Greetings Jack,

As the nation’s leading wild horse and burro conservation organization, some of the most important work we do for our wild herds is in the courtroom.

For over a decade, we have diligently pursued legal action against interest groups and government agencies attempting to strip away federal protections for wild herds across the West. In fact, without intervention by the American Wild Horse Conservation, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) would have begun systematically eradicating the iconic wild horse herds of southwestern Wyoming as early as 2011. Thanks to generous advocates like you who help power our legal work, we have successfully stopped the BLM from eliminating 1 million acres of federally designated habitat for wild horses across the state — so far.

In Wyoming, our decade-long struggle continues against the demands of the Rock Springs Grazing Association (RSGA) to remove wild horses from over 2 million acres in the southwestern area of the state known as the “Wyoming Checkerboard.” In fact, as you’re reading this, we're engaged in two significant lawsuits that challenge some of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)’s most harmful policies affecting wild horses and burros: 

Striking Back Against Unprecedented Eradication Measures
In 2023, the BLM adopted amendments to a Resource Management Plan (RMP) that would authorize the federal government to eliminate more than 1 million acres of habitat across federal public lands in Wyoming and fully or partially eradicate multiple wild herds. Under these amendments, the wild horses of Salt Wells Creek and Great Divide Basin would face total elimination. These unconscionable amendments are detrimental to the Checkerboard’s natural ecosystem. Moreover, they represent the first time in the 53-year history of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act that the BLM has eliminated entire wild horse herds where sufficient habitat characteristics (i.e., forage, water, space, and cover) exist on public lands. Jack, so far we’ve held off the largest wild horse eradication in the history of the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act — but we need your help to continue this fight. Will you consider a contribution to our Legal Fund to power our important courtroom advocacy?

Photo: Wild Horses of Salt Creek Wells by Kimerlee Curyl Photography

Protecting Public Lands from Private Interests
Last March, the Rock Springs Grazing Association (RSGA) filed a suit compelling the BLM to remove wild horses not only from private lands used by RSGA members to graze livestock but also from federal public lands (also used by RSGA members’ livestock) throughout the Wyoming Checkerboard. AWHC immediately intervened against this preposterous lawsuit. Clearly, we’re up against very powerful interests who view wild horses as competitors to their private livestock on our public lands. A huge legal principle is at stake: Will private interests be allowed to dictate the use of public lands and decide whether our federally protected wild horses and burros can live on them?

As we speak, our team is preparing for two critical oral arguments that will help determine outcomes for both of the above litigation matters. Both are scheduled for July 16 at the U.S. District Court in Cheyenne, Wyoming. 

Jack, we’re at a pivotal moment, and your support has never been more important.

Please make a contribution to our Legal Fund, and help power our fight to protect America’s wild horses and burros in the courtroom. Together, we can secure a future where our wild herds can roam safely and freely on the public lands they call home.

Thank you,

The American Wild Horse Conservation