Carter HMA (CA)

Every single day we get numerous emails asking questions about our American wild horses and burros. Sometimes the questions we receive can be responded to with a simple answer. Most of the time every question has a multi-layered response. Our wild horses and burros are part of the system of public lands. Public lands are overseen through various land management agencies and a series of overlapping policy, rules and regulations.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages more wild horses and burros than all other jurisdictions combined. That means when you hear something mentioned as “wild horses” in a news clip, it is probably something under BLM jurisdiction, but not always.

We created this page as a reference to provide additional information on subjects most frequently associated with emails we receive from you, our readers. We hope these links help you in your own research and advocacy journey. If we do not cover a subject you are looking for, a few words typed into the search bar of this website might bring up a few articles that can assist you.

Fish Creek (NV)

History:

Many of you are looking for information on the history of wild horses and burros and the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. On the 50th Anniversary of the passage of the law, we created an online exhibit that can provide you with some insight. You can access the exhibit by clicking HERE. 

Deals made in politics during the debate to pass the 1971 Act set up things like fictional boundary lines and the low numbers of wild horses and burros allowed on public lands. You can get a glimpse HERE.

Herd Management Area Plans, Codes and Rules:

Many advocates get frustrated that actual analysis of wild horse and burro use of public lands and limitations on encroachment into herd habitat are things that are never done. The place in process that should allow that discussion has been skipped for over 40 years, the Herd Management Area Plan (HMAP). In 2024, there were two lawsuits that affirmed this fact in the courts and the door to gain the actual analysis and management practices (BLM has been asserted they do, but never did) has begun. (More HERE) Of course we will need to fight to make sure they do not find a way to skirt the letter of the law again and we have already begun that battle.

You can learn more about Codes and Rules HERE. 

Swasey (UT) Colt roped

Welfare

Welfare is one of those simple subjects that can get overcomplicated when it comes to reform.

There are multiple layers from range, capture and into the system of holding that need to be addressed. (5 part series on holding HERE)

WHE 5 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) report: Death Rates. Findings: Veterinary reports are not being completed during roundups. After Action Reviews (AAR) and Final Gather Data Reports are not being completed as required. Extreme differences in record keeping and interpretation of responsibilities from district-to-district and event-to-event.

The real cost in lives of roundups is not the “2%” BLM likes to quote, but closer to 12% on average. Our FOIA report update. 

WHE Comprehensive Animal Welfare Policy (CAWP) Report

Doc 1: Assessing the Assessment and Recommended Changes to CAWP protocol and standards. 

Doc 2: Programmatic Recommendations

Doc 3: WHE CAWP team assessment of Triple B, 2022(you can compare ours to the one provided by BLM BLM Triple B CAWP Assessment)

Public Survey Results on the need for an enforceable welfare policy 

Simple things like how the vision of a horse functions differently than a human are not even taken into account.

Wild horses that got caught in the slaughter pipeline

Understanding the function of the 3 branches of government can help you craft your messaging clearly. When writing to Congress you are asking for funding/defunding of something or in support of a bill. When writing to BLM leadership you are asking for them to issue directives within their legal authority. (More HERE)

Slaughter:

Understanding how wild horses and burros get caught in the slaughter pipeline can feel daunting. This linked article might help you understand how the SAFE Act could help close the gaps opened by the Burns Amendment of 2004 and how “defunding” those provisions in the budget each year has helped stop a flood gate.

Wild horses and burros that land legally in the slaughter pipeline all begin with something called Title Transfer. (More HERE)

Please note that any action item attached to the SAFE Act are not valid at this time. The bill died with the last session of Congress and needs to be reintroduced. Every bill that does not pass in any session must be reintroduced after an election with the new session.

Burro Spotlight:

Burro Update, worldwide crisis

Burros are NOT horses (care)

One short life. How the system failed a baby burro. 

Triple B (NV)

What is WHE doing?

Legal: Our legal team did a fast update on some of the cases we have in the courts (HERE). Last month the court ruled against the permittee trying to force a mass removal at Stone Cabin/Saulsbury in the ongoing battle there. Our argument demonstrating BLM failed to comply with underlying planning documents and create/update HMAPs has not been adjudicated yet. You can read more on the litigation front HERE.

Investigations and Reporting: After filing a brief with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals addressing welfare issues in facilities, our team published a 5-part series that exposes issues and addresses reforms (HERE). 

In the field: Our team is continuing to track wild horses and burros on the range and in holding facilities. In many areas we have had unusual winter weather where we have had more rain and less snow. Some areas are being hit with winter storms, now. We are continuing to see out of season births in ranges where BLM has done fertility control (various kinds) and skewed foaling season from spring and summer to mid-winter when heavily pregnant mares and new babies can have a really hard time. BLM is not monitoring the impacts of their actions. Issues can come to a head when things like helicopter roundups are forbidden 6 weeks pre and post peak foaling season and BLM refuses to create any actual monitoring to determine any real foaling season. Our team is working on a data-packed report.

Outreach: Our team is continuing to work with lawmakers as we gather information on public lands agendas that will impact wild horses and burros in Congress. BLM leadership has not made any agenda or memorandum public regarding wild horses and burros at this time. We have sent a packet (as we always do with changes in leadership). As soon as there are concrete actions you can take our team will notify you.

We hope this page can help serve as a reference and answer many of your questions. We try to answer as many individual emails as we can. But our team is really busy and we thank all of you for your interest in our wild ones and commitment to standing your ground to gain real reform. 

Our team is working hard in the field and in the courts to protect and preserve our wild ones. Without your support, none of our work is possible. Thank you for keeping WHE running for our wild ones!