FAQs
Does a student have to be "at-risk" to participate?
No. All students are welcome to participate. Students must fill out an application and participation is determined based on suitability of the Program for the individual student.
Can adults volunteer?
Yes. Adults are welcome to participate in several ways. Volunteers are needed for "work days" if there are repairs or projects that need to be done. Volunteers are sometimes needed for transportation of horses or students. Volunteers can also help with fund raising, and we occasionally need volunteers to serve on the Board. See our How to Help page for more information.
Where do the mustangs come from?
Mustangs can come from several sources. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages mustangs on federally designated Herd Management Areas (HMAs) in accordance with the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 (WFRHBA). They are charged with ". . . ensuring their populations are managed to maintain or restore a thriving ecological balance." There are currently 50,000 mustangs that the BLM has removed from their HMAs and placed into short and long term holding facilities. Horses adopted through the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Adoption program are no longer protected from slaughter once the adopter gains title to the horses (after 1 year). This means that after the mustang is "titled", the horse can be sold at auction like any other horse and end up being bought by a "kill buyer", who can ship the horse to a slaughter house. See Wyatt's story on our Ambassador Horses page.
There are many other mustangs that are not managed by the BLM or protected by the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. The mustangs of the Virginia Range in Nevada are managed by the State Department of Agriculture. These horses are what prompted Thelma Johnston, better known as Wild Horse Annie, to petition congress for protection for mustangs and to pass the WFRHBA. Sadly, the Virginia Range horses were not included as they roam on state, not federal lands. In addition, there are horses that roam tribal and US Forest Service and US Fish and Wildlife lands that are also not protected under the federal statutes.
We make no distinction, and will help any mustang, regardless of their origin.
Why do we oppose horse slaughter?
Horse slaughter is driven by the market for horse meat, not an overpopulation of "unwanted" horses. Horses are subjected to cruel and inhumane conditions once they enter the slaughter pipeline, from long periods without food and water, injuries both accidental and intentional, and in the end, an inhumane death. Below are s few Fact Sheets provided by ASPCA on horse slaughter.
Can adults volunteer?
Yes. Adults are welcome to participate in several ways. Volunteers are needed for "work days" if there are repairs or projects that need to be done. Volunteers are sometimes needed for transportation of horses or students. Volunteers can also help with fund raising, and we occasionally need volunteers to serve on the Board. See our How to Help page for more information.
Where do the mustangs come from?
Mustangs can come from several sources. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages mustangs on federally designated Herd Management Areas (HMAs) in accordance with the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 (WFRHBA). They are charged with ". . . ensuring their populations are managed to maintain or restore a thriving ecological balance." There are currently 50,000 mustangs that the BLM has removed from their HMAs and placed into short and long term holding facilities. Horses adopted through the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Adoption program are no longer protected from slaughter once the adopter gains title to the horses (after 1 year). This means that after the mustang is "titled", the horse can be sold at auction like any other horse and end up being bought by a "kill buyer", who can ship the horse to a slaughter house. See Wyatt's story on our Ambassador Horses page.
There are many other mustangs that are not managed by the BLM or protected by the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971. The mustangs of the Virginia Range in Nevada are managed by the State Department of Agriculture. These horses are what prompted Thelma Johnston, better known as Wild Horse Annie, to petition congress for protection for mustangs and to pass the WFRHBA. Sadly, the Virginia Range horses were not included as they roam on state, not federal lands. In addition, there are horses that roam tribal and US Forest Service and US Fish and Wildlife lands that are also not protected under the federal statutes.
We make no distinction, and will help any mustang, regardless of their origin.
Why do we oppose horse slaughter?
Horse slaughter is driven by the market for horse meat, not an overpopulation of "unwanted" horses. Horses are subjected to cruel and inhumane conditions once they enter the slaughter pipeline, from long periods without food and water, injuries both accidental and intentional, and in the end, an inhumane death. Below are s few Fact Sheets provided by ASPCA on horse slaughter.
| Myth vs. Fact on Horse Slaughter |
| Horse Slaughter Overpopulation Rebuttal Points |
| Humane Alternatives to Horse Slaughter |
| Horse Slaughter Talking Points |
| Safe Act Fact Sheet |
