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What happens to wild horses once they are removed from public lands and placed in holding facilities? In this episode, I examine a new Bureau of Land Management policy that expands the use of sales as a way to reduce the number of wild horses in government care, raising serious concerns about oversight and protection.   I'm joined by longtime wild horse advocate and Freedom of Information Act expert Debbie Coffey to explain what this policy change allows and why it matters. We discuss how increased reliance on sales, especially group sales, creates risks when transparency is limited and public access to information continues to decline. We also outline why advocates view this shift as a direct threat to wild horses belonging to the American public and what listeners can do in response.    Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/64   If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

Have you ever wondered what makes a wild curly horse so distinctive? In this episode, I revisit my first experiences with the curly horses of Salt Wells Creek and share how discovering this rare lineage changed the way I understood the diversity within America's wild horse herds. These horses carry traits that set them apart from others on the range, and encountering them for the first time revealed just how unique this population truly is.   As I revisit this story, I also share why these horses are now at risk. Salt Wells Creek is one of the herds slated for full removal under the new land use plan, and curlies were notably absent from public adoptions after the most recent roundup. I hope this episode encourages you to learn more about what is happening to these unique horses and to take action to help protect the wild curly herds that remain.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/63   If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

Have you wondered what is happening with America's wild horses as 2025 comes to a close? In this episode, I share a clear look at where things stand today. After more than twenty years of observing these herds, the gap between what the law intended and how wild horses are managed has never felt more evident.   I also break down the political forces shaping the future of these herds, including how appropriate management levels are set, what the most recent government funding does and does not protect, and why Project 2025 continues to cast uncertainty over the years ahead. In this moment of reflection, I return to why these horses matter and share an excerpt from my first book, Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses. This episode offers both an honest look at the challenges ahead and a reminder of what we are fighting to protect.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/62   If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

What can you do to help stop our horses in this country from going to slaughter? Horses from every discipline, age, and background are being shipped for slaughter every year. In 2024 alone, 20,000 horses were killed. Many people do not realize how easily a Thoroughbred, a child's lesson pony, a show horse, or even a mustang can be sold at auction and bought by kill buyers.   In this episode, I talk with filmmaker and advocate Ashley Avis, creator of Black Beauty and Wild Beauty, about her newest project: The Lost Horses, a national campaign designed to help finally pass the SAFE Act. Ashley shares how her work documenting wild horse roundups led her into the undercover world of Texas auctions, where she witnessed the brutality of the slaughter pipeline firsthand. Her team is now using cinematic storytelling, celebrity-voiced PSAs, and coordinated outreach to bring widespread attention to this issue.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/61

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to connect with wild horses? In this episode, I take you with me on my September journey through Salt Wells Creek and the Red Desert Complex in Wyoming. With the roundup postponed for another season, I was able to spend time among wild horse families who remain free, witnessing their strength, their relationships, and the quiet power that defines life in the high desert.   Throughout this trip, I spent mornings watching families gather near water, stallions keeping watch over their bands, and bachelor groups moving together across the landscape. Their movements, their social bonds, and their ability to endure challenges are powerful reminders of what's at stake in keeping these herds wild.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/60

What happens to wild horses after a roundup, and how has it changed over the years? In this episode, I revisit the topic of wild horse holding facilities to examine how horses are cared for after being removed from public lands. From my earliest observations to the present, the situation has worsened, and the challenges facing these horses are more urgent than ever.   I share what I've learned about holding facilities across Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho, highlighting high-level issues such as overcrowding, disease outbreaks, and the risks to mares and foals. This episode also explores solutions. I outline steps to stop helicopter roundups, increase accountability, and return wild horses to public lands where they belong.    Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/59

Have you ever wondered where the fight to save wild horses is headed? In this episode, I take you on a journey that began 21 years ago, when I first discovered that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was planning to remove most of the wild horses from Adobe Town, a herd I had grown to love. Through 22 roundups across five states, I've photographed and shared the painful reality of the BLM's actions.   The recent 10th Circuit Court victory gave us hope, ruling that the BLM's plan to eliminate three Wyoming herds was illegal. But the fight is far from over. This week, our group filed a lawsuit that resulted in a victory: the BLM has delayed its scheduled roundup, temporarily protecting nearly 3,000 wild horses. Tune in to hear the actions that need to be taken to protect these wild horses and ensure their long-term survival on our public lands.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/58  

