wild horses

The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

If you watched the Super Bowl this weekend, you likely saw the Clydesdales — powerful and steady, accompanied by another unmistakable American icon, the bald eagle. Two powerful American symbols, together.

What many people don’t realize is that wild horses and bald eagles are the only two animals federally protected by Congress — meant to symbolize our nation’s commitment to preserving its natural heritage.

But for America’s wild horses and burros, that promise of protection is being broken in practice. Today, only about 55,000 wild horses remain free on our public lands — while roughly 62,000 are confined in government holding facilities, removed from the very landscapes they were meant to be protected on.

Across the West, wild horses are driven from their homes, separated from their families, and funneled into a federal holding system that was never designed to warehouse tens of thousands of wild animals. Once removed, their futures become increasingly uncertain — and oversight too often falls short of what true protection should mean.

These animals don’t have a voice in the rooms where decisions are made. They only have us.

That’s why American Wild Horse Conservation exists — to stand between wild horses and harmful management practices, to monitor government actions on the ground, and to fight for policies that actually uphold their legal protections.

Today, we’re asking you to do two simple but powerful things:

1) Share why you’re in this fight.
At the link here, share a photo, a memory, or a few words about why wild horses and burros matter to you. Your voice helps remind the public that these animals are not just symbols — they are living beings who deserve real protection. With your permission, we’ll be sharing some of these responses over the coming days across our channels. 

2) Make a gift to protect wild horses and burros.
Your donation powers on-the-ground observers, legal action, and advocacy that holds agencies accountable when wild horses are put in harm’s way.

Symbols only matter if we defend what they stand for. Let’s honor both these cherished icons — not just in the media, but in real life.

With gratitude,
American Wild Horse Conservation

The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

Last week, we reached out to let you know that the first round up of the year was underway — an emergency wild horse roundup in Nevada — and that American Wild Horse Conservation had placed observers on the ground to independently document the operation.

One of our core commitments is to deploy independent observers to every roundup possible. Because roundup operations move quickly and access is often restricted, our presence on the ground helps ensure there is transparency when decisions are made in real time — and that what happens to wild horses is witnessed, documented, and made part of the public record.

Now that the first roundup of 2026 has concluded, Meredith, we wanted to share a brief update with what our team saw on the ground:

• Over several days, approximately 180 wild horses were captured and removed from the range and seven horses were euthanized. 
• Our observers documented horses being driven by helicopter into trap sites in cold winter conditions, showing visible signs of exhaustion and distress.
• During sorting and loading, horses panicked in confined pens, with some attempting to climb over one another. Observers were repeatedly denied access to temporary holding facilities, preventing independent assessment of horses’ condition after removal.

Pictured: Distressed wild horses climbing on top of each other at the trap site

The Bureau of Land Management carried out the roundup of the Owyhee Complex under “emergency authority” — a designation that allowed the agency to move forward quickly, with limited public notice and little opportunity for meaningful public oversight. As we’ve seen repeatedly, when the BLM invokes emergency authority,transparency is often one of the first things to disappear.

Despite these restrictions, and because of the resources supporters like you provide, Meredith, AWHC was prepared to respond on short notice, and place trained observers onsite to document the roundup from start to finish.

The full Owyhee Complex Roundup Report is now available. You can read the final report to see exactly what our observers documented, from daily observations, to animal welfare concerns, and access limitations encountered during the operation.

Thank you for standing with us,

AWHC Team

P.S. Your generosity puts boots on the ground to make this observation work possible. Please consider making a donation to AWHC’s Observation Fund to ensure we can continue providing independent oversight wherever and whenever wild horses are at risk

The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

Today, American Wild Horse Conservation is launching Hold the Line — a yearly organizational commitment to vigilance, accountability, and action to ensure America’s wild horse protections are upheld as intended.

Wild horses are federally protected icons. That protection must be more than words on paper — it must be honored in practice.

