The American Mustang Is Disappearing
And No One Is Talking About It
Why We Must Raise Our Voices Before It’s Too Late
By Mary Debonis, Founder, Mustang Valley Sanctuary
The American Mustang—an icon of freedom, power, and the wild spirit of the West—is vanishing.
Not because of disease.
Not because of natural predators.
But because of us.
Right now, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is unloading thousands of mustangs from holding facilities—many without public notice, oversight, or ethical care. Some are being sold for as little as $1 each to known kill buyers, who profit by sending them over the border to slaughter. Once they cross into Canada or Mexico, they’re denied food and water, trucked for days, and ultimately killed. Horses that once roamed free—symbols of America’s wild heart—are now disappearing into meat markets.
Let me be clear: these aren’t just horses.
These are our wild horses.
They are federally protected. They are part of our history, our land, and our identity.
We name sports teams after them.
We name fighter jets and muscle cars after them.
We put them on murals, t-shirts, and school mascots.
But behind all this symbolic glory… they’re being rounded up, warehoused, or destroyed.
What’s Really Happening
The BLM has sold hundreds of mustangs to kill buyers for pocket change—often with no public announcement.
Over 180 mustangs are currently at risk of disappearing from the Hutchinson Correctional Facility by the end of February—with no plan to ensure their safety.
Thousands have gone “missing” from other government holding facilities. We suspect many have been exported and slaughtered.
These sales are often deliberately hidden from the public, buried in silence and bureaucracy.
These horses were born free. Their ancestors evolved right here in North America. Mustangs are part of the land’s natural ecosystem. They fertilize and re-seed native grasses, supporting the health of our shared public lands.
But now, public land is being handed over to private interests—particularly ranchers—who lease it at below-market rates to graze cattle, then profit from wild horse roundups. It’s legal. But it’s not ethical. And it’s not the America I know.
Why It Matters
If this were happening to bald eagles, there would be outrage.
If we were quietly exterminating wolves or hawks, the public would demand justice.
So why is it acceptable to let mustangs disappear?
Their slaughter is not a necessity. It’s a choice.
A choice made behind closed doors.
A choice funded by your taxpayer dollars.
And a choice we can stop—if we act now.
What You Can Do
We won’t sugarcoat this: the problem is massive and urgent. And truthfully, we don’t have all the answers yet. But here’s what you can do:
1. Support Mustang Sanctuaries
Sanctuaries like Mustang Valley are often the last chance for many of these horses. We have 137 acres and the knowledge to train and rehome more mustangs—but we need your support to care for them and grow our capacity.
Donate or sponsor a horse today at https://mustangvalleysanctuary.com
2. Raise Your Voice
We need your help to bring this injustice into the light.
Share this article.
Post about what’s happening.
Write to your representatives, especially if you live in Kansas, Nevada, or New York.
3. Join Our Advocacy Group
We’re organizing grassroots groups to pressure for change, support prison rehabilitation programs, and keep Mustang training programs alive. These programs help not only horses but the incarcerated individuals who train them—giving both a second chance.
Email us to get involved: info@mustangvalleysanctuary.com
4. Use Your Influence
Know someone in politics? In media? In animal welfare?
We need allies—people with platforms who are willing to speak out, fundraise, and advocate.
Before They’re Gone
The mustang is more than an animal. It’s a living symbol of resilience—of what it means to be wild, untamed, and free.
But if we don’t act, the word “Mustang” will become a ghost—relegated to car ads and fading American myths. Not real. Not living. Not sacred.
Let’s not be the generation that stood by while our wild horses were lost.
Let’s be the ones who fought for them.
Because when we save the mustang…
We save a part of ourselves.
Visit. Learn. Support.
Contact: info@mustangvalleysanctuary.com
