 Educational Links: www.wildhoofbeats.com www.wildhorseeducation.org |
|
The cost of litigating freedom
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign: We are the voice of America’s wild horses and burros the courtroom, fighting tirelessly to protect these iconic animals from cruel and unlawful government actions. Thanks to your support, we’ve made remarkable progress in holding the Burea of Land Management (BLM) accountable through legal challenges — and our fight is far from over. Thanks to a generous matching gift, we have the opportunity to double every dollar you contribute this holiday season toward our $200,000 End-of-Year goal. Your donation to our Policy and Litigation Fund empowers us to pursue justice for wild horses and burros in the courtroom and in Congress. Through litigation, we’ve already challenged the BLM’s harmful actions. Every contribution we receive before midnight on December 31 brings us closer to ensuring a future where these animals can roam free. FUND OUR LEGAL WORK Here are a few examples of our recent legal victories and ongoing litigation efforts:
- Wyoming’s Checkerboard Area: For over a decade, we’ve been engaged in a hard-fought battle to prevent the BLM from eradicating wild horses from over two million acres of habitat in Wyoming. After a disappointing decision from the lower court, we quickly filed an appeal to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Our legal team has laid out a compelling case, and we’re fighting to protect these herds and keep them free from unnecessary roundups.
- Devil’s Garden Wild Horse Territory: In California, we’ve filed an objection to a flawed management plan that continues to impose outdated population limits on the Devil’s Garden herd. This is an area where we’ve expanded habitat, yet the United States Forest Service (USFS) has failed to adjust its restrictions to reflect the increased resources available for these horses. This is just one example of how we’re taking action to ensure that wild horses are treated fairly and kept free from outdated, restrictive policies.
- FOIA Investigations: We also regularly use the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to investigate BLM policies and programs. With over a dozen active FOIA lawsuits against the agency, we’re demanding transparency and exposing abuse, fraud, and waste within federal programs affecting wild horses and burros.
Be the Eyes on the Ground for America’s Wild Horses
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign: Thanks to a generous $100,000 matching gift, we have the incredible opportunity to double your impact through December 31. Our goal is to raise $200,000 by midnight on December 31, and we need your help to make it happen. As the year draws to a close, our commitment to holding the federal government accountable for the devastating impacts of helicopter roundups on our wild herds has never been stronger. With your support, we’ve made significant strides in exposing the reality of these inhumane practices. But as long as these cruel, costly roundups continue, our work is far from over — and we need your help before the clock runs out in 2024. Will you chip in $25, $50, or whatever you can to fuel our Observation Fund for the new year? FUEL OUR OBSERVATION FUND → '©Photo of helicopter roundup in action by WilsonAxpe PhotoAdvocacy Thanks to our Observation Fund, AWHC representatives are on-site at nearly every Bureau of Land Management (BLM) helicopter roundup. Their presence is vital, shining a light on the harsh realities of these inhumane operations. For example, this summer in Blue Wing, Nevada, our observers bore witness to the deadliest roundup of the year, where a staggering 42 wild horses lost their lives in just a few weeks. The critical importance of public observation became undeniable during this roundup when a documenter captured horrific footage of a government contractor repeatedly kicking and punching an exhausted wild horse in the head. Scott Wilson, who documents wild horse roundups on behalf of AWHC, had this to say about the importance of public observation: “Without difficult video captures such as these, abusive roundup actions would not be brought to light. The video raises the alarming question: Has the BLM lost sight of its protection mandate while losing control of its operation?” — Scott Wilson, AWHC Photo Journalist AWHC’s documentation of the shocking abuse at Blue Wing sparked outrage among wild horse advocates and struck a gruesome chord with the public through extensive coverage by national and local media outlets. As you can see, these observations are vital to holding the BLM accountable for its inhumane practices and shedding light on the urgent need for change. Your donation powers our ability to capture these critical moments. Will you help us continue this important work in 2025? Every dollar you give will be ...
Where advocacy meets action →
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign: As you know, America’s wild horses and burros are under constant threat of brutal helicopter roundups and loss of their freedom on public lands. But the American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) is making meaningful progress in Washington D.C. to secure a brighter future for these iconic animals. Your contributions to our Policy and Litigation Fund are driving real change and helping us fight for the protections they deserve. We’ve set an ambitious $200,000 end-of-year goal to fund our efforts in 2025. Thanks to a generous $100,000 matching gift, every dollar you give will go twice as far to power our fight for these iconic animals. DOUBLE YOUR GIFT Here are a few examples of transformative legislation AWHC has worked to advance in 2024:
- Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act: AWHC is driving support for this bill, which would end the inhumane use of helicopters in roundups. Already, over 20,000+ letters have been sent to Congress thanks to our grassroots efforts.
