Horse Plus Humane Society

09/06/2026

‼️UPDATE: We are seeing a lot of folks responding to the arrest in NY of Rotz's transporter and the confiscation of 25 horses with a plea for this to be in every state. I see a new level of hope that I know has been waning; and yet a level of desperation and pleading for this to keep going. We hear you and we want to respond to those pleas. Just want folks to know, led the way and ignited determination to get things done in other states. Horse Plus Humane Society / Horse Plus Legislative Coalition has been working with Horsepower, Inc., to move this in to strategic states. Last year we began our journey with Texas in the summer of 2025. As of right now, we have draft legislation and a sponsor for the Bill in Texas. We have draft language in PA with some thoughts of adding some things in and we have one sponsor. We are traveling to Michigan next month. So, when folks say, "Well Rotz will just ship to Michigan, so it's even worse," we want everyone to know, we know what their plays are, we know the ports of entry, we know the data. More than a year ago we selected state's strategically. After New York succeeded, we knew our first four targets: Texas, Pennsylvania (specifically to go after Rotz who we know is the main feeder to Canada), New Mexico (who is supposed to introduce their own version of something in Jan), Michigan. We are well on our way in Texas and PA. Next is Michigan. We will do all we can to move this into other places. We have been contacted by folks in other states. We hope to begin in other places as well.

Please know that we anticipated all of this every step of the way and our path is clear. We have done this with intent and focused on who our targets are. We know who needs to go down first and we will do all we can with the partnerships of Karin Spencer , Animals' Angels USA, the organizations in each respective state that we have partnered with, law enforcement, federal and state agencies, etc.

We won't give up and we won't lose focus. We will keep folks up to date as we progress but we have to protect the process.

Just know that your hope is valid and New York was just the beginning. This is a precision campaign with well thought out strategy. Keep praying, hoping, talking to your legislators, writing, support our organizations, etc.

Please support our Texas legislative bill! Donate Now: https://givebutter.com/stop-the-horse-slaughter-pipeline-in-texas

09/05/2026

‘STATE OF THE UNION’ Horse Plus Edition:
Horse Plus has grown.
A lot.

What began as a horse rescue has grown into an organization operating in two states—Tennessee and Florida—with expanding equine programs, a growing team, and the addition of our new PAWS shelter for small animals.
And with growth comes change!

Over the past several months, we've been taking a hard look at how Horse Plus is structured and asking an important question:
What does Horse Plus need to look like to support everything we've become—and everything we're working toward?
That's been the catalyst for a lot of the restructuring and changes happening behind the scenes.

So Tawnee, Chris, and Garrick sat down together for what we're calling our State of The Union Horse Plus Edition Update.

We talk about the growth of Horse Plus, the changes we're making, how our teams and programs are evolving, and why we believe this restructuring is positioning the organization for an even stronger future.

We also talk about what it means to now have operations in Tennessee and Florida, the development of new programs, and the exciting addition of PAWS to the Horse Plus family.

This is simply a conversation about where Horse Plus is today—and where we're going next.
If you've supported Horse Plus, followed our rescue missions, adopted from us, volunteered with us, or simply believe in the work we're doing, we hope you'll take some time to watch.

There is a lot changing.
But the mission behind everything we do hasn't changed: to rescue, shelter, and protect!
We're building the team, programs, and structure necessary to help MORE animals, serve MORE communities, and make Horse Plus STRONGER for the future.
And we're incredibly excited about what's ahead.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

09/05/2026

🐎THE LOOPHOLE CRISIS: Their Story Starts In The Wild!
Their story starts in the wild.
For many mustangs, life changes dramatically when they are gathered from public lands.
Helicopters move across the landscape. Mustangs who have lived wild are gathered and eventually enter BLM holding and sale programs.
The video we're sharing today tells that story—and shows why this opportunity means so much to us.

We can't change everything that has already happened in these horses' lives.
But we have an opportunity to change what happens next.

