In 2017 both the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) leadership approached the American Horse Council (AHC) with requests to investigate the health and welfare of the wild horses under the protection of the Wild Horse and Burro Act of 1974. After exhaustive research including numerous interviews with stakeholders, presentations from BLM, input from the American Association of Equine Practitioners, others, and attendance by AHC personnel at the Summit on Management of Free-Roaming Equids, the AHC is issuing the following statement.
“The free-roaming wild horse and burro population has reached a critical level, which is negatively impacting the health and welfare of the horses & burros as well as that of wildlife and the ecosystem.
“The American Horse Council strongly encourages the Bureau of Land Management to take immediate, meaningful action to positively impact the health and welfare of wild horses, burros, wildlife and the ecosystem.”
The American Horse Council is a Guidestar Silver Participant
The AHC believes that the more opportunities available to use horses in various activities, the better the overall health of the industry and those who participate.
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