For Jake Harvath, 2024 was all about the Mustang.
This Utah native dedicated an entire year to championing the cause of America’s wild horses, embarking on a remarkable 6,000-mile trek across 25 states to shine a light on their plight.
Beginning his journey in September 2023, Harvath returned to a hero’s welcome in Heber City, Utah, just before the new year, escorted by local police and cheered on by supporters.
Traveling with him were his three faithful mustangs: Denver, Eddy, and Bella, although Bella briefly stepped away from the journey for health reasons. Throughout his odyssey — chronicled on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok — Harvath carried only the essentials, packing his gear on two of the horses while riding Bella. He ventured as far as the Atlantic coast before turning back west.
“My mission is to raise awareness about the challenges faced by American mustangs — symbols of our untamed history that are now fighting for their place in today’s world,” Harvath explained on a GoFundMe page launched at the start of his adventure. The campaign has since raised over $38,000 to support his cause.
He added, “I’ll navigate this country’s diverse terrain and unpredictable weather, counting on my skills and the resilience of my mustangs to accomplish my goal. These incredible animals will serve as ambassadors, spreading awareness about the BLM’s wild horse adoption program.”
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees the management of wild horses and burros, including their adoption. Although federally protected, wild horses lack natural predators, necessitating human intervention to manage their populations and ensure their survival on public lands.
All three of Harvath’s horses were adopted through this program, and he hoped to inspire others with similar lifestyles to consider adopting their own mustangs.
In 2023, the BLM spent nearly $159 million managing wild horse and burro populations, which exceeded 73,000 as of March 2024 — far more than what the agency considers sustainable.
While it may seem ideal to let wild horses roam freely, Harvath stressed that modern society makes this impractical.
“As much as we’d love to see them roam wild, the realities of today’s world simply don’t allow it,” he told Deseret News in 2023.
Limited grazing areas, coupled with human development, create stiff competition for resources. “Many of these horses are starving,” Harvath explained. “At least in BLM care, they have food and water, which is better than struggling to survive in the wild.”
The BLM employs fertility control measures to manage populations, but the adoption program provides a humane alternative — offering wild horses a safe home while alleviating pressure on public lands.
Since 1971, more than 270,000 wild horses have found homes through the BLM’s adoption initiative. However, adoption rates dipped in 2022, making Harvath’s efforts even more crucial.
Upon completing his journey, Harvath reflected on the determination and resilience of his mustangs.
“These horses have endured storms, rivers, and mountains to get us here,” he told supporters. “They’ve proven their worth time and again. I owe them everything.”
For the BLM, Harvath’s advocacy has been equally valuable.
“Mustangs are just as capable as domestic horses; they’re another member of the family,” said Gus Warr, wild horse and burro manager for BLM’s Utah office. “We have so many animals in need of homes, and Jake has been a beacon for that cause.”