Wild Horse & Burro Freedom Alliance

In 1971, a public outcry of an unprecedented magnitude for a non-war issue led to the adoption of the Free-Roaming Wild Horse and Burro Act, which recognized the intrinsic value of wild horses to our national heritage and ecosystem. The Act was meant to protect our wild horses a permanent home on the American landscape. This law has now all but been overturned, without as much as a hearing. Less than 35,000 wild horses remain on our public lands. If the administration has its way, these horses and their priceless genetic diversity will soon be a treasure of the past.

Surreptitiously included in the omnibus federal Appropriations Bill is a rider (#142) that eviscerates federal protection for America’s wild horses. Over the week-end before Thanksgiving, without any opportunity for review, Congress opened the door to the sale of America’s wild horses — recognized by a 1971 federal law as living symbols of our Nation's spirit – allowing thousands of our wild and free horses to be slaughtered for profits. The Bill is scheduled to be signed into law on December 6.

The administration is pointing the finger at the tens of thousands of wild horses currently held in government pens. What they fail to mention is that these horses were unnecessarily removed from their rightful range due to pressure from special interest groups who run private commercial operations on our public lands (cattle, oil).

By legitimizing the sale of captured horses for slaughter, the rider is giving the Bureau of Land Management a lucrative outlet for round-ups. Specifically:

1. The rider amends the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act to allow the sale of wild horses for processing into commercial products.

2. The rider exempts horses bought pursuant to a new "horse sale" program from the criminal provisions of the Act that make it a crime to process or permit to be processed into commercial products the remains of a wild horse or burro.

3. The rider adds a new subsection to the Act, creating a "horse sale" requirement that mandates that BLM sell "without limitation, at local sale yards or other convenient livestock selling facilities" all wild horses who are either over 10 years old, or who have been offered for adoption 3 times unsuccessfully. BLM is required to continue to sell horses until all "excess animals" are disposed of and AMLs (appropriate management levels) are reached in all wild horse areas.

Below is the actual rider that passed last weekend amending the Wild Horses Act. It does several things, all of which are really bad:

2005 Appropriations Bill Wild Horse Rider

84

SEC. 142. SALE OF WILD FREE-ROAMING HORSES AND BURROS.

(a) IN GENERAL - Section 3 of Public Law 92-195 (16 U.S.C. 1333) is amended —

85

(1) In subsection (d)(5), by striking “this section” and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting “this section.”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

(e) SALE OF EXCESS ANIMALS. –

“(1) IN GENERAL. – Any excess animal or the remains of any excess animal shall be sold if –

“(A) the excess animal is more than 10 years of age; or

“(B) the excess animal has been offered unsuccessfully for adoption at least 3 times.

“(2) METHOD OF SALE. – An excess animal that meets either of the criteria in paragraph (1) shall be made available for sale without limitation, including through auction to the highest bidder, at local sale yards or other convenient livestock selling facilities, until such time as –

“(A) all excess animals offered for sale are sold; or

“(B) the appropriate management level, as determined by the Secretary, is attained in all areas occupied by wild free-roaming horses and burros.

“(3) DISPOSITION OF FUNDS. – Funds generated from the sale of excess animals under this subsection shall be

“(A) credited as an offsetting collection to the Management of Lands and Resources appropriation for the Bureau of Land Management; and

“(B) used for the costs relating to the adoption of wild free-roaming horses and burros, including the costs of marketing such adoption.

“(4) EFFECT OF SALE. – Any excess animal sold under this provision shall no longer be considered to be a wild free-roaming horse or burro for purposes of this Act.”

What You Can Do Now:

Make a lot of noise and a have your friends make a lot of noise!

Please understand that this does NOT end if the President Signs on December 6 th –We will keep up the good fight!

Save America's Wild Horses

Our Mission:
To Protect America's Wild Horses and Burros as an Integral Part of Our Public Lands in Accordance With the Wild Horse and Burro Act.

Who We Are:
The WHBFA is a coalition of concerned animal welfare organizations that represent over 9 million Americans. Our members are:

American Horse Defense Fund

Click here for the latest news on wild horse and burro issues. WHBFA Merchandise available! Click here for other Wild Horse and Burro Links. Click here to see the awards this website has won.


