The Wild Horse Sanctuary, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to adopting, training, and rehoming wild horses. While halting BLM roundups is unlikely, the Sanctuary works to rescue as many as possible, relying solely on donations for support.
The Need:
At a recent Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wild horse and burro adoption event, the founder of this NPO, Brian Russell, noted key issues with the adoption and management process.
The BLM's wild horse program struggles with overpopulation, as the range can support only 27,000-28,000 horses, yet 80,000 currently roam. The BLM staff mentioned that horses are gathered and removed as part of their management plan but failed to address the 64,000 wild horses held in government pens, with some sold to slaughter buyers in Mexico.
The adoption event itself was chaotic. Adopters lined up to load horses, while BLM staff tried to sort them, often leading to stress, injuries, and horses crashing into pens. Once sorted, horses had their identification tags removed and optional halters placed. Most were loaded that day, but adopters could return by 11 a.m. the next morning.
The pens, small and overcrowded with around 10 animals each, contributed to further stress. Many horses stood quietly together when not panicked. The BLM's helicopter roundups have been deadly, with over 90 horses dying just this summer. Survivors face crowded conditions, disease, and neglect in holding facilities.
This experience led to the creation of the Wild Horse Sanctuary, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to adopting, training, and rehoming wild horses. While halting BLM roundups is unlikely, the Sanctuary works to rescue as many as possible, relying solely on donations for support.