Horse Plus could take in as many as 60 Sale Authority mustangs directly from the BLM.
Instead of encountering some of these horses years later through our Buyout Rescue Missions—after they've been passed around, neglected, or discarded—we can step in before they ever reach that point:
Bring them to Horse Plus.
Give them excellent care.
Gentle and train them.
And prepare them for responsible, loving homes.
But we need the funding to do it!

And right now, we have an incredible opportunity:
EVERY DOLLAR DONATED FOR THESE MUSTANGS WILL BE MATCHED DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR!
$25 becomes $50.
$100 becomes $200.
$500 becomes $1,000.

https://givebutter.com/Mustang-Rescue-Fund

We have the opportunity to take in up to 60 mustangs.
We need to raise for their ongoing care for them once they arrive.
This is our chance to change their trajectory before they ever need rescuing from something worse.
Please make your matched gift today.
Let's get these mustangs to Horse Plus.

09/04/2026

🚨NEW YORK TIMES: MUSTANGS NEED HELP!!!🚨
This is exactly why we're doing this.
A recent New York Times investigation exposed something deeply troubling happening to America's wild mustangs.
Horses that were once federally protected can be sold through the Bureau of Land Management's Sale Authority program. After that sale, those federal protections are gone—and the Times documented how some of these mustangs have ended up moving through middlemen and into the slaughter pipeline.

We've seen the other end of this ourselves:
Mustangs showing up at our Buyout Rescue Missions at Horse Plus.
Horses that were once wild and protected—then purchased, passed around, neglected, unwanted, and eventually discarded.

We've been there trying to save them after everything has already gone wrong.
This time, we have an opportunity to do something very different.
WE CAN INTERVENE FIRST.

When you read the New York Times investigation, you can see what we've witnessed through our own rescue work, and why this Mustang Rescue Mission matters so much.

We have the opportunity to take in as many as 60 Sale Authority mustangs directly from the BLM.
Think about what that means.
Instead of waiting until one of these horses shows up at an auction...
Instead of trying to outbid a kill buyer...
Instead of meeting them after they've been neglected at our buyouts…
Instead of trying to put the pieces back together after they've been failed...
We can change the trajectory of their lives NOW.

We can bring them to Horse Plus.
We can give them excellent care.
We can give them the time and specialized handling they need.
We can gentle them.
Train them.
Prepare them for adoption.
And give them a pathway toward responsible homes before they ever become another horse we're desperately trying to rescue from the slaughter pipeline.

But there's one enormous obstacle standing between this opportunity and actually making it happen:
FUNDING!

Taking in dozens of completely wild horses is a massive commitment.
We're not asking for these mustangs unless we're prepared to stand behind them.
And that's why I'm making such a huge ask tonight.
PLEASE HELP US FUND THIS MUSTANG RESCUE!

And right now, your donation will go TWICE AS FAR.
A generous donor believes so strongly in what we're trying to do that they have offered to:
MATCH EVERY DOLLAR WE RAISE FOR THESE MUSTANGS.
Dollar for dollar.
Give $25 → $50 goes toward the mission.
Give $50 → $100.
Give $100 → $200.
Give $500 → $1,000.
Give $1,000 → $2,000.

https://givebutter.com/Mustang-Rescue-Fund

This isn't theoretical.
The New York Times reported that 3,700 wild horses were sold by the BLM in 2025, more than double the previous year's total. Its investigation also found that government-sold mustangs later appeared on trucks bound for Canadian slaughter plants.
And now we are standing in front of an opportunity to say:
SEND THEM TO US.
Give us the horses.
Give us the opportunity to do this differently.
Let us take these mustangs and put the resources into them before they become another rescue emergency.
We could have the opportunity to save as many as 60.

But I need to be very clear:
We cannot take responsibility for horses we don't have the funding to care for.
That's why what happens during this fundraiser matters.
Every dollar we raise increases our ability to say yes.
And because of this incredible matching gift, every dollar donated right now becomes two dollars working for these horses.

We've spent years responding to the aftermath.
We've rescued the neglected horse.
We've rescued the discarded horse.
We've stood inside livestock auctions trying to intercept horses before a kill buyer could take them.
Now we have a chance to get ahead of the tragedy.

