Wild horses in the United States received a reprieve on May 19, when the House voted in favor of an amendment to prohibit the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from selling wild horses and burros to commercial entities.

An amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill bars the BLM from using funds to sell wild horses or burros at auction, which, in turn could be sold to slaughter, according to Nancy Perry, vice president of the Humane Society of the United States. Under the current adoption policy, BLM retains ownership of wild horses and burros for one year before the adoptee can be resold.

“The House had a unanimous vote in favor of the amendment that states wild horses can not be sold to slaughter,” Perry said. “Horses 10 years old or older or those that have been put up for adoption at least three times are required to be sold (under current legislation). This (the amendment) says you can’t do that.”

A similar amendment was proposed last year, but it was removed by U.S. Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT before the bill’s final approval. Perry is concerned that when this year’s amendment goes to the Senate for a vote, Burns will strip the amendment from the bill again. “Senator Burns is the committee chair, and the chances are excellent that it will be removed again,” Perry said