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How Climate Change Is Impacting Wild Herds

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

As the climate shifts, so do the challenges facing wild horses and burros on our public lands. From dwindling habitat, and changes on our public lands, these iconic herds are adapting to a landscape that’s rapidly changing.

https://prod.cdn.everyaction.com/images/van/EA/EA002/1/67303/images/awhc-yasmin.jpeg

Photo Credit: Yasmin Tajik

Here are a few examples of how our evolving world climate impacts daily life on the range: 

  • Unpredictable Weather Patterns: More frequent droughts and extreme storms are disrupting natural rhythms.
  • Shifting Vegetation: Climate-driven changes in plant growth are altering grazing patterns.
  • Habitat Fragmentation: Climate stress is compounded by loss of habitat to private interests like livestock grazing, which fractures and isolates herds and threatens their genetic diversity.

Despite these challenges, wild horses and burros can be powerful allies in ecosystem resilience. Their grazing habits help reduce wildfire fuel loads, their movement spreads native plant seeds, they can uncover water sources, and their presence supports a natural balance on the range.

Through science-backed, climate-informed strategies and a strong defense of their habitats, we’re building a future where wild herds remain wild, free, and ecologically vital.

Read More About Our Climate Commitment

Our land conservancy project is an example of how our team remains actively engaged in projects aimed at restoring habitats for wild horses and burros. We’re improving water sources, planting native vegetation, and stewarding the land to keep wild herds safe, healthy, and living in ecological balance with other wildlife.

As always, thank you for standing with us — and for following along with our work to conserve and protect America’s wild herds.

American Wild Horse Conservation

In this week’s eNews: Take action to protect wild horses in the FY2026 budget

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

From Capitol Hill to your local fashion resell store, there are so many ways to stand up for America’s wild horses and burros right now. Whether it’s contacting Congress, shopping sustainably, or giving early for greater impact, your voice and support are more powerful than ever. Let’s protect our wild herds—together. Read on for ways to take action, shop for a cause, and make your gift go further this season.

Take Action for Wild Horses!

Photo by PhotoAdvocacy

The future of America’s wild horses and burros is at a turning point. Congress is currently considering the Fiscal Year 2026 budget—and we need your voice to ensure it includes critical protections and funding for humane, in-the-wild conservation initiatives.

TAKE ACTION

Upcoming: Buffalo Exchange $1 Earth Day Sale

Don’t miss Buffalo Exchange’s $1 Earth Day Sale happening this Saturday! On this day, at all Buffalo Exchange stores, ALL proceeds from a special selection of $1 clothing will go to AWHC to support our mission of conserving America’s wild horses and burros! So check out your closest Buffalo Exchange and go shopping to protect wild horses.

Read More

The Big Day of Giving starts Early!

The Big Day of Giving is Thursday, May 1, but you can start making an impact as early as TODAY, April 17! Early donations help build momentum and directly support AWHC’s work to protect wild horses through advocacy, litigation, and humane fertility control.

CHECK IT OUT!

Thank you for your continued advocacy.

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

The Looming Fight to Save Wyoming’s Rare Curly Mustangs

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

Wyoming’s Checkerboard is home to something truly extraordinary: wild curly-haired mustangs, a rare and mysterious lineage of horses with thick, curly coats, manes, and tails. Roaming in the Salt Wells Creek and White Mountain Herd Managment Areas (HMAs), their origins remain a scientific curiosity and a wild legacy they still carry.


Photo by Carol Walker

But this living piece of history is now at risk of disappearing forever.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to slash the population of the iconic Adobe Town herd, and even worse, completely eradicate the Great Divide Basin and Salt Wells Creek HMAs. If this plan moves forward, every last horse in those HMAs faces removal and lifetime confinement.


Photo by Carol Walker

Worse still, this initiative isn’t about what’s best for the land — it’s about livestock.

The BLM’s population limits are based on allocating 91% of available forage in these areas to private cattle and sheep, leaving almost no room for wild horses to coexist.

We are now in a critical moment. The future of these herds — and the survival of the curly mustangs’ unique genetic legacy — hinges on AWHC’s ongoing legal battle for their freedom and public outcry.

Here are a few things you can do right now:
Learn more about this critical issue. Here’s a great article to get started!
Share this email with others who care.
Follow American Wild Horse Conservation (@freewildhorses on Instagram, X and Facebook) for more updates on how to take action for our cherished wild herds.

