Are America’s Wild Horses Being Managed Properly?
- Posted on November 29, 2011 at 12:30am by
Liz Klimas
- Print »
- Email »
Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center (Photo: AP Photo/Pryor Mountain Wild Mustang Center, Matt Dillon)
In less than a month, the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 will be officially considered over the hill — turning 40. But long before this 40th birthday arrived, how, exactly, the law should be implemented has been surrounded by controversy.
The act gives the Bureau of Land Management the task of protecting the mustangs ”from capture, branding, harassment, or death; and to accomplish this they are to be considered in the area where presently found, as an integral part of the natural system of the public lands.”
Today, this often means rounding up what are considered an excessive amount of mustangs that the land can support by means of helicopters driving them toward an enclosure. From there the mustangs are taken to a facility to be sold for owners to tame or sent to pasture in the Midwest, or they are given a birth control drug and released.
(Photo: PacificCoastNews.com)
Ranchers, the BLM and other stakeholders see this practices as protecting the environment for both the existing horse population and other wildlife and cattle, while animal rights activists believe the horses should be allowed to multiply as they will and run free. Both groups believe their position is what’s right for the animal and the environment.
The Daily recently released this video with opinions from both sides:
According to The Daily, BLM recently estimated that the 10 states with wild horses were over capacity by 12,000. The BLM factors in resources available to the horses and other wildlife and cattle living on the terrain to make estimates of ideal size populations for the wild horses.
The Daily has more:
So the agency has called for round-ups, or “gathers,” in five states this year. Records show the agency removed more than 8,400 wild horses and burros as of Sept. 30 — up from 5,200 at the same point in 2008. Horse advocates say the BLM targets its population numbers to suit ranching interests, even as ranchers say activists have cowed the Bureau into culling too few horses.
“We’re kind of used to getting beat up about this,” said Tom Gorey, a BLM spokesman in Washington D.C. “Most BLM land is managed for more than one use, so we are inherently ticking somebody off about something.”
During a gather, a helicopter finds groups of horses on the range and drives them — sometimes for miles — toward a funnel-shaped fence made of burlap. When the mustangs come into sight, cowboys on the ground release a tame “Judas” horse that’s trained to lead the wild animals into a temporary corral set up at the end of the funnel. Individual mustangs that escape are chased down on saddle horses and roped. According to contract documents obtained by The Daily, companies the government hires to carry out roundups receive between $300 and $600 per captured horse, plus expenses.
“There’s an incentive to do these roundups as quick and dirty as possible because they make more money,” said Deniz Bolbol, an activist with a mustang advocacy group called the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign.
[...]
Among the mustangs gathered so far this year, 25 horses have died or been euthanized due to injuries, according to BLM records. Bureau officials insist helicopter roundups remain the safest, most efficient means of capturing thousands of animals spread over millions of acres of public land.
“We just could not possibly do the job with guys riding out on horseback and lassoing them,” Gorey said. “It would be absurd.”
The Desert Independent recently reported a horse — Old Gold — as being euthanized. In the report, officials said that Old Gold had not been euthanized due to a “gather”-related issue. But others beg to differ, including photographer Cat Kindsfather who captured the photo below, which she believes showing Old Gold being injured and in distress during the roundup.
This photo, to which writing was later added by the photographer, depicts the blond horse Old Gold being pushed against the gate, which some believe caused injury that merited the horse to be euthanized. Officials say a non-gather related injury was cause for euthanasia. (Photo: Cat Kindsfather via The Desert Independent)
While some see the roundups as inhumane and advocate just leaving the horses alone — especially since the program spends $43.2 million each year just to board captured horses — others see the live they provide the captured horses as more human than the wilderness. The Daily continues:
“There’s no glamour out there,” said Annette Hicks, 56. Wearing a broad hat and red nylon coat, Hicks sat astride a 4-year-old dun-colored horse named Goldie, watching her family’s cattle cross a dry basin toward their winter pasture outside Cedarville.
“I feel real sorry for the wild horses out there, knowing what it takes to keep ours healthy and well-fed,” she said. “A life out there’d be miserable, don’t you think, Raymond?”
