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Red Alert: Wild Horse Slaughter Ban Left Out from President’s Budget

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

The Trump Administration’s recently-released Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget proposal slashes funding for the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program by 25% and removes longstanding prohibition on wild horse slaughter putting up to 64,000 wild horses and burros at risk.

Even worse, new language allows unlimited transfers of wild horses to individuals, nonprofits, and even foreign governments, with no safeguards in place.

Make no mistake: This is a direct threat to the freedom and survival of America’s wild herds. Can you rush a donation now to help us fight back?

DONATE NOW

This isn’t just wrong, it’s deeply out of step with public values. Polling shows 80% of Americans, including 86% of Trump voters, support the slaughter ban.

The proposed budget echoes the extreme Project 2025 agenda, which calls for the BLM to “dispose” of wild horses, and completely reverses the previous Trump Administration’s rejection of lethal management options.

This is the most serious threat wild horses have faced in years – and we need your help.

RUSH A DONATION

Now the fight turns to Congress as it considers the FY26 final government budget. Our team is on Capitol Hill fighting for the lives of our wild herds. Your donation today powers our work in Washington, in court, and on the range.

Together, we are stronger and we can fight back.

Thank you,

Suzanne Roy, executive director of AWHC

Meet Two Socks: A Living Legacy of Wild Horse Annie’s Herds

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

Everyone in Nevada’s Virginia Range has a Two Socks story.

Two Socks is more than just a wild stallion. He’s part of the legacy left by Wild Horse Annie, the legendary advocate whose tireless work helped protect these very horses decades ago. Two Socks’ story reflects the deep bonds, fierce loyalty, and generational strength that define them.

For years, Two Socks roamed with his companion, affectionately called “Grandpa,” who helped him defend his band. Even one of his mares, nicknamed “Meany Momma,” joined the fight when needed. Together, they protected a family that remained united for more than a decade.

Now older, Two Socks has passed leadership to his lieutenant, Trident, the son of Pinkie, and Bodie Braveheart. In a twist of fate, Bodie was once Two Socks’ rival, their battles more about strength and respect than harm.

Today, Two Socks is a bachelor again. But recently, his son Randal spotted him across a field. The two reunited briefly, playfully wrestling before going their separate ways.

Stories like this remind us that these are not just horses, they’re living history. Wild Horse Annie’s horses still roam the Virginia Range. And it’s up to us to keep them wild.

That’s why our team is on the ground every day, implementing a humane fertility control program to keep horses like Two Socks and his family on the range where they belong. It’s a proven, cost-effective solution that ensures these stories continue for generations to come.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE MUSTANGS

Thank you for standing with us and with the Virginia Range horses

Team AWHC

President’s Budget Could Threaten Wild Horses – Tell Congress to Act

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

The Trump Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 26 budget proposal could mean slaughter for wild horses.

If enacted fully, it would cut funding for the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program by 25% and remove the ban on lethal management and commerical slaughter.

This means up to 64,000 wild horses and burros currently in holding could be shipped to slaughter across U.S. borders.

Even worse, new language would allow unlimited transfers of wild horses to individuals, nonprofits, and even foreign governments with no safeguards in place. This would open a backdoor to slaughter of our iconic wild herds.

TAKE ACTION NOW

But it’s not too late. Now, the fight turns to Congress as it considers final appropriations legislation to fund the federal government in FY26.

This means we have a chance to ensure that the longstanding prohibition on wild horse slaughter makes it into the final bill. But your representatives and senators need to hear from you. Call on your members of Congress right now to ensure they advocate for the conservation of wild horses, not their slaughter. 

TAKE ACTION

At AWHC, we know there’s a better way. We’re calling on Congress to:

  • Maintain the longstanding wild horse slaughter ban
  • Expand humane, in-the-wild solutions like fertility control
  • End the failed roundup-and-holding system

The proposed budget carries out the Project 2025 agenda, which calls for the BLM to “dispose” of wild horses, completely reversing the Trump Administration’s previous 2019 rejection of lethal management.

We’ve been here before and together, through the power of your advocacy, we kept slaughter off the table. We can do that again. Take action now and save our wild herds from the brutal fate of slaughter.

