US wild horses sold to slaughter
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The gist
The New York Times reported hundreds of wild horses sold by BLM for $25 each are sent to slaughter. The sales surged under Trump, raising concerns about a legal loophole.
Background
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages wild horses and burros on federal lands, selling excess animals to control populations. Historically, the agency has maintained it does not sell to slaughter. However, a New York Times investigation found that some buyers purchase horses at low prices and resell them to slaughterhouses, exploiting a loophole. Sales have surged under the Trump administration, with 3,718 sold in 2025, more than double the previous year.
How it unfolded
- Aug 20, 2026The New York Times publishes an investigation revealing that wild horses sold by the BLM are ending up at slaughterhouses, with some sold for as little as $25.
- Aug 21, 2026Animal welfare groups and a mustang ranch founder call for suspension of the BLM sales program, claiming they tracked over 300 sold horses to kill pens.
- Aug 22, 2026Humane World for Animals publishes a blog post urging action, citing the Times report and the increase in sales.
- Aug 23, 2026Gray News reports on the controversy, noting that the BLM denies selling to slaughter but the Times found evidence of a middleman loophole.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The BLM maintains it does not sell or send horses to slaughterhouses or to 'kill buyers,' according to its website.
- Analysts
- The New York Times reports that at least one buyer purchased horses for $25 each and sold them to Canadian slaughterhouses for $750 each, exploiting a legal loophole.
- Public
- Animal advocates express concern, with Humane World for Animals calling the situation 'a travesty' and urging Congress to act.
- Caution
- An AGDAILY perspective argues that the investigation raises a bigger question about managing wild horse populations according to what the land can sustain, rather than sentiment.
Still unverified
The claim that the BLM knowingly approved a buyer with warning signs is based on the Times report and has not been independently confirmed. The exact number of horses sent to slaughter is unverified, as there is no official tracking system.