The Welfare of Wild Horses in the American West

Wild horse management in the American West creates welfare challenges from roundups to long-term holding.

Key Facts

Over 80,000 wild horses and burros live on US public lands — BLM estimates exceed carrying capacity
Helicopter roundups cause injuries, separations of mares and foals, and stress-related deaths
Long-term holding corrals house over 60,000 horses at significant cost and welfare compromise
PZP fertility control is the most humane management tool but is underfunded and underapplied

Welfare Considerations

Wild horse management is one of the most contested wildlife welfare issues in the American West. Helicopter roundups cause acute welfare harm — horses are driven at speed for miles, foals separated from mares, and injuries and deaths occur. Long-term holding facilities house horses indefinitely in conditions far inferior to open range. The fertility control vaccine PZP offers a humane alternative that stabilizes populations without roundups, but requires sustained field application. The BLM currently spends approximately $60 million annually on holding — funds that could support expanded fertility control instead.

What You Can Do

Support advocacy organizations pushing for PZP-based management over roundups
Oppose slaughter as a population management tool for wild horses
Advocate for adequate funding for field-based fertility control programs
Adopt a wild horse or burro through BLM adoption programs