In states like Montana and Wyoming, wild horses are regularly rounded up by government officials and shipped to holding facilities to make way for commercial developments. Normally, these horses are allowed to roam “free” on thousands of acres of land, called “horse management ranges” where they can lead lives in a fashion comparable to their wild ancestors.
However, at a moment’s notice, these horses can be collected by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and auctioned off for “adoption.” More often than not, wild horses are adopted by slaughterhouses that supply large overseas markets for horse meat.
This is precisely what happened to a group of wild horses that were brought to auction following a round up in Wyoming. The Bureau of Land Management had authorized the round up after receiving complaints that the horses were destroying private property, thus deeming them fit for slaughter.
Thankfully, members of the Cloud Foundation, a wild horse advocacy group, took notice of an “Intent to Impound” notice from the BLM — code for a wild horse auction — and sent buyers to adopt the horses that would otherwise be sold for their meat. The foundation successfully saved 18 horses from slaughter and is working to bring more transparency to government run round ups with the help of the Wild Horse Preservation Campaign.
To find out more about these awesome wild horse protection initiatives, click here.
Image Source: The Cloud Foundation
Hey, I sure apreciate you covering the problems of BLM and the wild hroses but this story has got the facts pretty messed up and I wouldn\’t worry about it usually but there is a group called Protect Mustangs that has actually rescued the last of the wild hroses out of the feedlot and is trying to raise funds to get them to sanctuary. This story says the wrong group. ginger K and Cloud did rescue the 4 babies and miracoulously have brought them through safe and sound. They are alive and well. But they do not and have not had a hand in rescuing hte remaining youngsters, the 14. And AWHPC has not been involved either. Unfortunately, the 13 adults of the bands were slaughtered, if we are to believe the report. Needless to say, your facts are wrong, protect Mustangs needs support to get the last if these wild horses to sanctuary.
I forgot to say that Protect Mustangs is the group that has negotiated for the remaining 14 youngsters and are raising funds to transport and care for them. they could sure use some donations. Protect Mustangs run by Anne Novak. What an increible story and effort by all.
the horses were there before private property was even a thing