Up to 60 wild mustangs.
Before they're passed around.
Before they're discarded.
Before we're meeting them somewhere much worse.
This is our chance!

Please watch the video!
Then, if you believe these mustangs deserve a different path, help us build it.
EVERY DOLLAR MATCHED.
UP TO 60 MUSTANGS.
LET'S GET THEM TO HORSE PLUS.

Thank you for fighting for them!

https://givebutter.com/Mustang-Rescue-Fund

09/04/2026

🚩CRITICAL WARNING TO ALL ANIMAL ADVOCATES: DO NOT FUND THE FRAUDS🚩 Horse Plus Humane Society extends a resounding standing ovation to Animals' Angels USA 👏 for their tireless, boots-on-the-ground dedication that recently stopped the illegal transport of horses destined for slaughter. Prior to this arrest, we did a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and it uncovered undeniable proof that horses were being exported through New York ports in direct violation of state law. We promptly shared this data with many of our partners. Animal Angels has been diligent and relentless for years and we are so grateful to see such incredible and sustaining under cover work. They saw an opportunity, and took decisive action to stop these kill buyers in their tracks. We know that notorious kill-buyer Bruce Rotz was the shipper of these horses, and it was his driver who was arrested and charged.
Make no mistake: this arrest is a MASSIVE, monumental victory for horse welfare.
Disturbingly, the corruption we are fighting extends deep into the very community that claims to protect these animals. We are entirely appalled to see some "rescues" reacting negatively to the recent arrests of these illegal transporters.
Let this serve as a severe, non-negotiable warning: any organization attempting to paint this historic victory in a negative light must be considered a massive red flag. 🚩
Some of these groups are actively working to make kill buyers' lives easier, turning a blind eye to horrific abuse. They even go as far as securing 501(c)(3) status to masquerade as legitimate nonprofits, manipulating your trust to line their own pockets. Please be very careful about where you send your hard-earned donation dollars.
The Dark Reality of the Slaughter Pipeline
The reality is that horses are being used as cover for illicit criminal activity. They are trafficked thousands of miles in a vicious loop from auction to auction across the United States, into Canada, and back again. We are in direct contact and are working with multiple state and federal agencies regarding our investigation, including the FBI, Homeland Security, the USDA, and many more, because these horses are actively utilized to smuggle humans and transport drugs, sometimes with narcotics hidden directly inside the animals' bodies.
While genuine, legitimate rescues are out there fighting in the trenches at auctions, they are routinely kicked out or permanently banned simply for trying to document the cruelty taking place. Auctions and feedlots actively hide this abuse to avoid criminal prosecution. We were also banned from a local livestock auction for simply documenting and sharing what really happens when the auction is over…
So ask yourself: How do certain social media channels constantly post the most emotionally devastating, behind-the-scenes images from these restricted areas?
We have undeniable evidence that many of these highly visible "rescues" are actually operated by the kill buyers themselves. They utilize horrific imagery and extreme psychological manipulation to run a highly profitable scam on the public. Here is exactly how they do it:
▪️They purchase horses and immediately post them on social media with entirely fake "ship dates."
▪️They demand thousands of dollars for a single horse, threatening the public that the animal will be slaughtered if the ransom isn't paid immediately.
▪️ Well-meaning people donate, believing a horse is saved. Tragically, that exact same horse is often found weeks later at another feedlot in a different state, forced to repeat the nightmare all over again.
Because these kill buyers control the back pens, they are the ones capturing the most gruesome images to manipulate your emotions. This horrific exploitation starves legitimate rescues of critical donations by redirecting public support straight into the hands of criminals.
Many donors do not realize that by paying these ransoms, they are directly funding the kill pens. Through these manipulative tactics, kill buyers get massively inflated prices, far more money than they could ever get selling the horse for meat in Mexico or Canada.
It is a money laundering scheme. It is an extortion scheme. And it is undeniable animal abuse.
It is time for this horrific exploitation to end. We will continue to drag these illegal operations into the light and dismantle the slaughter pipeline entirely, even if that is just one driver, one truck, one route at a time.
Animal Angels does terrific work investigating the reality of what’s happening within the horse slaughter pipeline. we need you to read this report they did in regards to Bruce Rotz and an organization working alongside him. This is incredibly eye-opening. You can read about it at this link: https://www.animalsangels.org/investigations/horses/bruce-rotz-avoids-aggravated-cruelty-charges-deceives-donors