		Wild by Nature.... Wild by Law Congress Opens the Door to Wild Horse Slaughter November 20, 2004 In 1971, a public outcry of an unprecedented magnitude for a non-war issue led to the adoption of the Free-Roaming Wild Horse and Burro Act, which recognized the intrinsic value of wild horses to our national heritage and ecosystem. The Act was meant to protect our wild horses a permanent home on the American landscape. This law has now all but been overturned, without as much as a hearing. Less than 35,000 wild horses remain on our public lands. If the administration has its way, these horses and their priceless genetic diversity will soon be a treasure of the past. Surreptitiously included in the omnibus federal Appropriations Bill is a rider (#142) that eviscerates federal protection for America’s wild horses. Over the week-end before Thanksgiving, without any opportunity for review, Congress opened the door to the sale of America’s wild horses — recognized by a 1971 federal law as living symbols of our Nation's spirit – allowing thousands of our wild and free horses to be slaughtered for profits. The Bill is scheduled to be signed into law on December 6. The administration is pointing the finger at the tens of thousands of wild horses currently held in government pens. What they fail to mention is that these horses were unnecessarily removed from their rightful range due to pressure from special interest groups who run private commercial operations on our public lands (cattle, oil). By legitimizing the sale of captured horses for slaughter, the rider is giving the Bureau of Land Management a lucrative outlet for round-ups. Specifically: 1. The rider amends the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act to allow the sale of wild horses for processing into commercial products. 2. The rider exempts horses bought pursuant to a new "horse sale" program from the criminal provisions of the Act that make it a crime to process or permit to be processed into commercial products the remains of a wild horse or burro. 3. The rider adds a new subsection to the Act, creating a "horse sale" requirement that mandates that BLM sell "without limitation, at local sale yards or other convenient livestock selling facilities" all wild horses who are either over 10 years old, or who have been offered for adoption 3 times unsuccessfully. BLM is required to continue to sell horses until all "excess animals" are disposed of and AMLs (appropriate management levels) are reached in all wild horse areas. Below is the actual rider that passed last weekend amending the Wild Horses Act. It does several things, all of which are really bad: 2005 Appropriations Bill Wild Horse Rider 84 SEC. 142. SALE OF WILD FREE-ROAMING HORSES AND BURROS. (a) IN GENERAL - Section 3 of Public Law 92-195 (16 U.S.C. 1333) is amended — 85 (1) In subsection (d)(5), by striking “this section” and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting “this section.”; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (e) SALE OF EXCESS ANIMALS. – “(1) IN GENERAL. – Any excess animal or the remains of any excess animal shall be sold if – “(A) the excess animal is more than 10 years of age; or “(B) the excess animal has been offered unsuccessfully for adoption at least 3 times. “(2) METHOD OF SALE. – An excess animal that meets either of the criteria in paragraph (1) shall be made available for sale without limitation, including through auction to the highest bidder, at local sale yards or other convenient livestock selling facilities, until such time as – “(A) all excess animals offered for sale are sold; or “(B) the appropriate management level, as determined by the Secretary, is attained in all areas occupied by wild free-roaming horses and burros. “(3) DISPOSITION OF FUNDS. – Funds generated from the sale of excess animals under this subsection shall be “(A) credited as an offsetting collection to the Management of Lands and Resources appropriation for the Bureau of Land Management; and “(B) used for the costs relating to the adoption of wild free-roaming horses and burros, including the costs of marketing such adoption. “(4) EFFECT OF SALE. – Any excess animal sold under this provision shall no longer be considered to be a wild free-roaming horse or burro for purposes of this Act.” What You Can Do Now: Make a lot of noise and a have your friends make a lot of noise! Please understand that this does NOT end if the President Signs on December 6 th –We will keep up the good fight! *Save America's Wild Horses* Canadian Girls Raise Money for the Wild Horses of the U.S. The Wild Horse and Burro Freedom Alliance would like to acknowledge the commitment of two 7 year old girls in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada who found our web site and became concerned about the welfare of our wild horses. They told their friends and neighbors about the plight of the horses and they drew posters about the cause. They sold cookies and lemonade at 50 cents each and sent us a check for $80.00! These dedicated girls are Isabel Blanchard and Heather Pankratz. Many thanks to you both from the magnificent horses who still roam wild and free on our western lands. We will use this money to help them stay forever free! -Ginger Kathrens Co-founder, Wild Horse and Burro Freedom Alliance Our Mission: To Protect America's Wild Horses and Burros as an Integral Part of Our Public Lands in Accordance With the Wild Horse and Burro Act. Who We Are: The WHBFA is a coalition of concerned animal welfare organizations that represent over 9 million Americans. Our members are: American Horse Defense Fund American Mustang and Burro Association American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Legal Defense Fund Animal Protection Institute Animal Welfare Institute Colorado Wild Horse & Burro Coalition Front Range Equine Rescue The Fund for Animals Hooved Animal Humane Society (HAHS) Hooved Animal Rescue & Protection Society (HARPS) Humane Society of the United States Project Equus Redwings Horse Sanctuary Return to Freedom Wild Horse Spirit
		We invite you to browse through this website, which is the result of a cooperative effort by many wild horse and burro advocates throughout the United States. Please educate yourself on the facts surrounding this issue, and then do your part to make a difference. The text and images contained in these web pages is protected by copyright law. Any use requires the express permission of theWild Horse & Burro Freedom Alliance.