Welcome to GVHR - Home of Project Cirrus
Grand Valley Horse Rescue’s Project Cirrus protects the mustangs of Western Colorado.
We need your help!
The 2026 budget goes into effect Oct 1. We have until then to convince congress to correct this. 90 Days as of July 3rd.
The passage of the U.S. Fiscal Year 2026 budget bill (encompassing the President’s FY26 budget request, reconciliation guidance, and appropriations process) has several significant effects on the management of wild horses and burros:
1. Major Budget Cuts
• The Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse & Burro Program budget was slashed by over 25%, from approximately $143 million to around $100–106 million.
• This drastic reduction primarily covers holding and care costs for the ~64,000 horses and burros already in captivity, leaving little to no funding for on‑range management or humane alternatives like fertility control.
2. Removal of Anti‑Slaughter Protections
• Longstanding budget riders that prohibited killing healthy wild horses and burros and selling them for commercial slaughter have been dropped entirely from the FY26 request.
• The omission paves the way for BLM to potentially use lethal control or transfer animals without slaughter restrictions, including international transfers to kill buyers.
3. Expanded Transfer Authority
• New provisions would allow BLM to transfer wild horses and burros not only to other federal or state agencies, but also to individuals, nonprofits, and even foreign governments, with no safeguards preventing subsequent slaughter.
• This creates a legal “laundering” path: animals could leave federal care, lose protections, and be sold to kill-buyer networks.
What Happens Next?
• The President’s FY26 budget is non-binding; Congress must adopt or reject these provisions during appropriations.
• Advocacy groups are actively campaigning for:
• Restoring anti-slaughter language
• Ensuring budget levels for humane fertility control
• Preserving protections on transfers to prevent slaughter
Bottom Line
The FY2026 budget bill fundamentally weakens protections for wild horses and burros: it slashes management funds, eliminates longstanding anti‑slaughter provisions, and opens legal loopholes to transfer animals into the slaughter chain—all which alarm animal welfare advocates and put over 60,000 federally protected horses and burros at risk.
Please write to the president, Your senators and your representative!
It is easy to delete millions of emails with a few keystrokes!
It is hard to delete millions of physical letters delivered through the United States Postal Service!
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
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Please consider supporting our cause by becoming a GVHR project cirrus defender at $25 per month
https://www.gvhr.org/plans-pricing
Learn more about Project Cirrus
Home of Project Cirrus
Protecting Mustangs in Western Colorado
Project Cirrus was formed in 2022 with one goal in mind: to protect and preserve the Mustangs of Western Colorado by preventing these iconic wild horses from entering the slaughter pipeline. The project is a collaborative effort between Grand Valley Horse Rescue and the Eagles and Wild Horses Ranch to ensure the well-being of these majestic creatures.
Project Cirrus has rescued and prevented 40 Mustangs from going to slaughter to date, so far!
Sponsorship Opportunities
Please support our mission of helping horses and children with a monthly sponsorship or a one-time charitable donation.
It costs an average of $525 per month to maintain a healthy lifestyle for each horse, which includes hay, supplements, vet bills, hoof care, training equipment, and more.
Every little bit helps!
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