- SAFE Act: This critical bill would permanently ban horse slaughter plants in the U.S. and prohibit the transport of American horses to slaughterhouses abroad.
- Ejiao Act: By stopping the U.S. import and sale of ejiao, a gelatin made from donkey hides, this legislation would make a significant impact on the global donkey skin trade.
- Lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill.
- Advocacy for humane, science-based solutions like fertility control.
- Grassroots campaigns to amplify ...
We’re the boots on the ground fighting to hold the BLM accountable
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign: Our wild herds are suffering. Each year, thousands of innocent wild horses and burros are stripped of their freedom in cruel and costly Bureau of Land Management (BLM) helicopter roundups. These operations are extremely traumatic events. Many horses and burros suffer severe injuries trying to escape the helicopters, and some even lose their lives during and after the roundups end. Those who do survive are often forced to endure the heartbreak of being separated from their families as they’re shipped off to overburdened government holding facilities. AWHC is fighting to shift the federal government’s approach away from unnecessary and costly helicopter roundups towards a strategy of humane, in-the-wild conservation. An important part of this fight is our observation work, documenting as many roundups as possible to expose what happens during these operations and share it with the world. To this end, we’ve assembled and trained a team of photographers and videographers to cover as many helicopter-capture operations as possible. Through their powerful reports, photos, and videos, we expose the harsh realities of these operations, creating undeniable evidence of cruelty and informing the public, the media, and Congress about the need for change. Our observation program is extremely critical to protecting wild horses and burros, but the truth is, we simply can’t do this without your support. Getting our observers out to the remote areas of the West where roundups are conducted (and keeping them there) isn’t easy. The average cost to cover their food and lodgings and to equip them with four-wheel-drive vehicles is approximately $2,500 for just one week at a roundup. Your generous contributions enable us to send our observers to as many roundups as possible to ensure no wrongdoing against these cherished animals goes unrecorded. We are the boots on the ground, fighting to hold the BLM accountable for its inhumane and unsustainable management practices. With the deadline to reach our $200,000 End-of-Year goal just days away, can you make a contribution right now to help us continue our roundup observation work in 2025? Every contribution up to $100,000 will be MATCHED. This is a great opportunity to bolster one of our most critical programs. DONATE NOW → Thank you, Team AWHC ...
Their story inspired me. I hope it inspires you too.
The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign: My name is Ari Zucker and I am an ambassador for American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC). From the time I was a young child, horses were my world. I even stole the reins from my dad at 3 years and took off running with the pony when he would walk me on pony rides. I competed my whole life in Hunter/Jumpers and my main goal was always to rescue a horse from a situation and give him a loving home. I still have my horse Speck, who I rescued off the Kentucky race track at 8 months old. He will be 25 this coming year. I have always had a love for horses and I always will! Joining the AWHC Ambassador Program has been an incredibly meaningful experience. It’s allowed me to connect with an inspiring community of advocates — from grassroots supporters to fellow public figures — who share my deep love for these majestic animals. Will you join me in supporting AWHC’s end-of-year giving goal? Together, our dollars will make a real difference in the fight to protect these iconic animals from abusive government roundups targeting their shrinking habitats on public lands where they’ve roamed for centuries. GIVE TODAY Photo: Ari Zucker and Kellie Purfoy © Jessica Mangia, C Magazine An unforgettable moment of my journey was visiting the Fish Springs range in Nevada with Suzanne Roy, AWHC’s Executive Director. Seeing wild horses thriving in their natural habitat was life-changing. Watching these magnificent animals interact — free and unbroken — filled me with awe and strengthened my commitment to this cause. That trip wasn’t just inspiring. It was a call to action. At that moment, I realized how urgent it is to protect wild horses from government roundups and shrinking rangelands. Since then, I’ve been using my platform to amplify their story through public campaigns and personal advocacy. In doing so, I’ve seen the impact we can have when we work together. AWHC’s efforts have made a real difference in 2024:
- AWHC launched the Wild Horse Film and Photography Project to showcase the world of wild horses through high-quality film and broadcasting.
- AWHC has driven nearly 4,000,000 advocacy actions this year, including more than 20,000 letters to Congress supporting the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act that was introduced by Rep. Dina Titus to ban expensive, dangerous helicopter roundups.
