Welcome to our roundup reporting page for Adobe Town, one of the most iconic and embattled wild horse habitats in the American West. Here, you’ll find eye witness reports, photographs, and videos from the field as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) carries out the mass removal of wild horses from this breathtaking and ecologically rich landscape.

This roundup is part of a larger and deeply troubling effort by the BLM to eliminate wild horses from 2 million acres of federally designated habitat in Wyoming’s Checkerboard region. In Adobe Town alone, over 1,675 wild horses—most of the herd—are being targeted for removal. Even more devastating, the BLM aims to eradicate wild horses entirely from an additional 121,000 acres of Adobe Town it has reclassified as “unauthorized.” That portion of the operation is currently delayed pending the outcome of a lawsuit we’ve filed to stop it.These reports are not just documentation—they are a witness to a disappearing herd and a disappearing habitat. They expose the government’s prioritization of private livestock grazing over the preservation of federally protected wild horses. They show what’s happening on the ground, far from public view, in a landscape where wild horses have lived for generations.We hope these updates inspire you to take action, spread the word, and help us fight back—for the Adobe Town horses and for the future of wild herds across the West.

7/28/25

Animals captured: 100 (32 Stallions, 44 Mares, and 24 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 141 (0 Stallions, 93 Mares, and 48 Foals)

Deaths: 1

• Sudden / Acute: 1

A 4-month-old gray filly died overnight from capture myopathy, a  disease in animals that is caused by severe stress, often during capture or handling, leading to muscle damage. 

3 people showed up for public observation. Observers were placed 1.3 miles away, without any view of the trap.

2 foals fell behind and were captured by a wrangler on horseback, then brought back to the trap. Many young foals are forced to run long distances.

A lot of beautiful bands with a lot of young foals forced to run long distances.

Public viewing at the temporary holding facility will only be available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays for the duration of this roundup. It’s on private property.

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7/27/25

Horses captured: 100 (34 Stallions, 46 Mares, and 20 Foals)

Deaths: 1. A 5-year-old bay stud with a reportedly non-roundup related “chronic, pre-existing and non-recoverable eye condition” was euthanized. 

AWHC’s observer was one of two people at the roundup today. They were placed 1.3 miles from the operation and had no view of the trap. Other than the first run, they could not see much today.

About a mile away they could see one lone foal, who was roped by a wrangler and brought back to the trap. 

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7/26/25

140 wild horses were captured today. Temperatures ranged from the 50s to the 80s. There were zero deaths. 

Three people were present for public observation. AWHC’s observer was placed 1.3 miles from the trap with no visibility of operations.

Several young foals had difficulty keeping up. Our observer saw five foals fall behind and get separated from their bands. 

Three were roped by a wrangler on horseback. Two others were pushed into the trap wings.

One colt, alone and about a mile behind his band, was seen attempting to join a group of pronghorn. They were told he’d been picked up, but he reappeared 100 yards from the observation site. 

A wrangler was sent to rope and trailer him to temporary holding for reunification with his mother.

While the first colt was being loaded, the helicopter pushed another band toward the trap. A black foal struggled to keep up and eventually fell behind. We flagged it, and the wranglers recovered it.

Foals visible to us were later seen reunited and paired with mares at temporary holding.

7/25/25

Two observers were present at today’s roundup, including AWHC Field Journalist Brian Clopp. Brian has been on site every day so far and was the only observer on multiple occasions, including yesterday.

Observers were stationed more than 1.3 miles from the trap site. From this distance, visibility was extremely limited due to heat distortion, dust, and the natural topography, which included hills and ravines that blocked the view of the trap pen. Only portions of the jute wing were visible throughout the day.

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No reason was given for why observers could not be placed closer, such as near the oil drums positioned significantly closer to the trap. A reasonable observation distance would be within a quarter mile to allow meaningful oversight.

The day began quietly. A small band of five wild horses grazed near the observation point. A hummingbird briefly hovered around the observers twice before the operations began. The quiet was broken by the sound of the helicopter, which soon appeared to begin searching for wild horses.

Dust abatement efforts were made using water trucks, but the powdery soil limited their effectiveness. The runs remained extremely dusty throughout the day.

Cannon sounds were heard periodically all morning. Observers were told these devices are used to deter migratory birds from landing on polluted water sources in the area. It is unknown whether the horses are drinking from the same contaminated source. Cattle were seen along the route to the observation point.

A BLM representative told observers that the contractor is not required to flag barbed wire fencing if it is located on private property. Observers were also informed that the veterinarian’s truck experienced a flat tire, and that one of the trailers had complications.

Temperatures rose quickly throughout the day. At 12:12 p.m., the heat index reached 85°F with no breeze. By 1:00 p.m., it was 89°F. 

