Wild horses are shown in temporary holding pens after capture. RTF file photo.
Return to Freedom comment on the Aug. 20 New York Times story about the sale of wild horses to slaughter:
That any wild horse or burro — protected under federal law while on the range — is ever sold to slaughter is reprehensible.
Today’s Times story highlights a disturbing increase in wild horses being sold to slaughter, including one horse trader who purchased hundreds of horses for $25 apiece, then resold them.
We raised concerns about the Bureau of Land Management’s failure to protect wild horses and burros it has sold long before the recent increase.
Unmentioned in the story are recent changes in the BLM’s sales policy that appear to disincentivize profiting from selling a wild horse or burro for slaughter and appear to give law enforcement, lawyers, and advocates the needed teeth to go after those who do.
The bill of sale now says buyers cannot “recklessly or negligently” sell a horse to slaughter, directly or indirectly, placing the onus on the buyer. The sales fee increased from $25 to $125.
Continued vigilance, transparency, and accountability will be needed to ensure wild horses are protected from the threat of entry into the slaughter pipeline via malicious buyers.
The Times story also underscores the need for Congress to finally pass the Save America’s Forgotten Equines Act, which we strongly support. The SAFE Act would place a lasting ban on equine slaughter in the United States as well as exporting equines for slaughter.
RTF has long advocated for changing the sales policy, including by:
- digging into the policy, showing not just who was taking advantage of the loophole, but also how;
- presenting evidence that showed wild horses and burros were being sold to slaughter as quickly as one day after the new owner received title;
- and gathering information from partners and activists about BLM-branded wild horses and burros sold to these kill pens and working with partner organizations and supporters to push for change.