From the cherry-picked picture of an emaciated horse on the cover page, to the depiction of an emaciated wild horse and burro in the logo, the agenda of the National Wild Horse and Burro Summit was set before it was announced: these animals are suffering, and they must be put out of their misery.

Trouble is, that narrative is 100% false.

Since the passage of the 1971 Wild Horse and Burro act, wild horses and burros have lost millions of acres of rangeland to ranching interests, and in the herd areas that remain livestock are allocated 82% of the available forage as a matter of policy. But industry groups would have the American public, and more importantly our representatives in Congress, believe there simply isn't enough good food and water on the range for Wild Horses and Burros to survive.

They cherry pick photos like the one in their exit survey to try to convey this falsehood. Animals that are likely very old and/or very sick, are a perfectly natural part of a healthy free herd. In fact if you look closely at that picture, you will notice that all the horses in the background look in great condition. But the Slaughter Summit attendees want to spread the message that nearly our wild horses and burros are on the brink of starvation to prove their point.

Dozens of boots-on-the-ground testimonies tell the real truth: Horses are NOT starving. Pictures are endlessly taken by advocates throughout all the HMAs, whereas none of the pictures shown at the slaughter-summit were taken by those that see these horses on a regular basis. Pictures are taken by advocates that have no financial stake in the horses, whereas attendees of the summit generally have fortunes to be made on the death of these horses.

They held their conference for the ranching industry and anti-wild horse politicians and patted each other on the back while trying to get their story straight to present a united front of lies to the American public and our representatives in Congress-the goal being to eliminate wild horses and burros from the American West. And the evidence for their insidious agenda is crystal clear in the exit survey they conducted, not only in the disturbing results, but equally in their choice of questions asked. Here are a few of the most disturbing highlights:

96% of respondents completely oppose the current status quo situation

Highly-supported options:
• 99% Commercial use of horses of protein for pet food (86% complete sup, 13% moderate sup)
• 96% Commercial use of horses of protein for zoo animals (78% complete sup, 18% moderate sup)
• 96% Euthanizing unadoptable horses for population control (81% complete sup, 15% mod. sup)
• 92% Allowing sale without restrictions (69% complete sup, 23% moderate sup)
• 93% Reducing the age of “sale without restrictions” from 10+ years old to 5+ years old (67% complete sup, 26% moderate sup)
• 92% Commercial use of horses of protein for human consumption (67% complete sup, 25% moderate sup)

Well-supported options:
• 89% Permanent sterilization of mares by spaying (71% completely sup, 18% moderately sup)
• 88% Allowing private organizations to acquire/adopt large numbers of horses (57% completely sup, 31% moderately sup)
• 88% Adding additional contraceptives as management tools (50% completely sup, 33% moderately sup)
• 87% Developing additional adoption opportunities outside the U.S. (58% completely sup, 29% moderately sup)
• 85% Developing additional adoption opportunities within the U.S. (67% completely sup, 18% moderately sup)
• 80% Creating coordination committees or working groups at appropriate local scales (43% completely sup, 37% moderately sup)
• 76% Allowing individual states to manage horses within their boundaries without federal restrictions (55% completely sup, 21% moderately sup)

Taken together these questions and results indicate a plan on the part of industry interests and politicians to whom they donate, to eliminate the Wild Horse and Burro from the American West, and to eliminate public lands from the American landscape. This is perhaps the most dangerous time Wild Horses and Burros have faced since the passage of the act meant to protect and enshrine them into the American landscape. The 2018 budget will ultimately be decided in the US Senate. If you don't want to see them disappear you MUST give them your voice, you must call your senators and the members of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. Tell them that any action that would allow their slaughter, euthanasia or the stripping of their federal protections is totally unacceptable. These beautiful and iconic animals cannot speak up for them selves. YOU must be their voice! Please, call now, call every day! Write letters! Attend town halls! Do not let the industry and paid-for politicians get away with this murder.

Slaughter Summit Exit Survey Reveals Dark Heart of Wild Horse Haters