On Thursday, October 13, volunteers with the Alpine Wild Horse Advocates came across a horrific scene in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest near Alpine, Arizona. The once tranquil forest was strewn with the bodies of the historic Alpine wild horses. 

So far, volunteers have discovered the bodies of 25 dead horses, four were shot but still alive, and more are still missing in the Forest. These horses were living as wild horses should, truly free and still with their family bands. Now, the herds are decimated, and orphans are stranded without protection.  

Despite the tragedy, the Apache Forest Service is moving forward with a plan to further eradicate the Alpine horses through bait-trap removals and selling them at auction with no limitations on slaughter. The Alpine wild horses do not have any federal protections and are designated by the Forest Service as  “unauthorized livestock” despite a documented history of this herd inhabiting the Forest for over a century.

In order to protect these horses, we need your help to demand the Apache Forest Service complete a transparent and comprehensive investigation into the massacre and halt the ongoing roundup, and instead implement humane in-the-wild management solutions. 

Please take action today.

LETTER: