Not every horse gets a happy ending. When horses are neglected, abandoned, or fail in their homes, many are sent to livestock auctions — confused, vulnerable, and often in poor condition. In these crowded sale barns, they may be purchased by middlemen who transport them across borders to countries like Mexico or Canada for slaughter, as commercial horse slaughter is largely restricted in the United States. Even America’s wild mustangs — once symbols of freedom — can be forgotten, displaced, and quietly funneled into this same pipeline when they are not adopted or properly supported. Without rescue and intervention, their future is far from guaranteed.