Her fellow rancher Ray Page was idling in a Ford pickup as the cattle ambled by. Just a few minutes earlier, Page had told a pair of visitors that “the wild horse is more like a stray dog or a stray cat,” saying, “they contribute nothing to our food supply, and they damage the range if there’s too many of them.”
[...]
“It depends on your perspective,” Page said. “I’d rather be a wild horse than a tame one.”
Back in 2005, as well, CBS News reported a remarkable use for the horses in helping rehabilitate troubled youths. The Mustang Project, run through Assurance Home in New Mexico, had abused and otherwise misguided young people working to help tame the horses, which would later be used as therapeutic horses.
The Atlantic recently reported that NYU’s Environmental Law Journal and its Environmental Studies Program hosted a forum — Managed to Extinction? — to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the law. From The Atlantic’s report, it was essentially a one-sided discussion of the “shell” that the Wild Horse Act has become of what it once was. The Atlantic reports that the BLM was invited to balance out the panel but declined because they “thought the session would be a two-hour diatribe against its policies and practices.” The group concluded that more dialogue should happen about how best to manage and protect the mustang population.
Popular Stories
MSNBC Host Snaps in Heated Segment: ‘What in the World Is Riskier Than Being a Poor Person in America?’ 684 Comments
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 648 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 523 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 361 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 316 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 181 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 212 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 147 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Scathing New Ad Capitalizes on Rep. Ryan‘s ’Fading Obama Posters’ Remark 124 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 181 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (84)
Guitar Master
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 11:58amzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
THE REPORTER’S View
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Nearly every one of these posts come from extremely ignorant people who think they are experts on horse management, most of them are simpletons.
Wild horses are part of America’s heritage. These horses represent the spirit of the American west, the spirit of America.
Yesterday Mr. Obama signed a law, passed by Congress, that would allow the slaughter of horses once again, after being banned for decades.
Shame on Mr. Obama, shame on Congress and shame on all you slugs for not wanting perfectly wild animals to roam free in the American west, in their rightful home, where they belong.
It’s because of worms like you that our country is in the shape that it is in. You mentally retarded imbeciles !
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 12:18pmAround here, we have a round up and a ‘wild horse’ auction every spring to cull the wild herds a little. Lately, the last few years, horse owners, who apparently don’t have a clue about real wild horse behaviors, have been hit hard by the “recession”. They have been cited by local authorities for not feeding their horses. So, in a stroke of third grade genius, they have been releasing them into the wild in hose of them ‘fending’ for themselves.
Unfortunately, wild horses and domesticated horses don’t see eye to eye on a lot of things. And domestic horses don’t know where the water and food are during winter and low feed cycles. They are used to being shod, too. Most end up lame and die within two months if they aren’t killed outright by the wild herds.
Horses aren’t viewed as “wild” in the same sense that bears and deer are, either. That makes their demise more palatable. It just goes to show you the power of lobbying vs the power of the Department of the Interior.
Report Post »SageBrushSam
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 12:28pmIt has been banned since 2007 not decades. Horse meat for pet food was banned in the 70′s.
Wild horses are part of our heritage, but do need to be managed. It would be nice if they could run free and play with the deer and antelope. It would be nice if every domestic horse could have a grass pasture and a little girl to bring it carrots. Such is not reality. Where are they going to run free? Have you ever been here in the west? Wild horses “run free” on govenment (blm and forest service) land, and on private land in cooperation with ranchers. All of this land is used for other purposes as well ie: grazing, mining, recreaction, wildlife preserves etc. Nobody wants to kill all the horses. Only 1% are slaughtered for human consumption (horse meat is extremely high in iron) and exported. As in any industry it does not make sense to abuse your product you want a well fed healthy animal as this creates the most profit.
Reason will always out last emotion
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 12:41pm@ Guitar Master — Thanks for the GREAT news about the new law.