Over the past year, we have listened closely to our community of advocates, sanctuaries, rescues, and supporters. We have heard growing concern about agency conduct that undermines the spirit and letter of wild horse protections. We share that concern and refuse to accept it as “business as usual.”

Hold the Line is our response.

Each year, this initiative focuses on a specific area where heightened oversight is required. Last year, this was the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Adoption Incentive program. In 2026, our focus is the BLM’s Sale Authority — a program that acts as an off-ramp out of federal protection, leaving wild horses vulnerable the moment they are sold.

When safeguards are weak, wild horses pay the price — losing their freedom, their families, and in too many cases, their lives.

This is not a moment. It is a mandate.

This campaign is about holding the line, collectively — ensuring accountability from the agencies entrusted with the care and management of wild horses, and protecting these animals from practices that place them in harm’s way.

More details will follow in the weeks ahead, including how advocates, partners, and the public can stand with us.

For now, know this:

We are watching. We are listening. And we are taking action.

— American Wild Horse Conservation

The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

We wanted to make sure this didn’t get lost in your inbox.

Yesterday, we unveiled the Official 2026 AWHC Member Card — chosen by supporters like you — as a symbol of the community standing up for wild horses in the year ahead. There is still time for you to download yours from the email below!

As 2026 begins, wild horses face mounting threats — and the work to protect them is expanding in scale, visibility, and urgency. From stronger federal advocacy and field accountability to humane conservation and national storytelling, the year ahead will demand a committed community ready to show up.

If you haven’t yet renewed your support for 2026, there is still time — Will you renew today and help power the work ahead for wild horses?

Your membership ensures AWHC can remain vigilant, visible, and effective — on the range, in the courts, and in Washington — at a moment when it matters more than ever.

Thank you for being part of this movement and for standing with wild horses.

— AWHC Team

The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

Because of supporters like you, American Wild Horse Conservation enters 2026 with momentum — and we want to start the year by celebrating you.

Each year, our virtual AWHC Member Card is a small but meaningful way we recognize the people who make this work possible. It represents a shared commitment to protecting America’s wild horses and burros — on the range, in the courts, and in Washington, D.C.

And once again, we want your voice to shape it. Will you help us select our official 2026 AWHC Member Card design?

Below are three design options inspired by the landscapes, herds, and freedom you help defend every day. Please take a moment to vote for the one that best reflects why you stand with wild horses:

Option #1: Keep Them Wild

Option #2: 10 Years Strong

Option #3: Part of the Herd

By voting, you’re helping shape a symbol of the community that stands up for wild horses year after year — a reminder that, together, we refuse to look away when these animals are at risk.

Cast your vote now — we’ll announce the winning design soon:

With gratitude,

American Wild Horse Conservation

The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

An emergency wild horse roundup is set to begin today in Nevada — and we want you to know that this is exactly why American Wild Horse Conservation exists.

From the very beginning, AWHC was founded to serve as a watchdog — to be the checks and balances when federal agencies move quickly or quietly, and to ensure the treatment of wild horses and burros is witnessed, documented, and held to account.

And our team is on the ground.

Because our team is prepared to respond on short notice, we were able to mobilize resources and place a trained observer at the roundup site to independently document what happens and provide oversight as this operation unfolds.

Here’s what we know so far:

Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) begins a multi-day emergency wild horse roundup in and around the Snowstorm Mountain and Little Humboldt Herd Management Areas (HMA) of Nevada. We learned of the operation late Friday, and because of the way it was announced, there was little public notice before it began.

What’s especially significant is that the BLM is proceeding with this roundup under “emergency” authority, claiming the horses are in poor body condition due to a fire that burned in the HMAs.

When agencies rely on emergency authority, transparency can disappear overnight. That makes independent monitoring more critical than ever.

A Fiscal Year 2026 roundup schedule has not been released yet so we don’t know how the West’s wild horses will be impacted, but we do know when we are on the ground at these removals, we are the eyes and the ears of the American public.  

