We’ve been caring for our rescued herd since September of 2019 and are pleased to announce that on 9/14/2022, Fire Horse Refuge, Inc. was born. As a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation, Fire Horse Refuge is privately funded by the Cates-Martin family, and Mullen & Mullen Law Firm, our corporate sponsor.
Meet Our Herd
Our Purpose
- Providing sanctuary for wild mustangs and domestic horses that will act as ambassadors for their kind and serve the local community.
- Bringing awareness to the plight of wild mustangs and other horses designated for sale or slaughter.
- Benefiting veterans, first responders, and others through educational and therapeutic programs with our herd of horses.
- Promoting land and wildlife conservation, habitat protection, biodiversity, food growth, and outdoor activities through education and outreach.
- Providing education to the public on the intersection of natural and universal laws, metaphysics, ethics, and morality.
- Making distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3).
How Are All Horses, Not Just Mustangs, at Risk of Slaughter?
According to the ASPCA, “In the year 2020, approximately 36,000 American horses were trucked over our borders to be slaughtered for human consumption.”
The exact number of horses shipped across United States borders destined for slaughter is not known, but as reported by Horse Nation, “Between 2015 and 2019 a total of 355,821 equines were exported from the US to Mexico for slaughter, per USDA Market News data. October 2018 data obtained from AgriFood and Agriculture Canada/StatCan show that 92,992 equines were imported to Canada from the U.S. for slaughter between 2015 and 2018.”
Our Main Goal
Our first priority is to ensure we can continue to offer our rescued horses the sanctuary and care they deserve, and to promote their right to exist as a native, keystone species of North America.
What Can You Do to Help Mustangs?
If you want to help mustangs in danger of going to slaughter make a tax deductible donation now at Evanescent Mustang Rescue & Sanctuary. And if you are interested in fostering, sponsoring, or adopting, they can also help you with that. Find them on Facebook here.
The Dilemma of Wild Mustangs in the United States
Wild horses are an iconic symbol of the American West and have a long and storied history in the United States. The horses are descendants of the domesticated horses that were brought to the Americas by European colonizers in the 16th century. Over time, these horses escaped or were released, and they adapted to the wild, developing unique physical and behavioral characteristics that set them apart from their domesticated counterparts.
Wild horses have long been a part of the cultural heritage of many Native American tribes, who have relied on them for transportation, hunting, and cultural ceremonies. In the 19th and 20th centuries, however, wild horses were seen as a nuisance by many ranchers and farmers, who viewed them as competition for grazing lands and as carriers of disease. As a result, wild horse populations were decimated by hunting, capture, and slaughter.
In response to declining wild horse populations, the United States Congress passed the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act in 1971, which protected wild horses and burros on public lands and designated them as “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West.” The act also created the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to manage wild horse populations on public lands.
Today, there are an estimated 95,000 wild horses and burros living on public lands in the western United States. However, the populations are often managed through roundups and removals, which can be controversial and are subject to criticism from wild horse advocates. The BLM and USFS also face challenges in managing wild horse populations in the face of drought, overgrazing, and competition with other species for limited resources.
Despite these challenges, wild horses continue to be an important part of the American landscape and a symbol of freedom and resilience. Wild horse advocates work to protect these animals and ensure that they can continue to thrive in the wild for generations to come.
One of the main arguments in favor of wild horse protection is that these animals are an important part of America’s natural heritage. They have been a part of the landscape for centuries and have played a significant role in the country’s history. Advocates argue that it is our responsibility to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy and appreciate these magnificent creatures.
However, opponents of wild horse protection argue that the horses pose a threat to public lands. They argue that the animals overgraze the land, causing soil erosion and damaging the delicate ecosystem. Furthermore, they argue that the horses compete with other wildlife for limited resources, threatening the survival of species that are already endangered.
The dilemma of wild mustangs in the United States is further complicated by the fact that these animals have no natural predators. Without the presence of natural predators, the population of wild horses has grown unchecked, leading to overgrazing and damage to the land. This has led to calls for population management measures, such as roundups and sterilization programs.
Advocates for the horses argue that such measures are cruel and unnecessary, and that there are more humane ways to manage the population. They propose using birth control methods to control population growth, or even relocating horses to areas with more suitable habitat.
Ultimately, the fate of wild mustangs in the United States will require a delicate balance between protection and management. While these animals are an important part of America’s natural heritage, it is clear that their unchecked population growth is having a negative impact on the land. Finding a solution that ensures the protection of the horses while also managing their numbers is a complex and challenging task, but one that is essential to the long-term health of America’s public lands.