@ Sagebrushsam
Report Post »Ditto, Sir! And I would add that it is nice to see that the government will stop spending $40 million and that our balance of trade with Asia and Europe will get a bit of a boost.
horseyourodeinon
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:22pmOh please… the American Spirit is embodied in the wild horse and must be preserved? Horses are not native animals, they are feral and introduced in North America by humans. It would be like having wild domestic dogs or cats running loose and saying they must be preserved by a government agency.
Report Post »And, bringing back the slaughter houses is the only thing Obama has done that I agree with! I have been a professional in the horse industry for nearly a lifetime. Those of us who care for horses know that the rifle, the blue juice, or the canner is our friend. And although breeders have to be more vigilant, suffering, dangerous, unwanted and useless horses must be disposed of instead of abandoned to suffer and starve. We don’t have horsey graveyards, and the retirement homes are for the rich horses, (think the 1%). You have been watching too many Disney movies.
slapmynee
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:46pmThank goodness! This action will save backyard horses from starving or being shipped out of country to be butchered. I hope the below is true!
“Yesterday Mr. Obama signed a law, passed by Congress, that would allow the slaughter of horses once again, after being banned for decades”
Horses are not pets they are farm animals!
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 2:56pm@Guitar Master
You are hillarious. You call others “simpletons” and yet all your bloviating is about your bleeding heart and ignorant ranting about American heritage. So whats your plan genuis? Do nothing until they they destroy the range for good and all of them die of stavation? Your damn stupid! And the truth is, that soup for brains idiots like you who think they know everything and grade your own intellect only on how “anti-establishment” you are and not on facts,…You are the ones that are the problem and just far too stupid to realize it………..Have you ever even seen a wild horse in the flesh???
Report Post »Just go slip “Dances With Wolves” in the old VCR, smoke some pot and fantisize that your and Indian and leave the real world to the rest of us.
stetsonman65
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 5:26pmSorry your completely wrong about horses not being slaughtered here in the USA for decades try since 2006 when congress shut it down here in the US. It has ruined the horse industry, ranchers like me go through horses like water because we use them a lot and they get old real fast. So to get some kind of profit for them we would sell them for meat because we just cant keep all of them because they eat a lot of hay. Horse meat is a good protien I have had it in Canda I thougnht it was beef it tasted almost just like it. Also these mustangs most of them here in utah are just runnaways from pioneers and ranches. In fact my friend’s grandpa used to go shoot the head stud and put his stud in the herd to get a better breed stock this was done all around idaho, wyoming, montana, and nevada. Every year the ranchers in the area would go and pick out the best four year olds and cull out the herd every year until the stupid horse an burro ac stopped all of this. we did a fantastic job until the government and mustang annie got involved. Just last year I saw a stud that was so beat up and starving to death it was so sad I wish I could have put it out of its misery but if I would have I would have gone to jail. Learn your facts
Report Post »KevINtampa
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 5:53pmGuitar,
First things first, there is no such thing as a “Wild American Horse”. 5,000 years ago there was no such thing as a North American horse. They are feral animals to the American West just as pythons are feral animals in the American South East. They came from European settlers, mainly Spanish, when Europeans began settling in the Americas.
Secondly, the settlers did not bring wild horses to the Americas, they brought domesticated horses to America. This is why they are not wild horses, but feral; every single one of them. When a pig escapes the farm and lives in the brush it becomes and is treated as a feral pig not wild; and all of it’s offspring are feral as their stock comes from a previously domesticated animal. The same is true for horses. To say that horses should be left alone on “their” land in North America is an inept and poorly researched argument; technically “their” land is across the Atlantic somewhere.
THE HORSES ROAMING IN THE NORTH AMERICAN WEST ARE NOT A NATIVE NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES.
Report Post »teegior5
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 12:34amHorses have been on the north america continent for hundreds, if not thousands of years. They ran wild. There were here long before the US govn. So even if one calls them feral, the simple truth is that they are indeed wild. Cattle were introduced to this country, but they are given preference on the BLM lands. After all, everyone loves hamburger. I do not want wild horses over breeding. The BLM is not doing effective work in their sterilization practices and thusly, the herds get larger and need thining. The fact is that when horse slaughter was going full tilt, many of the horses taken were BLM horses. BLM made money, kill buyers made money, slaughter houses made money and the only unhappy creature in the scheme was the horse. Yes man has eaten horses since man first learned to use a spear but that doesn’t mean that the horse still needs to be on the menu!
