A Horrific End to an American Icon

Today, 86,000 free-roaming horses live on nearly 28 million acres of public lands across 10 western U.S. states, and 55,000 that were rounded up and taken off the land now live in government-run holding facilities. In 2021 thus far, 5,698 horse and 1671 burros have been adopted out of these holding centers and into private care.

Despite a 1971 law passed by Congress that protects our wild horses from slaughter for commercial purposes, and makes it illegal to sell adopted horses to "kill" buyers, wild horses across the West are ending up in Canadian and Mexican slaughterhouses in startling numbers. This is largely due to a 2019 Bureau of Land Management adoption program that offers individuals $1,000 to adopt a wild horse. It pays people $500 within 60 days of adoption and another $500 once they've received the ownership title to the animal. There’s a limit to four animals per person.

By 2020, when the full incentives were paid to adopters, rescue groups began noticing an alarming increase in the number of wild horses and burros found at direct ship kill pens. There is little to no oversight by the BLM to stop the new owners from selling the horses for slaughter and profit.

Fortunately, in 2021 the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, H.R. 3355/S. 2732, was introduced in Congress. The bill would prohibit the slaughter of ALL American equine , including our beloved mustangs, for human consumption here in the United States or abroad. It will also prohibit the sale or transport of horses via interstate or foreign commerce for purposes of human consumption.

Please join the effort to stop the slaughter of American Equines by contacting your U.S. Representative and two U.S. Senators. Urge them to support the SAFE Act by cosponsoring the bill. Call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to be transferred directly.

LET'S STOP THE SLAUGHTER!