Together, we can speak up for the Wyoming Curlies — and ensure these rare horses remain wild and free for generations to come.

Read More via Cowboy State Daily →

Thank you, as always, for your support of American wild horses and burros!

Stay wild,

Team AWHC

6 years. 0 helicopter roundups. Lives saved.

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

Six years ago today, American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) relaunched the world’s largest humane fertility control program for wild horses on Nevada’s Virginia Range!

Since then, our team, powered by an incredible group of volunteers and supporters like you, has been working tirelessly to protect wild horses with humane conservation solutions that keep wild horses wild!

So today, we’re celebrating what we’ve accomplished together:

67% reduction in the foaling rate in 2024 compared to 2020
2,692 individual mares treated
0 helicopter roundups
The Virginia Range wild horses still roam free on the range

All of this is possible thanks to PZP, a scientifically proven fertility control vaccine that is administered remotely. It’s safe, reversible, and doesn’t interfere with the horses’ natural behaviors or family bonds — allowing them to live wild, as nature intended.

This lifesaving program has changed countless lives — including Zinnia’s, the mare we told you about last week who’s stayed healthy and free on the range for years thanks to our fertility control program. Through stories like hers, we’re proving that there is a better way to manage wild horse populations.

We’re working to expand this humane model to more herds across the West. But we can’t do it without your support. Will you make a donation today in honor of 6 years of keeping wild horses wild on the Virginia Range?

DONATE NOW

Thank you for being part of this movement.

With gratitude,

American Wild Horse Conservation

Shop Sustainably + Support Wild Herds… for just $1

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

We have exciting news:

American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) has been selected as the beneficiary of Buffalo Exchange’s 2025 Earth Day $1 Sale on Saturday, April 19!

This incredible annual event is a unique way to shop sustainably while making a direct impact on wild horse and burro conservation.

Here’s how it works: On this special day, every Buffalo Exchange store nationwide (including outlets) will offer a specially curated selection of clothing for just $1 per item — and 100% of the proceeds will go directly to AWHC. The sale starts at the store’s opening hours and is cash only. The $1 items go quickly, so grab your cash and be sure to get there early in the day!

Your support will help us continue our critical work protecting and preserving American wild horses and burros on our public lands.

So mark your calendar, spread the word, and get ready to shop for a cause! Learn more here:

AWHC x Buffalo Exchange

Thank you for standing with us to protect America’s iconic wild horses and burros!

With gratitude,

American Wild Horse Conservation

Happy April Foal’s Day! Say hello to baby Neptune

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

Happy April Foal’s Day!

We have some very special foal news to share with you this April Foal’s Day — please join us in welcoming Neptune, the newest addition to the wild herds of the Fish Springs Land Preserve in Nevada’s breathtaking Carson Valley!

Photo by JT Humphrey

Named after the god of water — and horses — Neptune also carries a deeper meaning. In astrology, Neptune represents compassion. And if there’s anything wild foals like Neptune need right now, it’s compassion and care.

Neptune was born free, on American Wild Horse Conservation’s Fish Springs Land Preserve, to a family herd that is safe — thanks in large part to supporters like you, our amazing partners at the Chantecaille Conservation Foundation, and the tireless work of wildlife photographer and land manager John T. Humphrey, whose love for these animals radiates through every photo he captures.

But not all foals are as lucky. Since 1971, wild horses and burros have lost over 22 million acres of their federally designated habitat. This heartbreaking loss is one of the biggest threats to their long-term survival. 

That’s why AWHC launched our Land Conservancy Project in 2023 — to permanently protect critical land near wild horse habitat, where wild horses roam freely in coexistence with the wildlife in the area.

Horses roaming the Fish Springs Preserve – JT Humphrey

POWER OUR LAND TRUST

Thanks to your support, our dedicated team is on the ground every day — tracking herds, restoring habitats, and learning how wild horses and local wildlife coexist on the land. Wildlife cameras and field data help us understand herd behavior and guide our conservation work, ensuring the land remains healthy for generations to come.

But we’re not stopping here.

In celebration of April Foal’s Day, will you help us expand this vision and protect more safe havens for wild foals like Neptune?

POWER OUR LAND TRUST

Thank you, and happy April Foal’s Day!