What does it really take to zero out a wild horse herd? In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of the Adobe Town roundup, where the BLM captured far more wild horses than they should have, pushing this herd dangerously close to being wiped out. Though their target was met, the process that led to this moment was far from transparent or humane.   I spent five days observing the roundup, witnessing heartbreaking moments. While the roundup is now over, the real damage is done. The BLM has not confirmed whether they will conduct a post-roundup count, and with horses being sent to facilities where public access is restricted, the fate of these horses remains uncertain. The future of these wild horses hangs in the balance, and we have to keep fighting to make sure they are protected.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/57  

What does it mean to win in court while wild horse roundups continue on the ground? In this episode, I share the emotional highs and lows of a pivotal week in the fight to protect Adobe Town's wild horses. Just as the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in our favor—finding the BLM acted arbitrarily in its plan to zero out nearly 2 million acres of wild horse habitat—the helicopters were already in the air, continuing their work.   I take you behind the scenes at the Adobe Town roundup. You'll hear what I witnessed on the range: stallions trying desperately to stay with their families, foals calling for their mothers, and the heartbreaking reality of horses who will likely never return to the wild. This episode is a reminder that while we've made progress in the courtroom, the struggle to protect these wild horses continues.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/56  

Have you ever felt your heart breaking in slow motion? That's what it's been like spending time with the Salt Wells Creek wild horses this year, knowing what's coming. In this episode, I share stories from my final trip to see these incredible horses before the Bureau of Land Management plans to begin a massive roundup that may zero out the herd completely.   Salt Wells Creek is home to one of the last remaining populations of wild Curlies in Wyoming. I take you with me to high meadows and quiet waterholes, where stallions protect their families, foals play in the sun, and a surprise encounter with an abandoned filly sparks an attempt to intervene. This episode is a tribute to their spirit and a reminder of what we stand to lose—and why we must keep showing up.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/55  

What will the future hold for our wild horses with the prospect of Project 2025 looming over our country? The 2026 White House budget request represents an unprecedented threat, removing protections that have safeguarded wild horses from slaughter since 2017. Meanwhile, the BLM plans to eliminate entire herds in Wyoming, despite legal appeals still pending.   Project 2025 calls for the "humane disposal" of these animals, and this budget appears to follow that path. With over 10,000 additional horses scheduled for removal before 2026, holding facilities will be overwhelmed, setting the stage for mass euthanasia behind closed doors. Now is the time to call your representatives and tell them wild horses must remain protected.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/54  

Have you wondered what it's like to be in the field, on the land, spending time with wild horses? I spend countless hours in Wyoming's wild horse territory, watching, photographing, and connecting with these magnificent creatures. My recent trip to Salt Wells Creek Herd Management Area reminded me of the profound impact these wild horses have on those who take the time to observe them in their natural habitat.   We have done everything we can to save these herds in Wyoming from being zeroed out, and now we wait. We have no control over what the judges will decide or whether the BLM moves forward with a roundup. We do not know what is going to happen this year, but I am thankful for having witnessed such a stirring and beautiful sight.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/53  

Is the fate of America's wild horses at risk? Project 2025's proposal to "dispose humanely" of nearly 68,000 wild horses and burros in holding facilities has alarming implications. This isn't wildlife management—it's extinction.   In this powerful episode, I talk with wild horse advocate and FOIA expert Debbie Coffey about the troubling consequences of Project 2025 for wild horses. The situation has grown more dire with recent changes at the Department of the Interior. This could lead to drastic cuts for wild horse programs and set the stage for mass killings. Now, more than ever, we need whistleblowers and public awareness to prevent a horrifying and inhumane slaughter.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/52  

Are our wild horses in Wyoming's checkerboard lands about to disappear forever? The Bureau of Land Management plans to remove thousands of wild horses from Adobe Town, Salt Wells Creek, and Great Divide Basin starting July 2025, effectively zeroing out entire herds despite ongoing legal challenges.   In this episode, I break down the two public comment periods currently open for these herds and provide specific guidance on how to submit effective comments. I explain why your individual comments matter, what points to emphasize, and how to make your voice heard before the April 28th and April 30th deadlines. With holding facilities already overcrowded and the future of these horses uncertain, your participation is crucial to prevent what could become a death sentence for nearly 5,000 wild horses.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/51

How would you feel if your tax dollars were being used to send wild horses to slaughter? In a landmark legal victory, wild horse advocates recently shut down a government program that was doing exactly that. The Bureau of Land Management's Adoption Incentive Program (AIP) was paying people $1,000 per horse to adopt untamed wild horses, with devastating consequences.   I'm joined today by Suzanne Roy and Amelia Perrin of American Wild Horse Conservation, who led the investigation and legal challenge that brought down this harmful program. This victory not only saves countless horses from a terrible fate but also establishes an important precedent for wild horse protection going forward.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/50