As this operation continues, we’ll share updates from the field and keep you informed about what we’re seeing and what it means — not just for the horses in Nevada, but for wild horse policy nationwide.

Moments like this underscore how critical independent observation is. AWHC’s Observation Fund makes it possible for us to deploy trained observers on short notice — ensuring transparency, documentation, and accountability when wild horses are most vulnerable. 

If you’re able, please consider making a donation to our Observation Fund to ensure we can continue showing up wherever and whenever these operations occur.

As this roundup continues, we will keep you informed every step of the way.

With appreciation,
American Wild Horse Conservation

The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

e’re eager to share some very exciting breaking news:

After months of advocacy, both the House and Senate have officially passed the FY26 Interior Appropriations bill, securing critical funding for America’s wild horses and burros for the year ahead.

This progress didn’t happen by chance. It reflects months of work by AWHC’s government relations team on the ground, the trusted relationships we’ve built with wild horse champions in the bipartisan Wild Horse Caucus, and — just as importantly — supporters like you, Meredith, who reached out to your elected officials and demanded better outcomes for our cherished wild herds.

Together, this combination of strategy, relationships, and public pressure made this win possible.

The final bill includes:

• Up to $11 million in funding for immunocontraceptive vaccines, enabling large-scale fertility control implementation
• Expectations from Congress that fertility control programs continue to grow alongside this funding
• Preservation of the slaughter ban, protecting wild horses and burros from commercial exploitation
• No inclusion of permanent sterilization – a rejection of the BLM’s past proposals requesting these types of inhumane experiments

This is real progress. But it is not the end of the fight.

In 2026, federal agencies will decide how these funds are implemented, how policies are interpreted, and whether humane reforms are strengthened — or quietly undermined. That’s why AWHC is preparing to expand our government relations work in the year ahead.

We need to be present — consistently — in Washington and beyond:

• Monitoring the implementation of FY26 funding
• Engaging lawmakers and agency leadership
• Defending hard-won protections to ensure they stay intact
• Advancing proactive reforms that keep wild horses on the range

If you’re able, we hope you’ll consider making a donation today to help power AWHC’s government relations and policy efforts in 2026, so this win becomes a foundation, not a ceiling.

Thank you for standing with us.

With appreciation,
American Wild Horse Conservation

The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

2026 brings a rare convergence of equine moments that will shine a powerful spotlight on horses — wild, working, therapeutic, and legendary. From cultural milestones to major media, horses will be front and center — and how their stories are told matters.

One of those special moments is 2026’s Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese zodiac — a powerful symbol of energy, movement, and transformation that only occurs once every 60 years. But it’s not the only reason horses will capture attention in 2026.

If you’re along for the ride, Meredith, please add your name so we know we can count on you during this pivotal year.

This week, a major new documentary — Horse Power, narrated by Josh Brolin and produced in partnership with American Wild Horse Conservation — premieres to the public in Fort Worth Texas. The film follows horses across the globe: from wild mustangs in Nevada to the deep connection between Mongolian horses and their riders alongside service and therapy horses whose quiet strength changes human lives.

The premiere begins this Thursday  — launching early to coincide with the Fort Worth Stock Show, which attracts more than one million visitors annually.

With horses capturing attention across culture, media, and public life this year, the moment couldn’t be more consequential. And at the same time, 2026 will be a defining year for America’s wild horses.

Major roundups are planned. Critical legal and policy decisions are underway. What happens this year could determine the future of entire herds for generations.

As horses capture public attention, we need supporters with us — helping spread awareness, share accurate information, and ensure wild horses are not left out of the story. So we’re asking: Will you stand with us?

With gratitude,
The AWHC Team

The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

BREAKING: The U.S. House just passed the FY26 spending bill.
Urge your senators to do the same:

TAKE ACTION

Last month, we reached out to you with urgent emails asking you to speak up as Congress finalized the FY26 Interior Appropriations process — and today, we’re excited to be able to share an important step forward made possible by your sustained public advocacy.