TAKE ACTION

We’re already fighting back and we won’t stop. Thank you for standing with us,

Team AWHC

Just $30 today could save a life tomorrow

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

Here at American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC), our mission is to protect America’s wild horses and burros, ensuring their freedom and safeguarding their future on our public lands.

Photo by Tandin Chapman

One of our most impactful initiatives is our PZP fertility control program. PZP is a scientifically-proven fertility control vaccine given to female horses on the range via remote darting. It’s administered in a two shot process — the first is a primer, which is then followed by a booster approximately two weeks later. The vaccine prevents fertilization and pregnancy via an immune response that does not affect the horse’s hormonal system — all for just $30 per dose.

Our humane fertility control program is one of the largest and most successful of its kind in the world. We are also proud to partner with the federal government to implement fertility control on the Cedar Mountain herd in Utah — an inspiring example of collaboration and how fertility control can work at scale.

While a federal grant covered a substantial portion of this program, we recently learned the grant will not be renewed. And now we need your help to keep our programs fully funded and keep the Cedar Mountain wild horses wild.

POWER OUR PZP PROGRAM

Your gift today will help us:

  • Deliver safe, effective fertility control to wild mares through remote darting
  • Support trained field teams who track, execute, and document these efforts
  • Keep wild horses in the wild, where they belong

This work is only possible because of the continued support of people like you. A gift of just $30 today can save a life tomorrow. Will you make a donation today to help us continue our PZP program?

DONATE NOW

Thank you,

Team AWHC

Wild Horses Win on Capitol Hill and Colorado Steps Up Too!

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

This month, the tide is turning in the fight to protect wild horses and burros across the American West, and it’s all thanks to advocates like you.

Protect Wild Horses and Burros in the Blue Wing Complex

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) just released a plan for the Blue Wing Complex that continues cruel helicopter roundups and expands off-range holding. Even after documented abuse and mass burro deaths, the agency is pushing forward with business as usual.

Now’s your chance to demand change. Urge the BLM to prioritize humane, science-based solutions, like fertility control, and phase out helicopter roundups.

Submit Your Comments

RECORD Congressional Support for Humane Reform

A record-setting 83 bipartisan members of the House of Representatives and 17 senators have signed on to letters urging the BLM to move away from cruel and costly helicopter roundups and adopt humane, science-based management alternatives. This marks the strongest showing of support for wild horse reform in U.S. history.

Read the Full Story

Wild Horse Caucus Officially Launches in Congress

In another landmark development, the first-ever Congressional Wild Horse and Burro Caucus has been formed. This new bipartisan group is dedicated to protecting America’s iconic mustangs and burros through legislative action, oversight, and public education. Help grow the momentum!

Urge Your Members of Congress to Join the Caucus

A Big Step Forward For Colorado’s Wild Horses

Colorado Governor Jared Polis has signed HB25-1283, a new law that invests in humane, on-range management of wild horses. The bill establishes a Wild Horse Program and Advisory Committee within the state’s Department of Agriculture and funds a professional darting team to support fertility control efforts.

The law reflects growing support for collaborative, science-based approaches to wild horse management.

Read More About the New Legislation

Burro Awareness Month Wraps Up But The Fight Continues

As May comes to a close, so does Burro Awareness Month, but the need to protect these gentle, misunderstood animals is urgent year-round.  Wild burros are facing increased threats from helicopter roundups, shrinking habitats, and genetic fragmentation. We must act now to ensure their survival.

Take Action for Wild Burros Today

Your voice is making a difference. With every petition signed, every action taken, and every lawmaker reached, we are rewriting the future for America’s wild horses and burros.

Team AWHC

From Fragile Foal to Thriving Survivor — Thanks to You

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

Two months ago, a very special wild foal named Creedence celebrated his second birthday — something that once seemed impossible. Will you help give more foals like Creedence a second chance?

FUEL OUR RESCUE FUND →

Creedence was born on Nevada’s Virginia Range in March 2023. Just hours after his birth, he was found collapsed on the ground. He was too weak to stand and dangerously close to death. He hadn’t nursed, and time was running out.

