came
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
My name is Sage. For years, I called the Buffalo Hills in Nevada my home. I lived peacefully on the open range, where the air was crisp, the mornings were peaceful, and the only thing that mattered was keeping my little one, Washoe, safe.
Photo by Steve Paige
But one day this past November, everything changed.
I will never forget the roar of the helicopter that shattered the quiet morning. I ran as fast as I could, Washoe stumbling by my side, trying to stay close. The ground beneath us trembled as I fought to protect him, but there was no escape. They cornered us, roped us, and took us away from the only home we’ve ever known.
Photo by Steve Paige
After the roundup, we were held captive in a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) holding facility. Washoe still doesn’t understand what’s going on, and I fear what comes next — for him and for me.
No animal deserves to be treated like this, Meredith. Thankfully, there are people who are fighting for change — like American Wild Horse Conservation.
AWHC is working tirelessly to end the cruel helicopter roundups that rip wild families apart and rob us of our freedom. They work around the clock to rescue burros and horses like us from being funneled into the slaughter pipeline before it’s too late. They are fighting for a future where we can live in peace on the public lands we’ve called home for generations.
But they can’t do it without your help.
| DONATE |
With gratitude,
Sage the Burro
DOGE’s Chance to Reform the BLM
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
As a new administration is coming into power, so is the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This new government department, led by Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, has made a commitment to improving government efficiency and fiscal responsibility and the Wild Horse and Burro Program is a prime candidate for reform.
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Why Reform Is Needed:
- Outdated and Costly Practices: The BLM continues to rely on traumatic helicopter roundups, confining tens of thousands of wild horses in costly holding facilities. This approach ignores repeated Congressional directives and recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences, which criticized roundups as “expensive and unproductive.”
- Skyrocketing Costs: The BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program spent $158 million in 2023 alone, with costs projected to reach $360 million annually. This spending prioritizes ineffective methods over proven, humane fertility control strategies that save taxpayers millions.
- Humane Solutions Work: On Nevada’s Virginia Range, American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) has demonstrated that fertility control programs are not only effective but also financially sound, costing a fraction of the price of roundups and confinement.
| TAKE ACTION |
Both Musk and Ramaswamy’s commitment to fiscal responsibility, along with Ramaswamy’s concern about animal cruelty, aligns perfectly with the urgent need to overhaul the BLM’s current approach.
This is a rare chance to demand a better way forward — one that respects science, saves taxpayer dollars, and ensures humane treatment of federally protected wild horses.
Best,
American Wild Horse Conservation
Announcing the 2025 Membership Card!
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
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This week’s e-news: L.A. Fire Victim Resources
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
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FWD: LAST CHANCE! Help us pick our official 2025 AWHC Member Card >>
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Did you see our email on Thursday?
We’re announcing the winning design for our Official 2025 American Wild Horse Conservation Member Card on Wednesday! Make sure to cast your vote now and have a say on the final design! >>
A 2025 AWHC Member Card is *the perfect way* to show the world your commitment to standing up for America’s wild horses and burros.
| VOTE |
Thank you for your input!
Team AWHC
It’s that time of year!
Option # 1
Option #2
Option #3
A 2025 AWHC Member Card is a great way to show off your dedication to protecting America’s wild herds. Will you cast your vote and let us know which design is your favorite? We’ll be announcing the winner next Wednesday!
| VOTE |
– American Wild Horse Conservation
SURVEY REQUEST: Help us set our priorities for wild horses and burros in 2025 →
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
As we start the new year, our team is not only reflecting on the impact we made in 2024, but also on how we can continue our momentum in 2025 — and we want to understand what priorities are important to you for the coming year.
From expanding support for fertility control programs to other wild horse herds across the West, to progressing our groundbreaking Land Conservancy Project, we made tangible progress in advancing the cause of wild horse and burro conservation last year.
These remarkable wins are worth celebrating, but until all our beloved wild herds can live out their days wild and free, there is still much to be done. So, our team is busy setting our priorities for 2025 — and, as one of our most dedicated AWHC supporters, we want your valued input.
Will you take a moment to share your thoughts by completing our 2025 priorities survey?
| SELECT YOUR PRIORITIES FOR 2025 → |
Last year’s successes were made possible because of supporters like you.Together, we can build on those wins in 2025 and continue our mission to protect America’s wild horses and burros.