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 2:33am@ Teegior5
Report Post »If you are Christian, you may want to read Acts 10:9-16.
In any event, I have not eaten horse meat, but I am very leery of secular taboos being imposed to limit its consumption.
kellied
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 1:50pmI just wish the administration would do ONE THING RIGHT!!! LEAVE THEM THE HELL ALONE!!!!
Report Post »Junter
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 11:48amImagine if they did the same with people… over population in your area? Call in the “gatherers”. I give it 5 years.
Report Post »slapmynee
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:48pmsoylant green
Report Post »mdsmelser
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 10:57amWhy do they round them up? Wild horses are not “native” to the US. Every one of their ancestors was brought over from Europe originally. They starve. They are hit by vehicles on the roads. They are wormy. I feel sorry for them. Many of them today are currently “domestic” horses turned loose by owners who could no longer afford to keep them, and there is no slaughter house left to send the old, sick and mean domestic horses – so they turn them loose. They are overpopulating, and will continue to overpopulate… which means starvation & deprivation. Why do you think they round them up?
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 2:02pmthey are native get a clue. america has several breeds of american horses native to this land including the american cream draft american curly I could keep going. the spanish mustangs are a few of the mustang breeds. as someone who regularly attends blm auctions and trains and rides wild horses, hows about not opening your face up about things you have no idea/ they want to rid them so they can lease the land for cows. as a cow owner I own my own land to graze and dont use federal land which isnt even profitable for the feds given the cost of removing the horses. real tired of people who really dont get it
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 3:08pm@HorseCrazy
You need to change your user name to MuleStupid. Your post is so wrong on so many levels, I don’t have time or inclination to attempt to correct you. As if you could be educated.
@mdsmelser
Report Post »A fine post that shows how informed you are and that you have “real” compassion for the horses. Unlike the false compassion born out of ignorance as displayed by the above poster.
Thank you for posting!
SageBrushSam
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 10:54amThis is a situation that should be studied out before we make rash judgements based on emotion. The BLM has done a fairly good job (not perfect), of managing the wild horses and all the different groups that have differing opinions. The Real problem happened about five years ago when some extreme animal right activists persuaded the government to close down all horse slaughter in the United States, based on some abuse of horses before they were slaughtered. This action destroyed the equine industry. Before there was value for every horse and a use for horses now just abandoned abused and neglected. I raise and train horses have a deep affinity for them and do not condone abuse, I do however think that this is the one good thing Obama has gone along with.
Report Post »Research on your own. Before the ban on slaughter people were lining up and out-bidding each other, paying hundreds of dollars for a mustang. Now for a well broke gentle kids horse you are lucky to sell for 50 dollars.
HorseCrazy
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 2:06pmi raise and train too including a couple mustang projects where I teach kids how to gentle. while no one wants our horses ending up as dog food, I would much prefer to not have them being shipped on double deckers to canada or mexico and have a faster slaughter process here with less pain and time in holding pens for them. the new slaughter house act is flawed because it gives the tribal areas free range to take any mustang on their land and send for slaughter,. that is the portion of it that bothers me, they will poach them all out for a profit.
Report Post »Xpressed
Posted on February 6, 2012 at 11:49pm@ horsecrazy. I would rather sell my old horses than have to keep spending money feeding them when I have to have young strong ones. It’s not profitable to keep old animals around. It’s not just a way of life, its a business too. You gotta stay in the green or as we’ve seen the American rancher is what is really disappearing from this country. We don‘t keep our old cows around once they’ve stopped throwing calves. You sell your car when it no longer meets your needs right. I like my horses, but it’s got to make sense to me too.
Report Post »Misty Williams
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 10:52amI have this bizarre idea of how to manage wild animals!!!
Report Post »Let GOD do it!