Nine helicopter runs were conducted:

• Run 1 (8:55 a.m.): A group of horses was brought in, but the number was unclear. From the distance and dust, only the tops of a few heads were visible.
  
  
• Run 2: Three horses were driven in. Observers had visibility on them for less than four seconds.
  
  
• Run 3: Two groups were seen, one with approximately 10 horses, followed by a group of about 3.
  
  
• Run 4: At least 27 horses were seen being driven across the landscape.
  
  
• Run 5: Six horses, including two foals, were brought in.
  
  
• Run 6: Around eight horses were seen, but the trap was not visible.
  
  
• Run 7: Two horses.
  
  
• Run 8: Approximately five horses.
  
  
• Run 9: An estimated 23 horses total. Seventeen came in from the south. Later, the group of six horses seen grazing near the observation point earlier in the day was also driven in.

Captured horses were loaded into semi-trailers throughout the operation.

The day concluded with continued limited visibility and no changes in observer placement. The challenges posed by the distance, landscape, and heat remained unresolved.

7/24/25

Key Stats:
Animals captured: 159 (51 Stallions, 75 Mares, and 33 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 37 (37 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 0

Observers remained at the same location as the previous day. 

Run 1: 2 horses brought in.
Run 2: 3 horses brought in, including a foal.
Run 3: 2 or 3 horses brought in. Trap was difficult to see due to heat waves and approximately 1-mile distance.

Run 4: 2 horses brought in from far away.

The trap site is being dismantled for relocation tomorrow.

7/23/25

Animals Gathered: 175 (90 Stallions, 55 Mares, and 30 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 101 (12 Stallions, 55 Mares, and 34 Foals)

Deaths: 0

Today our humane observers were at a new trap site at Hangout Draw in Red Wash. The observation was 1 mile away. It was too far to see much even with special telephoto lenses.

A large number of horses were stampeded South. There were numerous bands and ran in groups of 10 to 60. 

1st group: about 52 were chased South, then East, then North to trap. Our observer estimated the horses ran about 13.5 miles we could see, plus however many miles before we saw them come into view. So likely they went further than 15 miles running.

A group of about 6 horses were then brought in that had split off from the first group.

2nd group: 2 small clusters back to back of maybe 15 horses.

3rd group: about 12 horses.

4th group: 6 horses and about another 5 horses.

5th group: about 60 horses. Reportedly, our observer could hear the contractor yelling "slow down" and "tell those guys not to do that."

They already caught a total of about 115 horses at this point today, but decided to keep pushing.

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It rained a little then got hot.

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6th group:

11:50am 16 horses were pushed from far away under the warm sun

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Our observer attended holding today. The horses shipped to Canyon City

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7/22/25

 42 (11 Stallions, 20 Mares, and 11 Foals)

Animals Shipped: 74 (74 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 0

Dust abatement was done in the morning, a truck drove a water tank spraying water on the run. G

1st run: 8 horses caught. There may have been another group of about 7 that was initially pushed to the south and was not captured.

2nd run: 14 horses caught. The pilot radioed that a buckskin foal was falling behind, so they sent out a trailer with a rope horse as a precaution. The buckskin stayed with the group to the trap.

3rd run: 11 horses brought from far away. The water put down earlier today to suppress dust is working. There is a stark difference between the photos from today of horses entering the trap without dust, vs. yesterday with a large cloud plume of dust.

4th run: 8 horses from far away. Very windy. Dust was starting to kick up, the water abatement done hours ago had dried up.

Photos appear to show a bloody horse running from the helicopter. The BLM has not reported any deaths for July 22nd. 

The day ended early about 11:20am and now the trap site is being moved further North for tomorrow.

The weather was cool and reached 82.

7/21/25

Horses Captured: Approximately 122 horses, 1 mule (BLM Reports: 118 (33 Stallions, 53 Mares, and 31 Foals, 1 mule))

1st Group: ~40 horses

2nd Group : ~33 horses

3rd Group: ~16 horses, 1 mule

4th Group: ~12 horses

5th Group: ~21 horses

Horses Shipped to Holding: 95 (0 Stallions, 65 Mares, and 30 Foals) (BLM Number)

Deaths/Injuries (known causes): BLM reports 2 acute deaths

• An 18-year-old sorrel mare suffered a broken neck while being transported in a trailer. 

• A bay foal died in the trap due to capture myopathy, a deadly disease  caused by muscle damage resulting from extreme exertion, struggle, or stress associated with capture, restraint, or transport.

Today’s operation brought forward several concerns from observers about animal welfare and transparency.

No food or water was available at the trap site. Observers raised concerns about the lack of water, particularly for fatigued mares and foals, and questioned whether dehydration may have contributed to the death of a mare yesterday.