So, we want to know: What issues would you like to see as our top areas of focus this year? Share your thoughts by taking our 2025 priorities survey today.
Thanks,
Team AWHC
Thanks to You, Wild Horses Have Hope in 2025
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Happy New Year!
As we step into 2025, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible impact we made together during the final stretch of 2024.
Your unwavering commitment to protecting America’s wild horses and burros has been nothing short of inspiring.
Your dedication strengthens our mission to safeguard their freedom, advocate for humane conservation, and address the many challenges our wild equines face every day.
In the coming months, we’ll be tackling pressing challenges, from taking a stand against harmful policies to advancing science-backed solutions for wild herd management. And thanks to your partnership, we are facing these challenges head-on.
My team and I will be sharing updates with you every step of the way so you can see the impact of your generosity firsthand. For now, I invite you to take a moment to explore our 2024 Impact Report, which highlights the tangible outcomes your support has made possible and celebrates the progress we’ve achieved together.
| Explore Our 2024 Impact Report |
Thank you for standing with us and with the wild horses and burros who depend on us.
With gratitude and hope,
Suzanne Roy
Executive Director
American Wild Horse Conservation
LAST CHANCE to Double Your Impact for Wild Horses in 2025!
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
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.
| DONATE NOW → |
Time is running out fast
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
I’ll keep this quick: We’re coming up on our biggest fundraising deadline of 2024 — our $200,000 End-of-Year goal with a $100,000 matching gift. We’re still just 88% of the way to our goal, and I’m worried that for the first time ever, we may not get there.
Together, we can ensure that our work in 2025 gets off to the strongest start possible; with funding for our ambitious legal, legislative, and field program goals.
I can’t wait to see what we achieve together for our wild horses and burros in the year ahead. If it’s anything like the momentum we’ve experienced this year, we have a lot to be hopeful about. Thank you for all that you’ve done to power our movement in 2024.
We’ve accomplished so much, so I want to share with you a video our team put together highlighting some of our 2024 victories. We’re so proud of what we’ve been able to do and are so grateful for your belief in our work.
On behalf of our whole team, thank you for your compassion and dedication to protecting wild horses and burros. We wish you and your family a peaceful and healthy New Year.
For the wild ones,
Suzanne Roy
Executive Director
American Wild Horse Conservation
They survived the roundups, but needed a holiday miracle to survive this
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
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.
$50 → becomes $100 to power rescues
$100 → becomes $200 to fight for their freedom
$250 → becomes $500 to keep them safe
| DOUBLE YOUR GIFT → |
Photo by RJF Equine
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 →
Wild burros need your support more than ever
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
While the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) inhumane treatment of wild horses is often in the spotlight, the welfare of wild burros can be overlooked. At American Wild Conservation (AWHC), we’re fighting to keep the plight of these iconic animals at the forefront, but we’re sad to report that 2024 was one of the worst years for burros in recent history.
Over the course of the year, the BLM used helicopters to roundup over 2,790 wild burros from their homes, including nearly 300 from the Mairetta wild burro range in Nevada.
Burros from the Marietta Wild Burro Range, Nevada
Wild burros are at risk like never before, with the BLM planning to round up even more of these innocent animals next year. That’s why we need to be ready to fight back for them on all fronts, from the courtroom to Congress.
Our photos and videos of the BLM’s cruel helicopter roundups have sparked public outrage and prompted numerous members of Congress to speak out against them. Please chip in to our End-of-Year goal to help us continue standing up for wild burros in 2025!
Unlike wild horses who run into the trap site in their family groups, wild burros are stoic and often stand their ground in the face of the helicopters or scatter in an attempt to avoid capture. As a result, roundups can be even more traumatic and taxing for these incredible animals.
But helicopters aren’t the only cruel tactic the BLM employs — BLM contractors have gone so far as to use electric cattle prods on burros, such as during the Black Mountain roundup in 2022. The BLM’s own Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP) assessment of the roundup detailed one contractor abusively hitting, kicking, striking, and beating a captured burro.
| HAVE YOUR GIFT DOUBLED → |
Thank you,
AWHC
$30 today to save a life tomorrow
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
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