Whodathunkit?
Seriously, if they go through a period of over breeding, it will be followed by a period of under breeding–God’s system of animal management really does work! Why does MAN feel a need to interfere in everything?
I do have to agree that it is shameful the way that folks are turning their domesticated animals loose; that’s an abrogation of their responsibility to the animal–a commitment I take very seriously, although that might sound silly. But, in my opinion, once you take an animal on, you’ve made a promise of sorts to the animal and more importantly to God to care for that animal until the animal dies.
That being said, I will never forget my brother-in-law telling me about one of his month-long turns at NG duty. He spent it guarding giant TURTLES, who were endangeredand were sought by poachers. If the TURTLES left the preserve, they were fair game, so they guarded the TURTLES, and if one of them crossed the line, the soldiers had to call in the “experts” who would come out and herd or move the TURTLE back onto the preserve.
Let GOD manage the animals, and let’s see if we can learn to manage ourselves. Sheesh!
SgtB
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 11:14amHorses are a non-native species that was brought to this continent to be used as a beast of burden. Thanks to aggressive environmentalists and animal lovers we have to spend federal tax dollars to regulate wild herds of non-native species that we are not allowed to eat or feed to our dogs because it might be considered abuse. Horse is eaten on every continent, even this one. Why do we not have horse slaughter houses for the unwanted horses to be rendered into useful products?
Anyone want to guess where the name burrito came from? HINT: Burro meat was originally used in them.
There is no need for our gov’t to waste my money to control these animals when the market has a use for them and can control them without wasting my money and in fact actually adding to our domestic economy. Someone else posted that we should send some of these horses to Mongolia (the ancestral home of the horse BTW) and they were right. If someone in Mongolia wants to buy some of our “wild” horses they should be allowed to do so and if someone wants to donate horses to anyone else they should also be allowed to do that. What we don‘t need is gov’t controlling a pseudo-wild animal population that can be better controlled without gov’t intervention.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 2:09pmyou have fallen for the idea that horses are a non native species. they are very much native to the area if you get the unbiased truth which is not freely available due to many who wish to use public lands for their specific agenda and purpose. we have several native breeds to the usa and some spanish mustangs as well.
Report Post »NOTAMUSHROOM
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 8:54am@Crazyhorse
” we have several native breeds to the usa and some spanish mustangs as well.”
Hum, why are they called SPANISH mustangs, I wonder?
Report Post »horseyourodeinon
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 10:46amLets get it straight. Both sides represented are wrong, the BLM and the animal-huggers.
Report Post »Horses are NOT wild animals, and the government should not be keeping them on public land. The horses out there are feral, and need to be removed. In some cases there are herds that are genetically unique. These herds should be captured and maintained by private professional horseman. The rest should be captured, adopted, sterilized, or euthanized. The government needs to get out of the horse business.
SgtB
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 11:27amIf the environmentalists hadn’t convinced Americans that eating a horse is somehow less moral than eating a cow, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. And if horse meat tastes too different for the American pallet we should still have a use for them in dog food. Dogs love meat and they aren’t as picky.
Of course, Americans do have changing tastes. Back in the 40′s tuna was used primarily as a cat food in the US until the fishermen found out that they could send their catch to Japan for alot higher price. After that they started advertising tuna as a food for people and who now hasn’t eaten a tuna sandwich, tuna steak, or spicy tuna roll? Maybe horse is the next tuna.
Report Post »LimaBean
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 10:02amI can’t believe a government entity has their best interest at heart (mustangs, tortoises, public lands, etc.). It is my belief that it’s about control. Absolute control. Govt. agencies and politicians use them as pawns.
Report Post »jedidiah
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 9:17amHere’s something you rarely hear with regard to the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Before retirement I was an attorney who specialized in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death litigation. I handled three cases that involved fatal car crashes with “wild horses” on open range federal lands. A total of four horses were involved — the three majestic stallions were not stallions at all . . . . . each was a gelding. The mare was branded.
