Devil’s Garden Horses: $1 Sale with Slaughter Prohibition

In a recent development, the United States Forest Service (USFS) has announced the sale of Devil's Garden horses for $1, withCongressstepping in to prevent their sale for slaughter. This decision follows a controversial roundup of nearly 500 horses from the Devil's Garden Wild Horse Territory in California. The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) continues to monitor the situation closely.

Less than four months after the controversial roundup of almost 500 horses from the Devil’s Garden Wild Horse Territory in northeastern California ended, the United States Forest Service (USFS) announced that all remaining horses at its Double Devil Wild Horse Corrals will soon be sold for $1 with limitations. Fortunately,Congresshas stepped up and prevented them from being sold for slaughter.

Of the 499 horses removed in the fall, 350 were sent to theUSFS’s Double Devil Corrals in Altura, CA. Another 140 or so were shipped to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Litchfield Corrals in Litchfield, CA.

While theUSFSwas selling horses 10 years and older – including mare/foal pairs – for $25, younger horses were available for adoption for $125. Now, however, all horses remaining at the corrals are available for sale with limitations for $25 each until January 9th, 2020 and for just $1 each beginning January 10th, 2020. They range in age from weanlings to 20-year-olds.

FollowingUSFSpolicy, younger horses became “three-strikes horses” after three unsuccessful adoption attempts that included adoptioneventsheld at the Double Devil Corrals on November 2ndand December 7thas well as onsite selection appointments between October 1stand November 15thand listing on the Double Devil Wild Horse Online Corrals.

Last year, theUSFSpushed to sell Devil’s Garden horses without limitation on slaughter, a move which represented a radical departure from its previous position. Last week, though,Congresspassed a “minibus” spending bill for Fiscal Year 2020 that prohibits the agency from destroying any healthy wild horses and burros under its management or selling them for slaughter. AlthoughCongressprohibits the BLM from lethal management of wild herds, the ban did not extend to theUSFS.

In 2018, AWHC, along with the Animal Legal Defense Fund, also filed a lawsuit to block theUSFSfrom moving ahead with its plan to sell federally-protected wild horses for slaughter.

TheUSFSPurchase Request, which immediately transfers ownership, requires buyers to agree not to sell the horses for commercial use --or slaughter -- and includes a notice that California Penal Code Section 598 prohibits the sale of horses for human consumption, which is a felony in the state.

While theBLMlimits the number of horses or burros who can be sold to one person to four every six months – and more than four with special permission, theUSFShas no such restrictions. However, according to a statement from Modoc Forest Service personnel, they “have a very hands-on approval process and are selling horses only to candidates vetted to the best of our capacity for their abilities and facilities to care for the number of horses requested.”

That’s all well and good. But, as rescues and sanctuaries – or, for that matter, any informed member of the equine community – knows, selling a horse (or burro) for $1 raises multiple red flags. And despite the Modoc Forest Service’s attempts to screen buyers and the Congressional prohibition on theUSFSselling horses for slaughter, the possibility of them slipping through the cracks and ending up in a kill pen before being shipped to Canada or Mexico is a reality.

As of December 12th, the Modoc Forest Service has reported that 60 horses have been adopted, and 31 sold with limitations. One foal was born at Double Devil, and at least four horses have died since arriving at the corrals. Also, the Modoc Forest Service has improved the corrals by expanding them and installing sun/rain overhangs along with heated water troughs. But, except for hay bales around the weanling and mare/foal pens, none of the pens have shelters to provide protection from the winter’s frigid temperatures or wind.

To view Devil’s Garden horses available for sale, visit the Double Devil Wild Horse Corrals. Placement for “special needs” horses and horses 15 years and older is especially needed.

AWHC has filed a FOIA request on the disposition of the Devil’s Garden horses at theBLMLitchfield corrals as well asUSFS’s Double Devil Corrals. We’ll keep you updated.