Wild Horse Conservation
Protecting The Spirit Of The American West, One Wild Horse At a Time
Return to Freedom is dedicated to preserving the freedom, diversity, and habitat of America's wild horses and burros through sanctuary, education, advocacy, and conservation, while enriching the human spirit through direct experience with the natural world.
About Us
What We Do
Return to Freedom protects and preserves America's wild horses and burros through a holistic approach that unites sanctuary, conservation, advocacy, and education. From rescuing and caring for displaced herds to pioneering humane fertility control on the range and fighting for policy reform, RTF bridges hands-on care with national leadership—creating lasting, science-based solutions that ensure wild horses remain free for generations to come.
Why America's Wild
Horses Need Us Now
Horses Need Us Now
Return to Freedom Leads the Way
For more than 25 years, we've combined sanctuary care, field science, and advocacy to protect wild
horses and burros. Our team works in Washington and on the range—pushing for humane management,
stronger laws, and a permanent end to slaughter.
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America's Wild Horses Are in Crisis
Once numbering in the millions, fewer than 80,000 wild horses remain on our public lands today.
They share these lands with millions of privately owned cattle and sheep — yet wild horses
receive only a small fraction of available forage and water.
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The BLM's Management System Is Broken
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sets low population targets, called Appropriate Management
Levels (AMLs), to prioritize livestock grazing. When herds exceed those numbers, helicopters chase
horses into traps in violent roundups. Over 60,000 wild horses are now confined in government
holding pens — more than live wild and free.
Learn More
Be Their Voice
Donate to
Wild Horse
Defense Fund
Wild Horse
Defense Fund
The Wild Horse Defense Fund fuels Return to Freedom's frontline work to end cruel roundups, advance humane on-range management, and defend wild horses through advocacy, legal action, and education.
Donate
Donate to
Return to Freedom
Sanctuary Fund
Return to Freedom
Sanctuary Fund
The Wild Horse Defense Fund fuels Return to Freedom’s frontline work to end cruel roundups, advance humane on-range management, and defend wild horses through advocacy, legal action, and education.
Donate
Take Action
Spirit
The Inspiration behind
the DreamWork animation
the DreamWork animation
Read More About Spirit
Programs & Events
All Events
This Week
This Month
This Year
Dec 1, 2025
10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Wild Horse & Burro Day
Dec 1-7, 2025
Wild Horse & Burro Week
Dec 4-6, 2025
San Luis Obispo Santuary Tour
Dec 4, 2025-Jan 4, 2026
San Luis Obispo Santuary Tour
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