In a remote expanse of rolling hills west of Craig, a newly-established sanctuary is saving taxpayer dollars while also continuing a relationship between humans and horses that has existed for thousands of years. 

The Wild Horse Refuge, established by the Wild Animal Sanctuary, is a pioneering 30,000-acre safe haven which is designed to provide captured mustangs a second chance at the freedom they once existed in. Born from necessity, and the side benefit of reducing federal spending related to roundups, the refuge stands as a testament to the resilience of these iconic animals and the dedication of those committed to their preservation.

The need for a sanctuary

The establishment of the Wild Horse Refuge is intertwined with the controversial history of wild horse management in the United States. For decades, the Bureau of Land Management has overseen the regulation of wild horse populations, balancing their presence with the interests of ranching, land conservation and public land use. 

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However, the agency’s reliance on helicopter roundups has drawn significant criticism from advocates who argue that these removals disrupt natural herd dynamics and displace thousands of horses into government holding facilities, which could end up costing taxpayers almost $50,000 per animal captured.

“Between 2021 and 2022, the Bureau of Land Management began rounding up hundreds of mustangs from two of Colorado’s most iconic wild horse herds,” said Scott Beckstead, Chief Equine Programs Director for the Wild Animal Sanctuary. “They took hundreds of wild horses from the Sand Wash Basin Herd Management Area and then moved south to repeat similar round-up operations within the Piceance-East Douglas HMA.”

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These roundups led to the removal of thousands of horses, many of whom were transported to federal holding facilities, including one in Cañon City, Colorado. While some are adopted, many remain in limbo, spending years confined with little hope of returning to the wild.

“Unfortunately, for the horses that are shipped out of state or sent to long-term holding facilities, they will never again feel the wind in their face,” Beckstead noted. “They are destined to be moved from one holding facility to another at the hands of the government.”

A new home in Northwest Colorado

Recognizing the urgent need for an alternative solution, the Wild Animal Sanctuary purchased a former cattle ranch in Northwest Colorado and transformed it into the Wild Horse Refuge. Located just 30 miles east of the Sand Wash Basin HMA and 40 miles northeast of the Piceance-East Douglas HMA, the refuge offers a landscape nearly identical to the one these horses once called home.

“When they were brought here and turned out, it had to feel like a homecoming for them,” Beckstead said. “They thrive in this habitat because this is what they’re used to.”

The sanctuary’s mission is to provide a natural, free-roaming environment for wild horses removed from Colorado herd management areas. Unlike traditional equine rescues, which often involve close human interaction and training, the Wild Horse Refuge aims to maintain the animals’ wild nature by allowing them to form natural social structures and roam as they would in the wild.

A thoughtful approach to management

The Wild Horse Refuge does not simply collect displaced horses — it carefully manages its population to ensure long-term sustainability. The horses living there are nonreproducing, as all stallions and colts removed by the BLM undergo gelding before arriving at the refuge. Despite this, the animals retain their natural herd behaviors, with dominant stallions, such as Michelangelo, a grandson of the legendary Sand Wash Basin mustang, Picasso, leading family bands.

“While the stallions are the big flashy ones that do all the big bites and everything, it’s those older mares that are really the bosses, and nobody crosses the boss mare,” Beckstead explained during his State of the Community address in Craig. “The bands are self-organizing, and we allow the horses to choose their social groups naturally.”

Additionally, the refuge is home to a diverse array of wildlife including mule deer, elk, pronghorn and golden eagles. The sanctuary prioritizes ecological balance, ensuring that the introduction of wild horses does not negatively impact native species. According to Beckstead, their presence has, in fact, contributed positively to the landscape and habitat of other animals.

“Horses are highly mobile, and as they move, they disperse grass seeds through their manure, keeping the overall range healthy,” he said. “They coexist peacefully with native wildlife, and we’ve found that our water sources attract just as many deer and pronghorn as they do horses.”

Ensuring the long-term health of the range is also a critical aspect of the Wild Horse Refuge’s mission. Staff continually monitor forage conditions, water availability and overall ecosystem balance to determine the health of the entire ecosystem while also forming an idea of how many horses the land can sustainably support. 

Regular assessments, often in consultation with range experts, help gauge the impact of grazing and ensure that the habitat remains healthy for not only the horses but also for the many other species that call the refuge home. By maintaining a careful balance, the refuge aims to provide a thriving, self-sustaining environment where wild horses and native wildlife can coexist harmoniously and flourish. 

“We are especially proud that the sage grouse, which is dwindling throughout its range in the western United states, is flourishing at The Wild Horse Refuge,” added Beckstead. 

The challenge of expansion

Two years into its operation, the Wild Horse Refuge is still a work in progress. Currently, only half of the 30,000-acre property is enclosed, limiting the number of horses that can be housed on the land. Expanding the fencing and infrastructure is a top priority for the coming years.

“We are still early in the operation of this facility,” Beckstead said. “We only bought it about two years ago, and right now, we are only operating on half of our sanctuary property. So, our top priority is fencing and making sure that our fencing is secure so that we can safely turn more horses … onto our range.”

With 220 horses currently residing at the refuge, there is hope that the sanctuary will be able to accommodate more as it grows. However, expansion is costly, and the refuge relies entirely on private donations to fund its operations.

Beckstead elaborated that there is no government funding for the refuge.

“The Wild Animal Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity, and we rely exclusively on donations to support our work,” Beckstead said. “We have donors who make sizable gifts, but we also have those who send their $25 a month. It really is a cross-section of society that supports this mission.”

A model for the future

The Wild Horse Refuge is not just a sanctuary for displaced mustangs — it is a blueprint for what wild horse conservation could look like across the country. By providing an expansive, self-sustaining habitat for wild horses, the refuge demonstrates that there are viable alternatives to the current government holding system.

“It is estimated that it costs $50,000 to round up, remove, and care for an unadopted wild horse for life,” Beckstead said. “Compare that to a $70 dose of fertility control that could allow the horses to remain in the wild. The current system is not only costly to taxpayers, but it also fails to prioritize humane, on-the-range, management strategies.”

The refuge is also contributing to the local economy, attracting visitors, donors and wild horse enthusiasts from around the world. Events such as the upcoming Wild Horse Conference, as well as future photography workshops, continue to bring attention to the sanctuary while fostering a sense of community engagement.

“We want to be a productive part of this community,” Beckstead said. “We sponsor events, we buy locally, and we want to continue being a positive force in Moffat County.”

Beckstead went on to explain that the bulk majority of the refuge’s supplies, equipment and services are purchased within Routt and Moffat Counties. 

A future of freedom

As the Wild Horse Refuge continues to grow, its mission remains clear: to give wild horses a place to live as they were meant to — wild and free, while saving taxpayer dollars and stimulating the local economy. While challenges remain, the refuge stands as a beacon of hope for mustangs that would otherwise spend their lives in captivity.

“These horses will never want for anything as long as they live,” Beckstead said. “They have everything they could possibly need here, and they are protected. This is a place where they can truly be wild again.”

For those who wish to support the refuge, donations are tax-deductible through the Wild Animal Sanctuary, and every contribution helps ensure that more displaced mustangs can find their way back to freedom. By working together, advocates, donors and conservationists can continue to write a new chapter for America’s wild horses, one that is defined not by captivity, but by the open range and the enduring spirit of the American West.