The Wild Horses of the Sheldon Wildlife Refuge: A Historical Overview

February 19, 2021

AWHC Contributor

The Sheldon Wildlife Refuge, located in the remote and rugged corner of northwestern Nevada, offers a glimpse into a landscape untouched by livestock grazing. This lush and beautiful ecosystem is home to wild horses and burros, whose ancestors served as America's War Horses in battles as cavalry remounts and artillery draft horses through World War I. Despite their historical significance, these wild herds face eradication under a controversial conservation plan.

In September 2012, the refuge adopted a Comprehensive Conservation Plan aimed at removing all wild horses and burros from the refuge within five years. By 2013, the plan accelerated, targeting the removal of 200 burros and 800 horses in just two years.

On September 14, 2013, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) initiated Phase I of this plan by rounding up approximately 415 wild horses via helicopter stampede. The Sheldon Refuge has a history of laundering wild horses through adoption contractors to slaughterhouses. Despite previous investigations, the FWS continued to contract with Stan Palmer of J&S Associates in Mississippi, who had been unable to account for many horses in past dealings.

In June 2014, the Sheldon Refuge announced plans to round up the remaining 70 burros and 420 wild horses. Under pressure from Congress and the public, the Refuge canceled its contract with Palmer and sought new adoption contractors.