The AWHC Team

One wild mare’s narrow escape from a roundup

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

In 2022, a helicopter drove 36 wild horses toward a trap in Utah’s Cedar Mountain Herd Management Area.

Among them was a beautiful bay pinto mare named Venus.

As the horses were pushed closer and closer to the trap, a few made a last-second decision that changed their lives: they broke away — charging into the mountains, away from the sound of the helicopter and the threat of captivity.

Venus was one of them.

She and three others managed to escape, surviving the helicopter roundup that stole 638 other wild horses from the wild. These four were never captured. And today, Venus still roams free with her stallion, Sirius, and her 2024 foal.

Photo by Tandin Chapman

But her story isn’t just one of luck — it’s a testament to the possibility of a more humane future. AWHC is working to ensure helicopter roundups like the one Venus survived don’t happen again in the Cedar Mountain HMA. And now, we implement a fertility control program in the HMA — a science-based, non-invasive, and effective way to manage wild horses, including Venus, without helicopters or roundups.

This program is supported by a federal grant. But our other fertility control programs aren’t.

Right now, our flagship program in Nevada’s Virginia Range — the one that keeps Zinnia wild — relies entirely on people like you. And we need your help to keep it going.

We set a goal to raise $30,000 by midnight tonight, March 30th — enough to fund 1,000 PZP vaccines. Each one costs just $30. And each one is a lifeline. We’re just over halfway to our goal. Can you chip in to help us reach our goal and power this critical program?

$30 → HELPS 1 HORSE
$60 → HELPS 2 HORSES
$150 → HELPS 5 HORSES
$300 → HELPS 10 HORSES
DONATE ANOTHER AMOUNT →

Thank you.

Team AWHC

P.S. We’ve almost reached 100,000 signatures for our petition demanding the federal government halt helicopter roundups! If you haven’t already, can you take a moment to add your name now to help us reach this incredible milestone?

Spring in the wild

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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?

DONATE NOW

Thank you for standing with wild horses in every season.

With gratitude,

American Wild Horse Conservation

Exclusive Webinar: Landmark Court Ruling & The Future of Wild Horse Adoptions

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We invite you to join us for an important webinar discussing the recent court ruling that shut down the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Adoption Incentive Program (AIP) and our next steps in promoting responsible wild horse and burro adoptions.

Date: Wednesday March 19th
  Time: 2 PM PST
Location: RSVP for the webinar link

This decision is a major victory in our fight to protect wild horses and burros, but with 66,000 animals still in government holding facilities, we must now focus on ensuring adoptions are ethical, transparent, and humane.

Featured Speakers:
  Amelia Perrin, AWHC – Led the investigation that exposed the link between the AIP and the slaughter pipeline, culminating in a New York Times front-page exposé and congressional outrage.
  Clare Staples, Skydog Sanctuary – Has rescued hundreds of AIP horses and burros from kill pens, saving lives while gathering critical documentation that played a key role in shutting down the program.

Together, we’ll explore solutions—including replacing cash incentives with more responsible approaches like veterinary vouchers—and discuss how we can prevent future policies that put wild horses and burros at risk.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more, ask questions, and be part of the movement shaping the future of wild horse and burro protection.

RSVP NOW

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to seeing you there!

Team AWHC

One Woman Sparked a Movement. Now It’s Our Turn.

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

This Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating the legacy of Velma Bronn Johnston — better known as Wild Horse Annie — the fierce advocate who changed the course of history for America’s wild horses and burros. Thanks to her tireless activism, the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act is law, protecting our iconic wild herds from “capture, branding and harassment.”

But today, Wild Horse Annie’s fight is far from over.

Every year, helicopter roundups continue to endanger and remove wild horses from public lands, threatening the freedom Wild Horse Annie fought so hard to defend. It’s time to continue the work she started and demand change.

Take action today to not only honor her legacy, but celebrate ALL of the strong women who have come after her in the fight to keep wild horses wild. Will you sign our petition to end cruel helicopter roundups and protect wild horses for generations to come? 

Sign the Petition

Together, we can keep Wild Horse Annie’s vision alive and ensure that our wild horses and burros remain free — exactly where they belong.