After months of public pressure, the U.S. House has voted to advance FY26 Interior Appropriations language that includes critical funding and protections for America’s wild horses and burros.

Your support helped move the needle, Meredith — here’s what the House’s bill includes:

• Clear expectations from Congress that investment in humane, science-based solutions will increase;
• Up to $11 million of the overall Wild Horse and Burro budget specifically designated towards immunocontraceptive (fertility control) vaccines and away from dangerous permanent sterilization procedures;
• And a ban on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from euthanizing healthy wild horses and burros.

This House vote represents meaningful progress — but this is not the finish line.

The Senate has not yet voted and these protections are not guaranteed unless the Senate hears strong, continued pressure from constituents.

The Senate could vote as soon as Monday on the approved House bill. That makes these final hours critical. Will you tell your Senators to ensure these critical protections for wild horses are included in the final FY26 package?

Thank you for taking action, adding your voice, and standing with us during this critical moment in the FY26 process.

— American Wild Horse Conservation

The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

As we begin a new year of work to protect America’s wild horses and burros, we want to make sure we’re showing up in your inbox in all the ways that are most meaningful to you.

Some supporters want breaking updates from the field. Others want policy news, action alerts, or opportunities to learn more through events and webinars. There’s no one-size-fits-all — and that’s exactly why we’re asking.

Will you take a moment to tell us what kinds of updates you’d like to receive this year?

By checking a few boxes, you can help us tailor our communications so you hear about the issues, victories, and opportunities that matter most to you.

Update your email preferences here:

You can choose to receive:

• Action Alerts — Only the most urgent opportunities to speak up for wild horses when it matters most.
• Updates from the Field — on-the-ground reporting from roundups, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) holding facilities, habitat projects, and wild horse ranges.
• Updates from the Courtroom — news and analysis on lawsuits, court decisions, and legal strategies our team is using to protect wild horses.
• Happy Tails — heartwarming stories of horses helped through rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
• Monthly eNews — a monthly newsletter with updates on AWHC’s work, wins, and stories from across the country.
• Wild Horse Policy Brief — a focused monthly update on what’s happening in Washington and state legislatures related to wild horses.
• Webinar and Virtual Event Invites — opportunities to learn, ask questions, and connect with our team.

You decide what lands in your inbox, and you can update your preferences whenever you’d like.

Thank you for being part of the AWHC community and for standing with wild horses in the ways that work best for you.

With gratitude,

The AWHC Team

The following is from the American Wild Horse Conservation:

As we step into 2026, one thing is clear:

We are ready — because of generous donors like you. Thank you. You helped us reach our $100,000 year-end goal, and with the match, that support is already at work — preparing us for the challenges ahead.

This isn’t the finish line — it’s the moment the gates fly open. Because the threats facing wild horses didn’t end at midnight, they accelerated.

This year, we are expecting:

• Escalating pressure to remove horses from public lands;
• Major legal battles that could define the future of entire herds;
• More roundups in more remote areas, where transparency is hardest;
• And policy decisions that will shape the West for generations.

But we enter this year with real momentum behind us: A herd of supporters who refuse to look away, because we know freedom can’t wait.

Here is what your generosity has made possible for 2026:

• We’ll be on the range — documenting every helicopter roundup.
• We’ll be in the courts — stopping unlawful actions in their tracks.
• We’ll be in D.C. — pushing for science-based wild horse protections.
• And we’ll be on the front lines — when horses and burros need us most.

We’ll stay connected with you every step of the way — because progress comes from a herd that moves together, using its collective horse power to protect freedom.

Our commitment to you is simple: We will show up. We will fight back. And we will defend wild freedom — relentlessly.

Thank you for beginning this defining year with us. Because freedom can’t wait. And now… neither will we.

With deep gratitude,

Patricia Miller
Board Chair
American Wild Horse Conservation