ISPMB

Located on the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota, the International Society for the Protection of Mustang and Burros (ISPMB) is an empowering force, influencing global attitudes and catalyzing actions for the protection, preservation and understanding of wild horses and burros as well as their habitat. Situated on 680 acres, the ISPMB cares for three separate and unique wild horse herds.

• The ISPMB has been saving wild horses and burros since 1960.
• Helen and John Reilly of northern California formed the ISPMB in 1960 to assist Velma “Wild Horse Annie” Johnston in her efforts to stop the inhumane treatment of wild horses and burros and their extermination from the western rangelands of America.
• The organization was incorporated in 1965 and received its 501 (c) (3) nonprofit status in 1968. Velma Johnston became the organizations first president.
• The efforts of Velma Johnston and the ISPMB brought tremendous attention to the public lands in the West. The profound awareness that these lands belong to the people of the United States resulted, in sweeping changes and legislation that resulted in protection not only for wild horses and burros, but also for the land itself.
• As the first wild horse and burro organization in the United States, the ISPMB provided the answer to a need for sophisticated advocacy programs and public forums. It received the support of Congress, which resulted in the passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971. With well over 70 bills introduced for wild horse and burro protection that year, the law passed unanimously in both houses of Congress. This issue generated the largest letter writing campaign, at that time, in the history of Congress.
• During the course of the ISPMB’s rich history, the organization has achieved significant accomplishments.