From Salvation to Starvation: The Rise and Fall of a Wild Horse Sanctuary
Editor's Note: This article is the first in a three-part series documenting the rise and fall of a West River horse sanctuary. The series is based on public records, interviews, and writings by the sanctuary director. Part II is available on Monday, and Part III on Tuesday.
When Karen Sussman orchestrated the transfer of 70 wild horses from New Mexico to South Dakota, she was immensely gratified. “These horses are going to heaven,” she told a reporter, “and I mean heaven.”
In 1999, Sussman, then 52, embarked on a new mission for herself and the nonprofit she led, the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros (ISPMB). She shifted the focus from advocacy to operating a wild-horse sanctuary.
Sussman moved to South Dakota with the White Sands herd, bought a ranch, and acquired more horses. Her reputation as a crusading savior grew, and she was inducted into the Wild Horse and Burro Expo Hall of Fame.
However, in 2016, everything unraveled. Sussman, now 69, faced felony charges for a bounced check, which were later dropped after restitution. Disturbing images of starving horses emerged, and a judge ordered the seizure of 810 horses from her ranch.
Instead of the promised horse heaven, Sussman operated a glorified feedlot. She now has a chance to reclaim some horses if she proves an 18-month supply of feed by Friday. Otherwise, the horses will be put up for adoption, with the risk of being sold for slaughter.
Sussman's journey from saving to starving horses is a tale of unrealistic expectations and denial, spending over $4 million of others' money. Her story serves as a cautionary tale for wild-horse sanctuaries.
'Wild Horse Annie' Devotee
Sussman, raised in Pennsylvania, rekindled her love for horses in Arizona, volunteering for the ISPMB. She modeled her efforts after Velma “Wild Horse Annie” Johnston, who inspired the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act.
Since becoming ISPMB president in 1989, Sussman saw herself as Johnston’s legacy keeper. Her home is filled with Johnston’s personal items, making it an unofficial museum.
The 1971 law protects wild horses on public ranges, but not all horses are covered. Private sanctuaries often rescue unprotected horses, leading Sussman to horse ownership.
Up from the Desert
Sussman focused on horses at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, which lacked federal protection. By 1996, 2,000 horses were removed, with a four-horse limit to prevent overwhelming situations like Sussman’s later ranch.
In 1999, Sussman took 70 horses to South Dakota, believing they had rare genes. She moved them to the Amiotte ranch, envisioning a National Wild Horse and Burro Heritage Center.
However, Sussman fell behind on lease payments, and the ISPMB owed the Amiottes $14,000. Asta Amiotte criticized Sussman’s lack of breeding control, predicting unsustainable numbers.
In 2003, Sussman bought a 665-acre ranch in Lantry, South Dakota, moving the ISPMB headquarters there. She received pasture-rent payments from the ISPMB, ranging from $12,000 to $24,000 annually.
Another Try Farther North
In 2001, Sussman partnered with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, rescuing 80 horses from Nevada’s Virginia Range. The tribe hoped to develop a tourism park, but the remote location posed challenges.
Sussman also rescued 80 horses from Nevada’s Sheldon National Wildlife Range, dubbing them the Catnip Herd. From 1999 to 2004, she obtained four herds and moved the ISPMB headquarters twice.
Sussman’s reputation grew with each rescue, but she and the ISPMB faced a debilitating setback.