American Wild Horse Campaign

Advocacy & education: building a national movementreaching millions through advertising and mediain 2023, awhc expanded its advertising efforts to iconic locations like new york's times square, where a digital billboard educated millions about Wild horses. Awhc also used mobile billboards in Washington, d.c., to draw attention to the wasteful spending of the federal Wild Horse and burro program. Awhc's media efforts resulted in over 1,500 mentions in major outlets, including nbc nightly news, cbs news, national public radio, and regional publicationdocumenting roundup crueltyawhc's media campaigns highlighted the brutality of helicopter roundups, with trained observers capturing footage that was broadcast nationally. Awhc's coverage of these operations raised public awareness about this cruel treatment and strengthened political will for change. Outcry over theodore roosevelt national park planawhc launched a successful billboard and ad Campaign to protect the historic Wild Horse population in theodore roosevelt national park. Public opposition to a federal plan to eliminate these horses led to strong political pressure, resulting in significant public pressure on the national park service to preserve this Wild herd. Public concern over mccullough peaksawhc's Campaign to halt the removal of Wild horses from mccullough peaks led to over 200,000 emails sent to government officials and reached over 2 million people. Public concern caused the bureau of land management (blm) to reduce the number of horses slated for removal.volunteer ambassador program expandsawhc's volunteer ambassador program continues to grow, empowering grassroots advocates in 26 states to champion Wild horses and burros in their communities and with lawmakers. This program is building a powerful network of informed advocates who help drive policy change and public awareness.homes for horses coalitionawhc co-leads the homes for horses coalition, which unites over 500 rescue organizations nationwide. This coalition plays a critical role in ending Horse slaughter and other forms of equine abuse, while also elevating standards of care and professionalism in the rescue community.

Law/policyawhc is at the forefront of legal and policy advocacy to protect Wild horses and burros. Awhc's work in 2023 focused on litigation, legislation, and exposing the mismanagement of these iconic animals by federal agencies.bill to ban helicopter roundupsawhc championed the introduction of the Wild Horse and burro protection act, a groundbreaking bill to ban the use of helicopters in roundups. This legislation would also require a federal analysis of the impact of these roundups on Wild horses and burros and explore humane alternatives.spending bills with reform measuresin 2023, 77 members of congress supported awhc's call for protective language in house and senate spending bills. These measures include funding for fertility control, protection against slaughter, and a directive for the blm to explore alternatives to helicopter roundups.colorado legislationin may 2023, Colorado passed sb23-275, known as the Wild Horse project, which allocates $1.5 million to develop humane management solutions for Wild horses. Colorado first gentleman marlon reis praised awhc's leadership in fertility control, acknowledging awhc's key role in making this legislation a reality.ejiao act to save donkeysawhc worked alongside partners to support the reintroduction of the ejiao act (h.r. 6021), which seeks to ban u.s. imports of products made from donkey hides. This bill is critical to addressing the global decline in donkey populations due to the demand for ejiao.safe act to stop Horse slaughterawhc supported the reintroduction of the save america's forgotten equines (safe) act (h.r. 3475) to ban Horse slaughter for human consumption in the u.s. and the export of horses for slaughter abroad. This bipartisan bill has gained significant support in congress.litigation: Wyoming checkerboard lawsuitawhc and partner organizations filed a lawsuit against the u.s. department of the interior to stop a federal plan to eradicate two Wild Horse populations in Wyoming and eliminate 43% of Wild Horse habitat in the state. This lawsuit challenges the legality of the blm's actions.adoption incentive program (aip) investigationin 2023, awhc continued its investigation into the blm's adoption incentive program (aip), exposing systemic fraud and taxpayer waste. Awhc's findings revealed that many Wild horses and burros are being funneled into the slaughter pipeline, despite the blm's claims of success. Awhc's legal team is actively pursuing this case.

Field programs: conservation through humane managementawhc's conservation work focuses on implementing humane and sustainable solutions for managing Wild Horse populations while preserving their habitat. Awhc's groundbreaking fertility control programs continue to lead the way in reducing the need for helicopter roundups.flagship fertility control program on Virginia rangeawhc's fertility control program on Nevada's Virginia range has become a global model for humane Wild Horse management. By 2023, awhc had vaccinated over 70% of the mares, reducing the foaling rate by 66% compared to 2020. This program has received community support and influenced congress to allocate funding away from helicopter roundups.pine nut herd management area (hma)awhc provided financial, logistical, and darting support for the fertility control program in Nevada's pine nut hma. To date, 48% of the mare population has received at least one pzp vaccination. This success demonstrates the feasibility of managing Wild Horse populations in balance with their environment.cedar mountain grantin 2023, awhc secured a federal grant to support awhc's fertility control program in Utah's cedar mountain hma. This collaboration betawhcen the blm, local ranchers, and awhc aims to reduce helicopter roundups and protect the habitat of Wild horses in this area.scientific recognition for fertility controlawhc's conservation scientist, nicole hayes, and dr. martin shulman presented research on the Virginia range program at the international symposium on equine reproduction in brazil. This presentation highlighted the success of awhc's fertility control efforts, and the pending publication of scientific data solidifies the organization's role as a leader in science-based Wild Horse management.

In 2023, awhc expanded its conservation efforts by establishing a land trust to preserve critical habitat for Wild horses and burros. This initiative underscores awhc's commitment to long-term habitat protection and restoration.fish springs land acquisitionin march 2023, awhc acquired 3,300 acres of open range habitat for the fish springs Wild horses in Nevada, including the entire buckeye creek watershed. This acquisition is part of a pilot project aimed at restoring habitat through sustainable practices in partnership with local, state, and federal agencies. It marks the beginning of a broader effort to secure land adjacent to designated habitat areas to ensure the future of federally protected herds.