An older mare, found approximately two miles from the trap, was roped by three riders. She appeared sweaty and had difficulty standing once inside the pen. Observers watched as she was flagged to encourage her to move. The run was very dusty, and although a light rain occurred, water suppression was not used.

Contractors stated that trailers were loaded with up to 13 horses each, and that semis carried three trailers each. 

Our observer did not observe short term holding today.

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7/20/25

Report coming soon

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7/19/25

Horses Captured: 118 (37 Stallions, 54 Mares, and 27 Foals)

Horses Shipped to Holding: 74 (74 Stallions, 0 Mares, and 0 Foals)

Deaths: 0

Daily Observation:

Two AWHC representatives were the only observers in the field today. The view of the trap site itself was completely obstructed, preventing documentation of key moments during captures. At one point, observers heard loud clanging and saw the Swisher crew waving flags near the trap as a horse jumped inside a pen—though due to poor visibility, they were unable to assess what had occurred.

Roundup Details:

• Group 1: ~36 wild horses, including a very small newborn foal.
• Group 2: ~33 wild horses. One band initially evaded the trap but was eventually pushed in and captured.
• At the trap: Sounds of clanging and commotion were heard, and a horse was seen jumping in the pen. View was too obstructed to assess further.
• Group 3: An elk led the way and escaped. 5 wild horses followed and were captured.
• Group 4: 7 horses captured. 2 initially split from the group but were regrouped and brought in.
• Group 5: ~19 horses gathered around 1:30 PM, as temperatures rose. Riders were dispatched to assist if a young foal struggled, but the foal kept up. Just before the run, 2 civilian rancher vehicles were allowed to pass the path.
• Group 6: 2 bachelor stallions who ran quickly and paused at the jute before entering.

Additional Notes:

• BLM personnel were courteous and offered observers extra water.
• The helicopter pilot showed restraint when foals lagged behind and was able to reunite separated horses with their groups.

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7/18/25

Horses Captured: 106 (44 Stallions, 40 Mares, and 22 Foals)
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Horses Shipped to Holding: 96 (0 Stallions, 58 Mares, and 38 Foals)
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Injuries:

• Several horses sustained nose injuries in the pen and during transport.
• Blood was visible on horses in the trailer yesterday, which the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) confirmed came from nose injuries and was transferred onto others.
• One horse was down in the trailer and could not be transported in that condition—likely due to overcrowding.‍

‍Deaths: 0

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Daily Observation:

Four groups, including AWHC, were present today—six observers in total.

The long drive to the trapsite was extremely dusty, like driving through a cloud of talcum powder.

Unfortunately, the view of the trap remained fully obstructed. Our observer could hear horses vocalizing and clanging against panels, clearly distressed, but couldn’t see them due to the trap’s placement behind a hill. When he asked BLM personnel why they weren’t permitted to view from a closer vantage point—a hill with a clear sightline—he was told it was because a helicopter might need to land there in an emergency. The reasoning doesn’t hold up: helicopters do not land on juniper trees, and “safety” seems to be used here as a cover for restricting transparency.

Despite the season, the weather was relatively cool, with cloud cover and unseasonably low temperatures for Wyoming in July. Toward the end of the day, the sun came out and temperatures rose to 93°F.

Roundup Details:

• First group: ~42 horses, several foals
• Second group: 15 horses, ~3 foals. One horse lagged behind. Despite 70°F temperatures, they were sweaty—likely due to the distance they were driven.
• Third group: ~40 horses from very far away. Sweaty. About 8–10 horses broke off and escaped up a hill; they were not regrouped.
• "3.5" group: 9 horses including 3 foals—the ones who had initially broken off.
• Fourth group: 3 horses, including one pony.

During loading, there was a horse down inside the trailer. The BLM radioed to the trap to address it. Overcrowding likely contributed to the incident.

The environmental toll is already visible: a 400 sq ft patch of fragile desert habitat has been crushed where trailers have repeatedly turned around. Sagebrush was flattened into splinters—damage that could have been avoided with a slightly longer K-turn on the road.

Other Notes:

• BLM’s communication today was notably strong.
• Overcrowding continues to be a concern in trailers.
• Lack of visual access to the trap undermines transparency.

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7/17/25

Horses Captured: 114 (41 Stallions, 50 Mares, and 23 Foals)

Horses Shipped to Holding: 0

Deaths: 0

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Daily Observation:

Today’s roundup was conducted near the Colorado-Wyoming border in an area known as Powder Wash.

From the start, observers were held at a staging area over 12 miles away, causing them to miss the first three helicopter runs—an estimated 20 horses. This delay mirrored issues from the previous day.

