Help 750+ Rescued Lions, Tigers, Bears & Horses

No matter the challenge, The Wild Animal Sanctuary is committed to helping rescue animals from situations of neglect or abuse. This is the story of The Wild Horse Refuge- the largest sanctuary of its kind in the United States.

The year is 2020 and the Sand Wash Basin near Craig, Colorado is teeming with life. Hundreds of wild mustangs roam its vast expanse, their ancestors having called this land home for generations. However, due to concerns about overgrazing, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) made the difficult decision to remove over 700 horses from their habitat.

Where would these horses go after being removed from their homelands? The fate of these horses was uncertain. These animals were stripped of their freedom, their autonomy and their sense of home, all in a moment of traumatic capture. Confused and separated from their bands, these mustangs faced grim prospects, including auctions, kill pens and pet purchasing facilities- all endings that the The Wild Animal Sanctuary could not accept.

With a 10,000-acre refuge rescue facility already established, the Wild Animal Sanctuary readily offered their expertise and resources to help secure safe land for these deserving animals. As the number of rescued horses increased, it became apparent that more resources would be needed to support these bands of beauties.

As if by luck, in 2023, just 35 miles from the mustangs’ original home, a vast 23,000-acre historical ranch property became available. Lush pastures and wide-open grasses mirrored the mustangs’ ancestral lands, offering them a chance to reconnect with their wild spirit. Seizing this opportunity, the Sanctuary purchased the expansive property and christened it “The Wild Horse Refuge”.

At The Wild Horse Refuge, wild mustangs can be mustangs again. No longer confined by fences, they roam freely, their resilience evident in their powerful presence.

If you would like to be a part of these wild horses’ rescue stories, please check out thewildhorserefuge.org where you can learn more, sponsor a horse, or schedule tours of the lands to witness, firsthand, the magic of mustangs roaming free. By supporting The Wild Animal Sanctuary and our network of 4 facilities, you become a part of their incredible story, ensuring that animals in need receive the land, care and sense of home they deserve.

If you would like to learn more about the Sanctuary’s rescue stories and expansions over the last 15 years, check out our 2024 Summer-Fall newsletter!