Talking About Wild Horses

Wild Horse Rescue

In the US, wild horses do still run the plains and the US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management runs the National Wild Horse and Burro Program. It is the responsibility of the BLM to manage, protect and control the wild horses and burros that roam our country. They are charged with the duty of ensuring healthy herds and healthy rangelands.

Since most of the natural predators of horses are gone their numbers are not kept in check by nature--herds can double in size in just four years. It is estimated that 33,000 wild horses and burros roam the lands that are managed by the BLM…a range covering 10 states. The number that the BLM gives as sustainable is closer to 27,000 horses and burros although drought and wildfires can reduce that number in any given year.

To keep their mandate the BLM holds roundups to prevent these beautiful herds from becoming too large which could lead to extensive over grazing of the land and horses dying from starvation.
Thousands of these animals are rounded up and offered for adoption or sale. Adoption events are held at BLM locations throughout the US. Since 1971, the BLM has placed over 230,000 horses and burros into adoption.

Groups and individuals may acquire the horses as long as they will provide long-term, humane care. An adopter does not become the official owner of the horse until they have cared for the animal for a year.

Since 2001, the BLM has rounded up approximately 80,000 wild horse and burros. Most have been adopted but about 30,000 remain at BLM facilities and the cost of their care is going over budget.

While the agency has the legal authority to euthanize wild horses that it cannot afford to manage, they have not been taking that course. Now with the budget spiraling, they are looking seriously at that option. (See related information to save the horses Email your vote.)

Madeleine Pickens made headlines when she announced she would create the National Wild Horse Foundation to create and maintain a sanctuary for these wild horses. Hers is not the only sanctuary, but her power and influence brought more attention to this issue.

In addition to creating sanctuaries, many organizations are promoting the use of contraceptive vaccines to help control the horse population. The first trials of using contraception on the wild horses began almost 25 years ago. This is an option that has been at least partially explored by the BLM, but has its own cost ramifications.

You can help the wild horses, even if you can’t run a sanctuary like Madeleine Pickens and can’t adopt a wild horse directly from the BLM. There are adoption centers around the country that have adopted or purchased horses from the BLM and then taken on the job of gentling, or breaking the horses. You can typically adopt wild horses that have been fully or partially broken from these centers for a modest fee.

Additional information Wild Horses Blog and PR-USA.net

Terry
Himalayan Horse Salt