Throughout the day, approximately 114 horses were captured across 13 runs. The trap site itself was not visible—only the surrounding jute panels could be seen from the distant observation point. This restricted visibility makes it difficult to meaningfully assess handling practices or identify injuries. While red markings were visible on the backs of some horses in trailers, it was unclear whether they were paint or signs of injury.

There were several moments that stood out:

• A stallion escaped the trap during one run and was chased for an extended period by helicopter. At one point, the helicopter appeared to get within 50 feet of the horse—a potential violation of CAWP standards. The stallion returned to the trap perimeter and called out for his family. The observers watched the horse pace, separated from his herd.
  
  
• A second potentially serious concern arose when the helicopter reportedly flew within 200 feet of the observer group.
  
  
• In another run, a stallion fell during the chase but recovered. A foal was reportedly kicked in the holding pen, though he/she was said to be okay afterward.
  
  

The observation team also received confirmation that the one-eyed horse seen previously had been euthanized the night before. Observers questioned whether alternative outcomes—such as sanctuary placement—had been explored.

Additionally, there are lingering questions about the scope of this roundup. Horses may have crossed over from Colorado, and some were reportedly targeted at the request of private landowners. It remains unclear whether this cross-border roundup adhered to legal or jurisdictional protocols.

This roundup occurred under relatively mild weather conditions, and there was no CAWP audit team present. By the end of the day, observers visited the holding site—likely on private land—but had to climb a hill to get even a partial view. Holding appeared crowded, and the jute obscured most of the horses from view.

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7/16/25

Horses Captured:  33 (16 Stallions, 11 Mares, and 6 Foals)

Horses Shipped to Holding: 0

Deaths: 1

A  bay stallion was euthanized due to a pre-existing eye injury

Daily Observation:

Today’s roundup in the Adobe Town Herd Management Area brought in an estimated 20–30 wild horses, including a few foals, over the course of four separate runs. The observation group was not brought in until after the first group. Weather was mild, in the low 60s, and the roundup took place in a remote stretch of southwestern Wyoming between the small towns of Baggs and Wamsutter.

The observation site was set roughly half a mile from the trap, with limited visibility.

One moment that stood out involved a horse falling behind during a drive. In that instance, the helicopter backed off and allowed the horse time to regroup, showing restraint that’s not always guaranteed at these operations. No injuries or deaths were observed today, and no violations of the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP) standards were reported. The pilot maintained an appropriate distance, and the overall tone of the operation felt measured. Importantly, the contractor made it clear that he doesn't push to meet daily quotas and is content to wrap up the day once conditions become too hot or the runs complete safely.

Observers appreciated the improvements seen at the trap site. Plastic bag markers have been added to guide horses away from fencing, and temporary holding areas are now fully covered in jute fabric to help calm the animals—a small but meaningful sign that previous recommendations may be taking root. Communication from the BLM Public Affairs staff was open and responsive, and their willingness to engage and share updates stood out as a positive shift in tone.

Still, some underlying concerns remain—such as a horse with a prior eye injury reportedly being slated for euthanasia.

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7/15/25

Horses Captured: 38 horses (8 Stallions, 21 Mares, and 9 Foals)

Horses Shipped to Holding: 0

Deaths: 0

Daily Observation:

A total of five groups of wild horses were brought in before plans were made to move the trap site for a fifth group. The terrain change prompted concerns about limited visibility for observers, and with the late setup timeline and general fatigue, the team opted to step away before the final group was gathered.

Estimated captures for the day included:

• Group 1: ~13 horses, including 3 foals. Horses were overshot and redirected back to the trap.
  
  
• Group 2: 4 horses; one fell behind during the drive and was left.
  
  
• Group 3: ~11 horses, including 2 foals.
  
  
• Group 4: A small foal, its mare, and a stud were roped and successfully reunited.
  
  
• Group 5: 6 horses, including 1 foal
  
  

Notably, the pilot showed sound judgment during one run, veering off to redirect the horses away from an unmarked fence. Unfortunately, some fencing had been laid down on the ground and went unmarked, which could have caused issues. Helicopter pressure at times appeared close—estimated around 50 feet.

There were nine observers present, including two from AWHC. BLM staff on site were polite and professional, but communication around injuries or deaths remains limited. When asked directly, field personnel deferred to the agency's public website rather than offering immediate transparency. No injuries were reported by the incident commander, and none were visible to observers, but the absence of real-time reporting remains a challenge for meaningful oversight.

Today reinforced how vital consistent oversight and clear communication are in maintaining humane standards. While there were positive moments—such as the pilot’s quick thinking and the successful reunion of the foal group—questions remain around the handling of vulnerable horses and the lack of on-the-ground updates from BLM regarding animal welfare outcomes.

As always, the goal is not just to witness, but to ensure accountability.