With gratitude,

Team AWHC

In this week’s eNews: A Landmark Victory for Wild Horses

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We’ve got some big updates in this edition of e-news! AWHC just scored a legal win vacating the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Adoption Incentive Program,and National Horse Protection Day was a huge success with over 58,000 voices strong! Plus, we’re sharing a roundup report from Canyonlands and introducing Neptune, the newest Fish Springs foal. Catch up on all the latest below!

A Landmark Victory for Wild Horses

On March 3, AWHC won a legal victory vacating the BLM’s Adoption Incentive Program. With the program suspended, AWHC advocates for responsible adoption policies and protecting the slaughter ban. Read more about the lawsuit and what’s next for AWHC below!

Read More

National Horse Protection Day Recap

We’re excited to share that our National Horse Protection Day petition to #HaltTheHelicopters and demand for humane solutions for wild horse and burro management reached over 58,000 signatures! Thank you to everyone who spoke up on this pivotal day. Together we’re making real change. Read on for more information about the day including how Colorado’s Governor proclaimed March as Colorado Horse Protection Month!

Read More

Canyonlands Wild Burro Roundup

AWHC was on the ground at the Canyonlands wild burro roundup where 82 burros were captured and three lost their lives. Read the boots-on-the-ground reports below!

Read the Reports

New Life in the Fish Spring

Meet the newest member of the Fish Springs Herd, Neptune! Just a few days ago, Neptune was born on AWHC’s Fish Springs Land Preserve and was welcomed by his loving mom.

Meet Neptune

 

An act of care for America’s wild horses

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

America’s wild horses and burros represent the spirit of freedom and resilience. At American Wild Horse Conservation, we are dedicated to ensuring they remain protected—now and for generations to come. Because of compassionate supporters like you, we can fight for their right to roam freely, advocate for humane policies, and preserve the lands they call home.

As you think about the future, we invite you to complete an act of care—both for yourself and for the wild horses you cherish. By creating or updating your will, you can ensure your loved ones are safeguarded while also making a lasting impact on the causes closest to your heart.

CREATE MY FREE WILL!

Including American Wild Horse Conservation in your estate plans is a powerful way to protect wild horses long into the future. It costs nothing today, yet ensures that your love for these iconic animals continues for years to come.

If you’d like to learn more about this simple way to make a difference, we’re here to help. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions at
contact@americanwildhorse.org, or by responding directly to this email.

Thank you for being part of this movement—your compassion is what keeps wild horses safe and free.

With gratitude,

Suzanne Roy
Executive Director
American Wild Horse Conservation

P.S. If you’ve already included American Wild Horse Conservation in your estate plans, please let us know.

It’s almost National Horse Protection Day!

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

March 1st is almost here, and with it comes a powerful opportunity to take a stand for America’s wild horses. On National Horse Protection Day, we’re rallying advocates like you to send a loud and clear message: helicopter roundups must end.

Download the graphic below and share it to your social media networks to spread the word! Be sure to tag @freewildhorses on Facebook, X and Instagram!

Right now, more wild horses are warehoused in government holding pens than roaming free on public lands. Families are torn apart, foals are pushed to the brink of death, and taxpayers are footing a $150 million bill for this cruelty — despite the existence of humane, cost-effective alternatives.

We can change this, but we need you with us. Will you be part of our National Day of Action on March 1?

TAKE ACTION

There are three main ways you can help:

Sign the petition to demand an end to brutal helicopter roundups.

Use #HaltTheHelicopters and #NationalHorseProtectionDay on social media to raise awareness.

Contact your members of Congress to support humane management of America’s wild herds.

So what do you say? Will you join us for our National Day of Action next Saturday and amplify our collective voice as we demand protections for our wild herds?

TAKE ACTION

Finally, don’t forget to forward this email to your friends and family to encourage THEM to take action for our iconic wild herds.

Thank you!

Amelia Perrin
American Wild Horse Conservation

❗️Urgent Courtroom Update – Wyoming Checkerboard

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:
Greetings,

The fight to protect America’s wild horses is at a critical moment. On March 18, our legal team, led by Eubanks and Associates, will present oral arguments before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals at the United States Courthouse in Denver. This case is vital — not just for the Wyoming wild horses we’re fighting for, but for every other herd across the West.

Standing up for wild herds in the courtroom is one of the foremost ways we can fight for their wellbeing and hold the federal government accountable. Will you chip in to support our legal fund?