09/04/2026

❤️What an incredible Labor of Love Adoption Event!❤️

SEVEN horses found their new homes — and an 8th adoption is already in the works! ❤️
This video captures some of the moments that made the day so special: meeting adopters, watching connections happen, and seeing horses we've cared for and worked with finally leave Horse Plus with families of their own.

THIS is what rescue is all about.
Rescue gets them through our gates.
Our equine team cares for them.
Training prepares them.
But adoption completes the journey. 🏡🐴

And every horse who goes home also opens up space and resources for another horse who desperately needs somewhere safe to go.
We are SO excited for these seven horses and their adopters — and we're crossing our fingers that we'll soon be celebrating number eight!

Watch the recap and celebrate with us. ❤️
Happy trails, sweet horses. Your next chapter starts now! 🐴🏡🎉

09/03/2026

Law enforcement is catching on, the investigations and information is doing amazing things, and those breaking the law to ship horses to slaughter are getting caught and prosecuted!!

New York State Police arrested a Pennsylvania truck driver early Wednesday after stopping him with a trailer of horses troopers say were being taken to Canada to be slaughtered.

09/03/2026

‼️ Big Lick is Abuse‼️ As The Celebration Big Lick Horse Show continues in Shelbyville Tennessee, we will continue to release our findings of horses that are forced to suffer. Horses are not anatomically built to have their hooves nailed and tightly strapped down to heavy, oversized, stacked shoes. These setups act essentially as high heels for horses. If you’ve ever worn high heels, you know exactly how aching, swollen and exhausted your feet and legs feel by the end of the day.

The heartbreaking difference is that these horses never get relief. At the end of the day, they don't get to take these massive shoes off after the show, kick back, and relax. They are forced to live in them day in and day out. They also experience, harsh chemicals, applied to their legs to make their skin more sensitive. This photo exposes the harsh physical toll and the everyday suffering these animals are forced to endure purely for the sake of an unnatural gait in the show ring.

It is time to stand up for these animals and demand an end to practices that prioritize ribbons over welfare.

Boycott The Celebration - Boycott Animal Cruelty!

09/02/2026

We have an opportunity unlike anything we've ever done before.
Up to 60 wild mustangs could be coming to Horse Plus.
Not after they've been neglected.
Not after they've been passed from owner to owner.
Not after they've shown up at an auction, thin, scared, or unwanted.
BEFORE.

Before any of that has the chance to happen…

Over the years, we've rescued mustangs through our Buyout Rescue Missions.
We've seen what can happen after these horses leave Bureau of Land Management programs:
Someone gets a mustang.
They aren't prepared for a wild horse.
The horse doesn't get the training it needs.
Months or years pass.
And eventually, some of those horses end up neglected, abused, abandoned—or standing inside the very auctions where our team is trying desperately to intercept horses from the slaughter pipeline.

We've rescued those mustangs.
We've seen the end of that story.
And we've asked ourselves:
What if we could reach them before any of that happened?

Now we have that opportunity.
We are working to raise the funding necessary to take in Sale Authority mustangs DIRECTLY from the BLM.
And the opportunity could be enormous…

We could rescue as many as 60 mustangs.
Sixty wild horses who could come directly into our program.
Sixty horses we could protect from ever having to experience the cycle we've witnessed so many times.
Sixty opportunities to change the story before it goes wrong.

But taking responsibility for this many wild horses is a massive undertaking.
These aren't horses we can simply unload into a pasture and hope for the best.
They need specialized facilities.
Some will need veterinary care.
They need feed and farrier care.
They need experienced people who understand wild horses.
And most importantly, they need training!

