Every year, thousands of American equines, including domestic riding companions, former work animals, retired racehorses, and wild mustangs, are funneled into the slaughter pipeline. While horse slaughter facilities no longer operate on U.S. soil, a legal loophole allows meat buyers to transport these animals across our borders to Canada and Mexico for brutal slaughter.

This practice impacts domestic and wild horses alike. Once wild horses and burros are adopted or sold and private title is transferred, they lose their federal protections and become highly vulnerable to middle-man buyers who dump them into slaughter auctions.

High-speed helicopter gathers put wild herds under extreme stress, frequently resulting in severe trauma, broken limbs, and orphaned foals left behind on the range. Furthermore, current agency policies allow for horses to be euthanized on-site during roundups - both for acute injuries suffered in trap sites and for pre-existing, non-fatal conditions. Replacing dangerous, costly roundups with humane, science-based on-range protections and habitat restoration is essential to preserving these iconic herds.

Beyond their cultural heritage, wild horses provide vital ecological services to our public lands. By grazing on tough, flammable brush and invasive grasses in steep and remote terrain, mustangs naturally clear out dry wildfire fuel, acting as essential natural firebreaks. Protecting them isn't just a matter of compassion; it preserves a living asset to our western ecosystems.

The primary purpose of the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act is to permanently ban the interstate transport and export of horses bound for slaughter, shutting down this horrific pipeline once and for all.

The U.S. House of Representatives recently moved forward with its version of the 2026 Farm Bill without incorporating these crucial protections. Now, the responsibility falls squarely on the United States Senate. Because the Farm Bill establishes national agricultural priorities for the next five years, this is our most critical window of opportunity to demand action.

We urge members of the U.S. Senate to step up for America's equines.

Please stand with the overwhelming majority of Americans who oppose horse slaughter by ensuring the transport and export prohibitions of the SAFE Act are included in the Senate’s final version of the 2026 Farm Bill.

Whether domestic partners or iconic wild mustangs roaming our public lands, equines represent our heritage, loyalty, and environmental health. They deserve dignified lives and protection, not a cattle trailer bound for a foreign slaughterhouse. Sign this petition today to demand that the Senate end the transport of horses for slaughter once and for all.