Colorado has become the first state in the U.S. to declare March as Horse Protection Month, with Governor Jared Polis signing an executive order to officially recognize the conservation of wild horse herds. This announcement comes in light of controversial helicopter roundups by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and a lethal equine flu outbreak in the state in 2022, highlighting the need for better management of wild horses in Colorado.

The American Wild Horse Conservation of Colorado has expressed support for Horse Protection Month, stating that it celebrates efforts to manage wild horses more effectively in the state so that people can continue to enjoy them for years to come. The United States District Court for the District of Colorado recently overturned the BLM’s Adoption Incentive Program, ruling that it violated federal laws and could potentially lead to wild horses ending up in the slaughter pipeline due to fraud, abuse, and neglect.

The BLM’s controversial Adoption Incentive Program, which pays individuals $1,000 to adopt unhandled wild horses and burros, has faced criticism for potentially leading to the animals being sent to slaughter. A New York Times exposé found that many adopters were pocketing the adoption money and immediately sending the animals to slaughter, prompting concerns about the welfare of wild horses in the U.S. and the need for better protection measures.