While we are dismayed that any wild horse roundups occur at all, we are pleased to report that one wild horse roundup in the American west was abruptly halted short of its devastating goal. 183 horses were spared the horror of being chased, corralled, warehoused in miserable conditions, and possibly sold to slaughter. Activism by devoted wild horse activists like you were essential to making this partial victory happen.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) initially scheduled the roundup at the Piceance-East Douglas Herd Management Area in Colorado for September, but used a fabricated “emergency” designation to move the operation up to July, and during the hottest days of summer! Newborn foals and heavily pregnant mares were forced to run for miles with suffocating temperatures in the 90s and above. 

The BLM planned to capture 1,050 members of the herd, including stallions, mares, and foals. Operations were concluded after 867 were trapped. Six died in the onslaught, including three foals.

When the roundup concluded early, almost 200 horses were spared from the agony of capture and separation from family and all they hold dear. This partial victory could very well be due to the pressures put on the BLM, showing that activism can make a difference. 

Multiple organizations, including In Defense of Animals, brought awareness to the BLM’s baseless claims when the roundup was quickly expedited in an attempt to get ahead of the building scrutiny. In Defense of Animals alerted media outlets with three media releases in short succession, and public outrage ensued from those and other reports from advocacy organizations. Colorado’s Governor Jared Polis, First Gentleman Marlon Reis, and Congressman Joe Neguse were all involved in the effort.

During the roundup operations, reports and images from In Defense of Animals and other advocacy organizations continued to bring light to the appalling conditions suffered by these Colorado horses. The Cloud Foundation obtained trail cam video clips showing the horses racing through trees and brush as the helicopters chasing them could be heard overhead. The temperature readings from the trail cam on these video clips provided indisputable proof that the BLM’s claims of temperatures in the 80s were false. The automatically imprinted temperature readings on the trail cam video continued rising to 102 degrees!

The public is tired of the BLM’s purposeful misinformation; the Bureau is no longer believed.

In Defense of Animals is working hard to bring about change to end the roundups and keep wild horses safe on our public lands. Find out more about what we’re doing and how to get involved by visiting our Wild Horses and Burros campaign.

Donations to support our work to save wild horses and burros are always needed and deeply appreciated.