THE LOST HORSES

SUPPORTING THE LOST HORSES CAMPAIGN TO END HORSE SLAUGHTER

LIBERTY WELCOMES THE LOST HORSES TO SUNDANCE!

Filmmaker and activist Ashley Avis, through her Wild Beauty Foundation, has launched The Lost Horses, a campaign aimed at ending horse slaughter by pushing for the passage of the SAFE Act. The campaign launched in late October 2025 and uses powerful cinematic public service announcements to raise awareness about the slaughter pipeline that ships American horses to Mexico and Canada. Visit LOSTHORSES.ORG to learn more and participate.

Lost Horses content is courtesy of the Wild Beauty Foundation.

The Lesson Pony

He loved teaching children to ride.He adored their small, clumsy hands, their laughter,their wobbly joy. He never let them fall. Over the years, the children grew older like him. His legs are now a little stiff with age. His back sways, but his heart is just as big. They said he was going to be retired, a thank you for all he'd ever done.
But instead, he was sold at auction, a useless pony. They said, who would want him? They whispered the words, broke his heart.
Now he watches other horses loaded onto a trailer bound for Mexico. Will they take him too? Will they ever know what he gave them, how much he cared? Without the SAFE Act, even a lifetime of love and loyalty can be thrown away. We call them the Lost Horses. Please raise your voice so no horse is lost again. Learn more. Share and take action @losthorses.org.

Compton Cowboys

Hi, my name is Kenny Abercrumbie. We're at the Compton Cowboys
Ranch, here on the set of the Lost Horses. Some of the greatest lessons that these horses teach these kids is responsibility. Our work is to be able to let the world understand how important horses are to us. Growing up in Compton, it was rough. I believe that horses is what saved me. When you come here, you always find a bond with another horse. The importance of the SAFE Act for me is second chance. Our spirits and hearts are drawn to horses. Everybody deserves a chance and especially horses, because the slaughterhouses are not the last option. Life should be fair for humans and animals alike. Without horses, I know for sure I wouldn't be here. They saved me. If I didn't have the horses, I would be dead or in jail right now. I think the kids saw something different about life, how they were able to give this horse comfort and face their fears. That's empowering. Please pass the SAFE Act. So no horse gets lost again.

A Veteran's Heart

He embodied, dedication, strength, and spirit. He did all that was ever asked of him or the weight. Never faltered a workhorse, loyal and unyielding until one day his body said no more. His owner hoped for a good home when she sent him to auction, but he could only watch as other horses were driven away in trailers, unwanted like him forgotten, left behind. Then he saw another soul across the fence who knew exactly what he felt like A veteran. Others whispered. He's broken. They said. The veteran approached the horse hesitated, but the man's hands were soft, not forceful. Knowing the veteran took him home together, they learned to trust. Again, knowing healing isn't always quick and scars aren't always on the surface because there are always second chapters if you're just given a chance. Some horses are lucky enough to find safety in the arms of heroes, but without the SAFE Act, that protection is never guaranteed. Featuring Dermot Mulroy. Please pass the SAFE Act so no horses lost again.

Three Veterans

Veterans oftentimes don't ever feel safe, and when they go to sleep, they still don't feel safe. It's my hope that lawmakers will really develop their understanding in how much horses have helped veterans. You know, the horses are more willing to do what I need them to do than my Marines. Sometimes were, I have said in the past with other veterans, if more people had horses in their life, I think the world would be a very different place. There's an interesting parallel between leaving behind horses and leaving behind veterans. We utilize veterans to go fight our wars, protect our freedoms, and we've seen what we've done with the horses. They've helped build this country, give us companionship, and they're always there for us without hesitation. Just like the veterans, they've spent their whole life doing a job and then they're done with it. It's not unlike how we feel sometimes. We need to focus on taking care of these wonderful, honorable, high integrity beings. Why would you want to destroy something that belongs to all of us? To see thousands of America's horses just pushed away like trash really upsets me. It's un-American. No horse deserves to be lost to the slaughter pipeline. There's so much value in protecting them. My name is Dan Kenahan, US Navy veteran. I'm William Gil. I'm a Marine. My name is James Oliver, US Army. Please pass the SAFE Act so no horse continues to go through the slaughter pipeline.

The Lost Horses: Hero

Introducing Equestrian & Narrator, Jessica Springsteen

Every year, over 20,000 horses, thoroughbreds, ex show jumpers, lessen ponies, Arabian wild horses, even donkeys are shipped to slaughter in Mexico and Canada. These are not unwanted animals. These are partners, athletes, companions, but instead of love and compassion, their final moments are ones of abandonment and terror. Please stand with the lost horses. Raise your voice, speak out, and take action at LostHorses.org. I'm Jessica Springsteen. Please pass the SAFE Act so no horse is lost again.

Ashley Avis X Dr. Nancy O'Reilly

Hi, I am Ashley Avis and I am here with Dr. Nancy O'Reilly as we mount a campaign called The Lost Horses. To finally end the slaughter of horses across our borders in the United States. It's time to champion the SAFE Act. 20,000 plus horses are sent down to Canada and Mexico for slaughter. You know, a lot of people don't know about this. I came to discover more about this when we were filming our documentary and we went undercover in Texas. We saw pregnant mares, we saw newborn foals, we saw the donkeys, we saw the wild horses. Race horses, show jumpers, discarded lesson ponies. They end up going across the border to Canada and Mexico. We really need to illuminate this issue and show people what's going on. ... And we, we have to, we have to stop the tap from overflowing here with 20,000 horses going across the border every year. And we do know that there are countries that do in fact eat horse meat. We did a study, by the way, basically the number of horses that could be adopted. There's people that would adopt them. They don't need to be slaughtered. If everyone adopted one, just one, we'd stopped that supply. We have such an incredible
relationship with the horse in our culture, and I think most people are horrified to understand that a horse that they might have met as a child; those horses can end up in this dark industry. We just have to educate the public through this campaign.

So if you believe in this effort, please join us and champion the Lost Horses, because no horse deserves to be lost again.