What We Do: Protecting America's Wild Horses and Burros
The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) is dedicated to protecting wild horses and burros on public lands. Our programs address the threats posed by government policies that aim to round up these animals, remove them from their habitats, and, in some cases, eradicate them entirely. Our primary focus includes:
Education and Advocacy
AWHC raises public awareness about the importance of saving wild horses and burros through community outreach, online and social media campaigns, and media engagement. Our grassroots base has expanded significantly since 2011, and our social media presence now exceeds 600,000 followers. In 2017, AWHC was quoted an average of eight times per month. We are not only raising awareness but also mobilizing public support to protect these animals and advocate for humane management policies.
In-the-Wild Management
AWHC has implemented the world's largest humane management program for wild horses. This program uses remote darting of wild mares with a scientifically-proven birth control vaccine, PZP, to humanely control population growth. This successful program serves as a model for managing large wild horse populations and offers an alternative to costly and inhumane roundups.
Read about our Management program here.
Legislation
AWHC's bipartisan team of lobbyists works to prevent the legalization of mass killing or slaughter of America's wild horses. Our lobbying efforts, combined with grassroots campaigns, empower constituents to advocate for policies that protect wild horses and burros from capture and slaughter.
Read about our Legislation program here.
Litigation
In collaboration with Meyer Glitzenstein and Eubanks, AWHC has achieved significant legal victories in federal court, including three precedents in the Ninth and Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. These victories affirm that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management cannot prioritize private interests over public lands and must manage wild horses and burros without unnecessary roundups. AWHC's efforts protect these animals and serve the majority of Americans who value their preservation as mandated by the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971.