Working Together to Get 20 Mustangs to Safety

(July 26, 2022) On the same day, we released our explosive investigative report on the deadly consequences of the Adoption Incentive Program (AIP), we partnered with Skydog Sanctuary on the rescue of 16 BLM-branded wild mustangs from a notorious kill pen in Eaton, Colorado. 

The saga of these horses begins back in Worland, Wyoming on July 16th when a group of 26 BLM-branded mustangs were sold through an auction known to be frequented by kill buyers. Two mustangs were rescued by another organization and AWHC was pleased to help to support the transport and bail for them through our Rescue Fund. Four of the horses were bought by a horse trader and the remaining 20 were bought by a kill buyer who exports horses across the border to Canada for slaughter. 

We thought we had lost them – that they were destined for a brutal and untimely end to their short lives. But just days later, these mustangs showed up at another slaughter auction where they were just days away from shipping. We knew this was their last chance, so together with Skydog, we leaped into action. 

GRACE KUHN​

Skydog found placement for the 16 remaining horses that had not already been rescued and we again utilized our Rescue Fund to help defray the costs of this massive rescue operation. 

These horses all fit the pattern of the victims of the AIP. They are young, around 2-3 years old, and all are unhandled. They have their whole lives ahead of them now thanks to the quick work of the boots-on-the-ground rescues. They are part of the lucky few -- our i report shows that the AIP is causing a massive influx of unhandled wild horses and burros into the slaughter pipeline. We can’t save them all, but we can work as hard as possible to shut down this pipeline that was created by the cash incentive program.

A rescue at this scale is not cheap and we need to ensure we have the funds to continue to help save the lives of our iconic wild horses and burros from slaughter. Please help us to refuel our Rescue Fund today to assist more horses in need. Thank you for your continued support.