Photo by Meg Frederick
The Bureau of Land Management has made changes to its wild horse and burro sales policy that disincentivize making money from selling a wild horse for slaughter and appear to give law enforcement, lawyers, and advocates the needed teeth to go after bad actors.
Among the changes:
- 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.
- Increasing the fee to $125.
Return to Freedom has been opposed to sales authority since its introduction in 2004. Under it, the BLM was directed to sell “without limitation” wild horses and burros ages 10 and older or younger horses that have not been adopted after three tries, often for $25 or even less.
The buyer immediately received title to the horse or burro, and the animal immediately lost what measure of protection it had under the law.
Buyers previously signed a bill of sale requiring that they agree not to “knowingly” sell or transfer ownership to slaughter. Proving intent was difficult.
For years, RTF has met with agency officials about closing sales loopholes. We gathered information from our partners and activists about BLM-branded wild horses and burros sold to these kill pens and worked with partner organizations and supporters to push for change.
Over the past decade, the BLM has sold outright more than 15,000 wild horses and burros.
These first changes will not stop every wild horse from falling through the cracks after sale or adoption, but we are heartened that this sends a stronger message that “flipping” a wild horse at auction will be prosecuted. Transparency and accountability remain crucial.
We remain committed to advocating for more humane and sustainable of wild horses and burros to keep them on the range, as well as to helping pass federal legislation banning the slaughter, or export for slaughter, of any equine.
Read more about the updated sales policy on the BLM website.
Take action
Support safe, proven and humane fertility control that can end wild horse and burro roundups: Send a letter to Congress.
Urge Congress to pass a lasting ban on slaughter and the export of American horses for slaughter: Send a letter to Congress.