Congress Must Act Now to Protect America's Wild Horses from Slaughter

Urgent Call to Action: Protecting America's Wild Horses

Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation is making an urgent appeal to Congress to take long-overdue measures aimed at putting an end to the slaughter of American wild horses and burros. This initiative seeks to protect these majestic creatures by advocating for their preservation in natural habitats, preventing them from becoming victims of the foreign slaughter pipeline.

Neda DeMayo, the president of Return to Freedom (RTF), emphasized the moral obligation lawmakers have in stopping the slaughter of wild equines, which is not only preventable but fundamentally un-American. The recent reports of a troubling spike in wild horses being sold for slaughter have only intensified calls for action. A recent article in the New York Times shed light on alarming practices, where certain horse traders have purchased hundreds of horses at rock-bottom prices from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), only to resell them for slaughter at higher rates.

The alarming statistics reveal a grim reality: in 2025 alone, 25,050 horses met a tragic fate after being shipped to slaughterhouses, representing a staggering 25.8% increase from the previous year. With many of these being wild horses and burros, it raises concerns about the current management practices that fail to address the issue effectively.

The Need for the SAFE Act

The spotlight on these deplorable conditions reinforces the pressing necessity for Congress to pass the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act. This legislation aims to impose a lasting ban on equine slaughter domestically and prohibit the export of American equines for such purposes. Given the current loopholes exploited by kill buyers, swift legislative action is imperative to ensure the safety and well-being of American wild horses.

Despite widespread public opposition to horse slaughter, with polls showing significant disapproval across the board, the SAFE Act still requires critical support in Congress. Currently boasting 230 bipartisan co-sponsors, the bill must be prioritized for a vote to make real change a possibility. Furthermore, recent language banning the shipping of horses for slaughter has been integrated into the surface transportation reauthorization bill, symbolizing a promising step toward ending this inhumane practice.

Humane Management is Critical

The rising number of wild horses and burros in government facilities, where over 58,000 currently reside, illustrates the limitations of the capture and removal strategies employed by the BLM and U.S. Forest Service. With taxpayers footing a bill exceeding $100 million annually for their care, the system is clearly unsustainable. The excessive removal of these animals from their natural grazing lands is insufficiently addressed, as reproduction factors remain largely unregulated.

From 2021 to 2025, over 63,000 wild horses were removed from the range, while fertility control methods were only used on about 1,000 mares annually. RTF advocates for humane and proven fertility control as an effective alternative to the outdated practices of capture and removal. These methods not only ensure the well-being of the wild horse population but also reflect a path towards sustainable management that respects these creatures as part of the American landscape.

Addressing the Holes in Current Legislation

While the New York Times investigation brought attention to various aspects of the slaughter crisis, it overlooked recent positive changes made by the BLM to protect wild horses and burros after their capture. RTF has been an active participant in conversations aimed at enhancing the protections extended to these animals. The introduction of new sales agreements requires buyers to exercise due diligence in ensuring their purchased horse is not sold for slaughter.

Significantly, the sales fee for capturing wild horses has increased from $25 to $125, reinforcing accountability. However, RTF recognizes the need for ongoing vigilance and transparent practices to uphold these protections. The threat of sale to kill buyers remains imminent unless legislative changes are implemented promptly.

As Neda DeMayo firmly states, it is crucial for Congress to pass the SAFE Act and compel the BLM to adopt humane and sustainable management strategies. Until decisive actions are taken, the looming peril for wild horses and burros in America cannot be dismissed. The time for legislation to safeguard the future of all horses, wild and domestic, has arrived. Now is the moment for lawmakers to step up and ensure the humane treatment of these iconic animals, securing their place in America's heart and landscape for generations to come.

Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation, a leader in wild horse advocacy since 1997, remains dedicated to these goals. Operated across three Californian sites, the American Wild Horse Sanctuary currently shelters nearly 500 rescued mustangs and burros, providing them a safe haven while promoting awareness and education regarding their rightful presence in the environment. Join the movement today and support the initiative to protect America's wild horses—their continued survival and well-being depend on it.