Photo: Creedence was rescued and rushed to Comstock Equine Hospital.

Thanks to the incredible local groups — Wild Horse Connection and Least Resistance Training Concepts — Creedence was rushed to Comstock Equine Hospital. There, he received a lifesaving plasma transfusion and intensive care. Thanks to our rescue fund, we were able to make an emergency donation towards his care.

Photo: Creedence is healthy and thriving at WHC

Today, Creedence lives happily at WHC’s facility and is getting all the care and love he deserves!

Your gift to the AWHC Rescue Fund powers lifesaving care the moment it’s needed. Will you give $10, $25, or whatever you can to help us support more rescues like this one?

FUEL MORE RESCUES LIKE THIS ONE

With gratitude,

Team AWHC

 

25 Burros Dead. How Many More?

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

May is Burro Awareness Month — a time to celebrate and protect these intelligent, resilient animals who’ve roamed the American West for generations. But despite their ecological and cultural importance, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) continues to manage them in the most cruel and costly way.

And Meredith, this has deadly consequences. Last month, at least 25 wild burros died at the BLM’s Axtell holding facility in Utah from the gammaherpes virus.

Give now to protect wild burros

They were chased with helicopters for potentially miles, removed from their home in the Canyonlands Herd Management Area, and funneled into an overburdened holding facility.

These roundups are particularly hard for these sensitive animals and the stress of removal and confinement can lead to disease outbreaks like the gammaherpes virus, but also a condition called hyperlipemia. This often fatal disease causes burros to become lethargic and stop eating.

This tragedy isn’t an isolated incident.

In 2023, 45 Nevada burros died at the same facility, and over half died due to hyperlipemia. Others died during geldings or had to be euthanized due to preventable health issues. In 2016, another outbreak claimed even more burros’ lives.

Yet, nearly a decade later, the BLM continues the same cruel pattern: more roundups, more confinement, more deaths.

Over 64,000 wild horses and burros are now trapped in government holding facilities. This is costing taxpayers tens of millions, and it’s costing the animals their lives.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Your support can power solutions that keep wild burros on the range where they belong — free, safe, and thriving. 

With your help, we can:

  • Demand accountability from the BLM.
  • Promote humane, science-based alternatives to roundups.
  • Advocate for real wild burro conservation (not feedlots).

Give now to protect wild burros

The system is failing. Let’s not allow any more burros to die without meaningful conservation reform.

For the wild ones,

American Wild Horse Conservation

Remembering David Horowitz’s Fight to Protect Wild Horses

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

Recently, The Hill published AWHC’s op-ed recognizing the important role the late David Horowitz, a well-known conservative leader and author, played in fighting the threat of wild horse slaughter in 2017. 

In it, our Executive Director Suzanne Roy reflects on Horowitz’s legacy as an advocate for the humane treatment of our nation’s wild horses.

When federal legislation threatened to legalize the mass slaughter of wild horses and burros, David spoke out forcefully. He rallied political leaders, and emphasized the public’s overwhelming opposition to slaughter. His actions were instrumental in stopping a dangerous policy and preserving protections that still stand today. 

His work showed how conservatives’ values of stewardship, compassion, fiscal responsibility can and should include protecting the West’s most iconic animals.

Now, as policymakers once again consider proposals that could endanger wild horses, Horowitz’s wisdom and foresight remain a guiding light. We extend our deepest condolences to his family. 

Please take a moment to read Suzanne’s op-ed and reflect on how one determined voice can shape a better future for America’s wild mustangs and burros.

Thank you for being a part of this mission.

For the wild ones,

American Wild Horse Conservation

6 WILD Facts You Didn’t Know About Burros

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

Did you know that wild burros can recognize each other’s voices from more than a mile away? Or that they can sprint faster than a coyote in a chase? These smart, sturdy animals are full of surprises — and their impact on our environment goes far beyond what meets the eye.