They need someone willing to stand on the other side of that fence and patiently teach them that a human hand doesn't have to be something to fear. They need someone patient to teach them:
To accept a halter.
To lead.
To pick up their feet.
To load into a trailer.
To trust.
And eventually, to be prepared for something these mustangs have never known:
A home of their own.

That's the mission we're launching today.
THE MUSTANG RESCUE FUND

And today, I have even bigger news!
A very generous donor has stepped forward to MATCH every dollar donated toward rescuing these mustangs.
$25 BECOMES $50.
$50 BECOMES $100.
$100 BECOMES $200.
$500 BECOMES $1,000.
Every dollar you give goes twice as far.

That means right now, your gift doesn't just help us prepare for these mustangs.
It helps determine how many we're able to say YES to!

Think about what we have the opportunity to do here.
Normally, our Rescue Fund is responding to what has already happened.
The neglect has already happened.
The starvation has already happened.
The abandonment has already happened.
The horse has already landed in the auction.
And we're racing to get there before the slaughter buyer does.
This time, we're getting ahead of it.

We're not waiting for these mustangs to become rescue cases.
We're building the resources to give them a safe path forward now.
That's why this campaign matters so much.
And it's why we're going BIG.
As many as 60 wild mustangs.
I don't know yet how many we'll ultimately be able to take.

But we want funding to be the LAST reason we have to say no.
If the opportunity is there to save 20, I want us ready.
If it's 40, I want us ready.
And if we have the opportunity to open our doors to all 60, I want to know that this community did everything possible to make it happen.

Over the coming days, we're going to take you inside this mission.
You'll see why these horses need us.
You'll meet the people preparing for their arrival.
And if we can pull this off, you're going to watch something extraordinary happen:
Wild mustangs will arrive at Horse Plus...
and then the real work begins.
Gentling.
Training.
Trust.
Transformation.
And ultimately, homes!

But first, we have to get them here!

This is our chance to intervene BEFORE they need rescuing from something worse.

We have the opportunity.
We have the team.
We have a donor willing to DOUBLE what we raise.
Now we need you…

Help us build the Mustang Rescue Fund.
Help us say yes to as many of these horses as possible.
And let's change their stories before someone else gets the chance to write a bad ending.
❤️ https://givebutter.com/Mustang-Rescue-Fund

Let's go save some mustangs.

09/02/2026

‼️ Big Lick is Abuse‼️ Right now, the Celebration is in full swing in Shelbyville, Tennessee. This is where Tennessee Walking Horses are showcased for how much abuse they have been able to endure, and how high they can step with their artificial action devices. But behind the show ring, back in the stable area of the grounds, Tennessee Walking Horses stand with stacks nailed and strapped to their hooves. What they endure wearing these stacks is simply an artificial torture device for prideful owners and judges who want the highest artificial step the horse can take. It is only through abuse and suffering that the Big Lick is able to be achieved.

Industry professionals who once inflicted this torture on Tennessee Walking Horses, but have since stopped, repeatedly and unanimously state that the only way to achieve the Big Lick is through abuse and suffering. Caustic chemicals are applied to the horses' legs to make them more sensitive, so when they put the chains on, the horse will flinch from the pain and take a higher step. Pressure shoeing is done to make the horse more tender on its front feet, but it's all hidden within the stacks that are nailed and strapped to the horse's hooves.

The Tennessee Walking Horse is a majestic breed that has a beautiful, natural gait. Why does this industry insist on manipulating these horses through artificial means to push them to a level that is not natural? Why are they not celebrating these horses for their natural abilities? It all comes down to manipulating an animal through abuse to achieve a high-stepping action that makes the judges and owners feel proud.

The federal government currently spends between $3.5 million and $4.1 million annually to enforce the Horse Protection Act (HPA), with the vast majority of those resources directed at policing the "Big Lick" segment of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry. Outlawing these action devices, like stacks and chains, and setting a standard that horses should be shown for their natural abilities would save our government millions of dollars currently spent trying to regulate this heavily abusive sector of the horse industry.

Photo: Horse standing in stacks at the celebration getting ready to be shown. 💔