FUEL OUR LEGAL FUND

This fight is part of a decades-long battle we’ve fought to protect over 2 million acres in the southwestern area of the state known as the “Wyoming Checkerboard” from the demands of organizations like the Rock Springs Grazing Association (RSGA), which wants to eradicate the wild horses that live there.

Clearly, we’re up against very powerful interests who view wild horses as competitors to their private livestock on our public lands.

A huge legal principle continues to be at stake: Will private interests be allowed to dictate the use of public lands and decide whether our federally protected wild horses and burros can live on them?

FUEL OUR LEGAL FUND

But our legal advocacy doesn’t end there. We also filed a lawsuit against the implementation of the Adoption Incentive Program, which continues to funnel hundreds of wild horses and burros into the slaughter pipeline every year. We are waiting for a decision from the judge on this case. We will continue to hold the BLM accountable through legal actions and strategic litigation.

Litigation is one of our most powerful tools to protect wild horses, but it’s also one of the most costly. Your support makes these legal battles possible. Will you stand with us?

FUEL OUR LEGAL FUND

Thank you for following along in our fight to protect wild horses and burros across the American West. Our success depends on the support of advocates like you.

Forward with hope and gratitude,

Team AWHC

We want to hear from you! Let us know what’s best →

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We’re so grateful to have your support in the fight to protect America’s iconic wild horses and burros. But we know your inbox can get busy, so we want to make sure we’re sending you the right amount of updates about our shared mission.

Would you take just a few seconds to let us know your email preferences by completing this survey?

Update Your Preferences

You can choose to:

  • Receive all of our updates and action alerts;
  • Receive some emails (the most important updates + actions);
  • Hear from us only when there’s urgent action needed;
  • Or, if you love staying informed, sign up to receive even more emails!

No matter what you choose, we appreciate you being a part of this movement. Your voice makes a difference for wild horses and burros, and we want to make sure you’re hearing from us in the way that works best for you.

Update Your Preferences

Thank you!

– Team AWHC

P.S. if you would prefer to stop receiving emails from us, that’s okay too! Click here to unsubscribe from our mailing list.

Help us protect their home before it’s too late!

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

As a donor to our mission, you probably have heard about our Land Conservancy Project, the bold initiative we pioneered in 2023.

This program was established to preserve key habitats so our iconic wild herds can live wild and free in ecological balance in America’s western landscapes. The funding devoted to this project supports land acquisition, habitat restoration, and humane treatment of the wildlife that lives there.

This transformative, successful project would not be possible without the generous support from advocates like you. Thank you. 

The long-term success of this initiative depends on your financial support. That’s why we’d like you to consider becoming a monthly donor. By giving consistently, you provide American Wild Horse Conservation with steady resources that allow us to protect more of our land, restore more habitats for our wild herds, and safeguard wild horses and burros for generations to come.

A monthly gift — no matter the amount — creates a lasting impact and sustains this vital work every single day. Will you join us in this commitment to America’s wild horses?

MAKE MY GIFT MONTHLY

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) own range data indicates that private livestock overgrazing, along with fire and drought, has depleted habitats for all wildlife, including federally protected species like wild horses and burros.

This preventable habitat deterioration is one reason we took a huge step forward by acquiring 3,300 acres of prime habitat within Nevada’s picturesque Carson Valley. The land supports a diverse array of wildlife including the federally protected Fish Springs wild horse herd. We aim to use this innovative project to help set a new conservation standard for wild horse and burro protection. Our dedicated land manager, along with a team of passionate experts, works on the ground, actively tracking wild horse movements, studying the intricacies of the land, and undertaking vital habitat restoration projects.

With your support, we can continue to expand this vital work — securing land, restoring fragile ecosystems, and ensuring wild horses and burros remain free where they belong.

Your monthly gift provides the stability needed to protect our iconic wild ones from ongoing threats and to build a future where they can thrive.

MAKE MY GIFT MONTHLY

Thank you again for being a champion for our wild herds,

Team AWHC

7 things you should know if you’re WILD about wild horses…

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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!

Chip in to Protect America’s Wild Horses

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.

Chip in to Protect America’s Wild Horses

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?

Chip in to Protect America’s 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

A Love Story as Wild as the Nevada Wind

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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.

Make a Valentine’s Day Gift Today

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.

Explore the Wild Hearts Project

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

For love that runs free,

Team AWHC

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