Photo Credit: Steve Paige

In honor of Burro Awareness Month, here are six fascinating facts about these often-overlooked desert dwellers:

  • A donkey never forgets. Burros have an astonishing memory — they can recall other burros and familiar places even after 25 years apart.
  • Burros put on a brave face. As a survival instinct, burros tend to mask pain or weakness to avoid becoming targets in the wild. But just because they look tough doesn’t mean they aren’t suffering.
  • Donkeys are digestion machines. Burros make the most of every bite. Their efficient systems extract up to 95% of the nutrients from what they eat.
  • Burro babies aren’t born for a YEAR! The average burro pregnancy lasts 11 to 14.5 months. Most foals are born at night, when it’s safest.
  • Burros are ecosystem engineers! Burros create life-giving water holes in desert regions. These mini-oases provide essential hydration for a wide range of wildlife.
  • The blind burro buddy system: Blind burros often form deep bonds with sighted companions who help lead the way. And get this: Donkeys can see all four of their feet at once!

Chip in to Protect America’s Wild Burros

Wild burros may keep quiet about their pain, but they should NOT have to suffer in silence. At American Wild Horse Conservation, we’re fighting to end inhumane government policy and ensure burros get the protection they deserve. Will you make a quick donation to support our work?

For the wild ones,

Team AWHC

Celebrating all the wild horse moms this Mother’s Day!

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

This Mother’s Day, as we celebrate the nurturing, resilient, and protective spirit of mothers everywhere, let’s take a moment to also honor some of the most devoted moms in the wild — the mares of America’s wild horse herds.

Photo by Yasmin Tajik

These incredible mothers face constant challenges. From surviving harsh environments to protecting their young from predators and even government roundups, wild horse mares embody strength and sacrifice every day.

But they can’t do it alone. Right now, wild mares and their precious foals are at risk. Starting in just two months, federal roundups threaten to tear families apart, placing thousands of horses in government holding pens — many never to run free again.

Will you stand with us this Mother’s Day to protect wild horse mothers and keep their families together? Your generous gift can help us stop the roundups, safeguard their freedom, and ensure that wild mares and their foals continue to roam the lands they call home.

DONATE

Thank you for standing with all the wild moms out there.

With gratitude,

American Wild Horse Conservation

In celebration of Burro Awareness Month

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

May is a month of renewal: spring blooms, new life on the range, and a powerful reminder to protect the wild. It’s also Burro Awareness Month, a time to honor one of the most resilient and misunderstood animals in the American West.

This month is a celebration of the wild burro’s vital role in the American West, both ecological and cultural. But it’s also a call to action to protect them against federal mismanagement.

TAKE ACTION FOR WILD BURROS

The National Academy of Sciences warned in 2013 that the small, fragmented nature of burro herds threatens their genetic viability and that current population levels may be too low to sustain healthy herds. Yet, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) continues to ignore this science.

In fact, during this year’s Burro Awareness month, the BLM is planning to remove over 1,100 wild burros in a bait trap roundup in Arizona’s Three Rivers Complex. The current plan would leave only 1,160 burros in the wild on nearly one million acres of public, private, and state land.
While this is not a helicopter roundup, the lasting impacts will be devastating for these important herds.

The ecological importance of wild burros in desert environments cannot be overstated. Studies show that burros dig wells that provide water access for native species and support biodiversity in some of the harshest environments in the American West. Yet BLM continues to treat them as pests rather than ecosystem engineers.

This must change. This Burro Awareness Month, take action for wild burros and call on the BLM to:

  • Stop rounding up wild burros, especially with helicopters
  • Recognize the ecological importance of wild burros in arid landscapes
  • Address genetic fragmentation by reassessing AMLs and implementing science-based plans to ensure long-term viability

Let the BLM know that you want burros protected, not driven to collapse.

For the wild ones,

Team AWHC

Reminder: Today is the day to GIVE BIG!

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

The Big Day of Giving is officially here! Today, our community comes together to support the causes we care about most — and for wild horses and burros, this moment couldn’t be more important.

American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) is participating in this powerful 24-hour giving event. Our goal? Raise $25,000 to fuel rescue efforts, expose government abuse, and fight for real protections for America’s wild herds.

And with your help, we know we can get there. Will you make your gift right now and be part of this movement?

HELP US REACH $25,000

Your Big Day of Giving donation supports:

  • Documentation and investigation into harmful government policy.
  • Rescue operations for wild horses at risk of slaughter and confinement.
  • Public education campaigns and grassroots advocacy.
  • On-the-ground efforts to push for humane, in-the-wild management.

This is your chance to make a powerful impact — and every dollar counts. Together, we can change the future for America’s wild horses and burros.

Let’s make this Big Day of Giving one to remember.

DONATE BEFORE MIDNIGHT

With hopeful gratitude,

American Wild Horse Conservation

P.S. Donations made today help us unlock momentum and show the strength of our community. Give now, and help us reach our $25,000 goal before midnight!

Tell the BLM: Stop Using Helicopters to Round Up Wild Horses and Burros

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

On May 6, 2025, from 1 to 3 PM MST, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will hold its legally mandated virtual public meeting on the use of helicopters and other motorized vehicles in wild horse and burro management.

This is a critical opportunity for YOU to speak out against one of the most inhumane practices in the federal government’s Wild Horse and Burro Program. Register to speak by May 5, 2025!

Register and Read the Talking Points Here

Can’t attend the meeting? You can still make your voice heard by submitting written comments directly to the BLM:

Submit your comment now

Helicopter roundups are cruel, costly, and ineffective. Foals, pregnant mares, and older animals are chased over miles of rugged terrain—often in extreme heat—resulting in injuries, trauma, and even death. In one horrifying 2024 incident, a BLM contractor was caught on video kicking a downed horse in the head.

We know there’s a better way.

Humane fertility control offers a cost-effective and sustainable solution that keeps wild horses in the wild and out of overburdened holding pens. The BLM currently spends less than 4% of its budget on this proven conservation method.

The public has spoken—over 100,000 Americans have signed on to a petition calling for an end to helicopter roundups. Now it’s time for the BLM to listen.

Let’s make our voices count on May 6.

Submit your comment now

 

For the wild ones,
The AWHC Team

What you need to know about Big Day of Giving

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

The Big Day of Giving is almost here — and it’s our chance to be part of something powerful. Big Day of Giving (BDOG) is an annual community-wide fundraising event in the Sacramento area that brings together thousands of nonprofits and donors to make a collective impact.

American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) is participating this year — and we’ve set an ambitious goal of raising $25,000 to support our work protecting wild horses and burros across the West.

Early giving is already open, and we’re calling on supporters like you to help us get a head start. Will you make a donation today?

GIVE EARLY FOR BDOG

Your support powers:

  • Documentation and investigation into harmful government policy.
  • Rescue operations for wild horses at risk of slaughter and confinement.
  • Public education campaigns and grassroots advocacy.
  • On-the-ground efforts to push for humane, in-the-wild management.

Every dollar brings us closer to a future where wild herds roam free, safe from cruelty and captivity. With your help, we can meet our $25,000 goal and continue building the momentum needed to protect these iconic animals.

The Big Day of Giving is about community, compassion, and collective action. Will you stand with us — and with them?

GIVE NOW

Thank you for being part of this critical work. We couldn’t do it without you.

With gratitude,

Team AWHC

Thank you

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

You’re helping us build something powerful.

Now that National Volunteer Week has officially wrapped up, I want to take a moment — on behalf of myself and the entire team at American Wild Horse Conservation — to say thank you.

Thank you for standing with us.

Thank you for speaking out.

And to those of you who filled out the form to become a Volunteer Ambassador — thank you for taking the next step toward deeper involvement in this important movement.

This week underscored something incredibly important: The strength of our mission comes from you.

Every name added to our volunteer team, every email sent, and every conversation started in defense of our wild horses and burros is a ripple that moves us closer to real, lasting change. And knowing that more people than ever are raising their hands to help fills me with hope.

Our team will be in touch with each of you who expressed interest in becoming a Volunteer Ambassador. We’re so excited to help you plug in and find meaningful ways to use your voice, your passion, and your time.

Together, we’re building a powerful force for humane wild horse and burro conservation — and I’m so grateful to have you with us.

With gratitude and wild hope,

Suzanne Roy
Executive Director
American Wild Horse Conservation

P.S. If you didn’t get a chance to sign up but are still interested, it’s not too late — click here to fill out the Volunteer Ambassador form!

Become a Volunteer Ambassador

Support the Volunteers on the Front Lines

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

Every day, volunteers across the country are giving their time and heart to protect America’s wild horses and burros.

From our Volunteer Ambassadors to our on-the-ground volunteers in Nevada’s Virginia Range, these champions are making a real difference. They’re educating the public, meeting with lawmakers, and administering humane fertility control — all to keep wild horses wild and free.

But they can’t do it alone. Your contribution this National Volunteer Week will directly support these selfless volunteers by helping us organize trainings, purchase supplies, and pay for their travel expenses. Every dollar helps equip our team with what they need to do this vital work. Can you chip in to support our volunteers?

POWER OUR VOLUNTEERS

Our fertility control program in the Virginia Range is the largest of its kind in the world, and it’s powered almost entirely by volunteers. These individuals brave the Nevada terrain in all seasons, carefully darting mares with the humane, reversible, and science-backed PZP vaccine — a proven way to manage our wild herds in the wild, where they belong.

It’s hands-on, labor-intensive work. But it’s worth it. In the Virginia Range, populations are stabilizing in an area where their habitat is rapidly encroached upon by development. And best of all, these iconic mustangs are still roaming free. But we need your help to keep it going.

Meredith, your generosity ensures that our boots-on-the-ground and grassroots advocates can continue this life-changing work. In honor of National Volunteer Week, will you stand with them and with the wild horses they fight for every day?

POWER OUR VOLUNTEERS

— Team AWHC

Celebrate Earth Day by Taking Action for Wild Horses

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

Happy Earth Day!

At American Wild Horse Conservation, every day is a chance to fight for the future of our planet and the incredible animals who share it with us — especially our iconic wild horses and burros. But today, on Earth Day, we’re asking you to take an extra step to protect these beloved symbols of freedom.

Here are three meaningful actions you can take for wild horses and burros TODAY:

  1. Help halt the helicopters.
    Every year, the federal government uses helicopters to brutally chase and capture tens of thousands of wild horses and burros — tearing them from their families and their freedom on public lands. Many suffer, some die, and those who survive face overburdened holding pens or worse. Right now, more wild horses live in government captivity than roam free in the wild. It doesn’t have to be this way. Proven, humane alternatives like fertility control exist — and it’s time the government uses them. Join us and demand an immediate end to this cruel practice.

SIGN THE PETITION

  1. Support humane reforms in the FY26 federal budget.
    In Fiscal Year 2024, the Bureau of Land Management spent over $100 million on roundups and holding — while dedicating less than 4% of its budget to humane fertility control. But right now, members of Congress are circulating a letter urging reforms in the FY26 Interior Appropriations bill that would prioritize humane, fiscally responsible solutions. Help shift the future of wild horse management by urging your Representative to support this important effort.

TAKE ACTION

  1. Make a gift to protect wild horses.
    Your support powers our fight to end cruel roundups, push for meaningful legislative reform, and promote humane, in-the-wild solutions for wild horse and burro conservation. This Earth Day, help us keep up the momentum by making a donation to protect America’s wild herds — today and for generations to come.

DONATE NOW

Thank you for standing with us this Earth Day — and every day — as we work toward a future where wild horses and burros can live freely on our public lands.

Stay wild,

Team AWHC

Celebrate National Volunteer Week by Joining Our Volunteer Ambassador Team!

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

Happy National Volunteer Week!

Here at American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC), we’re taking this special week to recognize the power of people like you — passionate advocates who stand up, speak out, and take action to protect our iconic wild horses and burros.

Our grassroots strength is what drives real change, and right now, as we prepare for the upcoming summer roundups, we’re calling on compassionate individuals across the country to join our team as Volunteer Ambassadors.

This is your chance to turn your passion into action.

As a Volunteer Ambassador, you’ll be on the front lines of our movement — helping us challenge the federal government’s inhumane Wild Horse and Burro Program and fight for humane, in-the-wild conservation solutions. You’ll help us raise awareness, connect with your community, and engage with decision-makers to defend America’s wild herds.

BECOME A VOLUNTEER AMBASSADOR

Whether you’re leading outreach events, attending policy meetings, or simply sharing your voice online — you’ll be part of a growing movement to protect these incredible animals. And don’t worry, we know everyone’s schedule is different, so our roles are flexible and tailored to your availability.

In celebration of National Volunteer Week, we hope you’ll consider stepping into a bigger role in the fight to save our wild horses and burros. Your voice, your skills, and your passion are exactly what our movement needs.

Joining is easy. Just fill out a short application, and our team will reach out to connect and help you get started!

JOIN OUR HERD

Thank you for standing with us — and with them.

Team AWHC

The calm before the cruelty…

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

Right now, the wild landscape is full of new life as foals are born and taking their first steps on our vast public lands. Unfortunately, this peace won’t last long.

Photo Credit: © PhotoAdvocacy

In just three months, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will launch its summer assault on our wild herds — with helicopters set to descend on unsuspecting wild horses, burros, and their foals across the West.

This summer alone, thousands of horses and burros are slated for capture and permanent removal from their homes. By October of this year, the BLM will have rounded up nearly 11,000 wild horses and burros. The majority of the roundups will deploy helicopters, despite the trauma and loss they inflict on wild families.

That’s why AWHC’s Observation Fund needs your urgent support. Our team is preparing now to send photographers and videographers to the first roundups of the season — to document, expose, and advocate against these cruel operations.

FUEL OUR OBSERVATION FUND

Without public eyes on the ground, these helicopter roundups happen in some of the most remote parts of the West — far from scrutiny and accountability. Our observers often stand alone, bearing witness to cruelty that would otherwise go unseen.

Photo Credit: © PhotoAdvocacy

And yet, in the past year, our documentation has moved mountains — drawing national press coverage, prompting bipartisan action in Congress, and mobilizing over 100,000 advocates to demand a ban on dangerous helicopter roundups.

We cannot stop now.

The first major helicopter operation after the foaling season will be in the Wyoming Checkerboard. AWHC has been litigating against the BLM’s actions in Wyoming for 10 years and we’re currently awaiting a critical 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling to decide the fate of these horses.

3,624 wild horses will lose freedom forever.
Untold numbers will be injured or die in the process.

Will you make a gift today to power our observation efforts before the helicopters return?

CHIP IN TO PROTECT OUR WILD FOALS

This is our window to act. With your help, we’ll be ready.

In solidarity,

American Wild Horse Conservation

The surprising ways wild horses shape the land

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

As we continue our Earth Month celebrations, today, we want to highlight how wild horses and burros play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and supporting the biodiversity that keeps our planet in balance!

Photo by Tandin Chapman

Here are just a few of the ways they make a difference: 

Vegetation Management
Through their natural grazing behavior, wild horses help manage plant overgrowth, keeping grasslands healthy and balanced. Unlike livestock, they can consume dry, low-nutrient vegetation, such as cheatgrass, that could otherwise act as dangerous fuel for wildfires.

Supporting Soil Health
As they travel across the terrain, wild horses help aerate the soil, which promotes plant growth and nutrient cycling. By digesting and breaking down slow-decomposing plant matter, they also encourage carbon storage in the soil—making them an important ally in combating climate change!

Water Resource Impact
In dry environments, wild burros have been shown to increase water availability. They often uncover underground water sources that become critical for other wildlife as well, boosting the ecosystem’s resilience in the face of drought and desertification.

Promoting Biodiversity
By opening up dense landscapes and preserving water access, wild horses and burros help create and maintain habitats for other species. Their role in the restoration of ecosystems with large herbivores is gaining recognition as a key part of global conservation efforts.

Wild horses are more than just a symbol of the West—they’re active participants in the stewardship of its environment. In honor of Earth month, we hope you’ll join us in raising awareness about the ecological benefits of keeping these majestic animals wild and free.

Please share this email with your friends and family to spread the word about all the great ways our wild herds are helping to protect our planet!

Thank you,

Team AWHC

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