Yes, the “wild horses” involved in our cases, like so many others, were simply domestic animals that were released into the wild for one reason or another, often having simply outlived their economic usefulness. The percentage of such “wild horses” was a closely guarded secret at the time of our involvement (early 90s). I haven’t kept up; I can only assume it’s an ever-increasing number. I hope I’m wrong.
Report Post »missmollywog
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 9:38amI lived in Red Bluff (Northern California) for awhile several years ago. The local news reported that more and more domesticated horses were being released on BLM land due to the owners inability to meet the financial needs of the horses and their inability to sell the horses….so the horses were just being let go on BLM land….
Report Post »Docrow
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 9:12amWho’s in charge and you got your answer.
Report Post »cntrlfrk
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 9:11am‘
Obama just Ok’d the re-opening of Horse Slaughter-houses.
Maybe he has a plan for feeding everyone in the FEMA camps.
:o/
Report Post »mdsmelser
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 10:48amObama doesn’t have the power to re-open the slaughter houses. They were closed down by Congress and by new laws and regulations they could not bypass.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 11:20amHow is it that the Congress even has the power to shut down an entire industry? How is it that someone can come onto another person’s property and tell them what they can do on that property with their own property? They cannot. It should be perfectly legal for anyone to slaughter their own horse for meat, leather, sacrificial ritual, dog food, whatever. The reason doesn’t matter, what matters is that the person is on their property and not causing anyone else property damage or physical harm. What more can you ask for?
And for anyone who abuses animals there are things we can do without encroaching on their land and property rights like refusing service at business establishments and public shame. We don‘t need to pay anyone to do this and by allowing gov’t to get involved we only cheapen everyones’ rights and give them a wedge with which they can procure even greater power. And it should be clear to all that the goal of gov’t is ever increasing power.
Report Post »NOTAMUSHROOM
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 9:00am@SGTB
“It should be perfectly legal for anyone to slaughter their own horse for meat, leather, sacrificial ritual, dog food, whatever. ”
It is legal. You just can’t SELL or TRANSPORT a horse for slaughter for human consumption other than your own.
Report Post »watashbuddyfriend
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 8:49amIf the pics tell the story, the horses are well cared for!
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 8:46pmThat pretty meadow in the Pryor Mtns. in the picture above, is not a good representation of all of the range that the horses inhabit. Those horses are lucky because the Pryors are flush with feed and they have been better managed than places like Nevada where starving horses are regularly seen while driving down the road. That and they get some help from the Crow Indians on the bordering reservation and they are on a horse and wildlife reserve.
Report Post »I did a quick internet search and could not come up with any pictures of the kind of horrible sights I have seen with my own eyes. Nobody wants to take pictures of starving horses too weak to walk. Like I have seen on the outskirts of Reno, Nevada.
Strange to me that the same people who want to “leave the horses alone”, are the same ones that will buy a load of hay and take it out to the hungry horses and feed them. Yes, thats what they do around Reno and surrounding areas. They know the horses are in a bad way, but only have enough sense to put a band-aid on an open wound, instead of performing surgery on the management plans that put the horses in that position in the first place.
M24
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 8:43amThere is a Simple Soulition , Round Up The Horses and Send Them To Mongolia ,They have been begging for our Horses for Years . The Mongolians Look at Horses as a Way Of Life , I have seen the way they take care of these Majestic Animals ,We could learn a few things from these People. But I Guess The Right Politican Hasnt Been Paid Off Enough To Make This Happen.
Report Post »No Quarter
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 7:49amLet the govt. sell permits for citizens to capture and sell these horses. Rather than pay 3-600.00 per critter, they can get a few hundred per permit and use the money for mgt. purposes like they do gators, deer, sheep etc…
Report Post »mikee1
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 7:49amMay God have pity and mercy on the wild horses and other wild animals abused by mankind.
Report Post »NOTAMUSHROOM
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 7:48amIf you don’t think that these animals are being used as a political pawn, then you need to wake up. The Cattlemen’s Association has bought and paid for legislators from the state level on up to the federal level. The state legislative bodies are just a training ground for the federal legislative bodies of corruption. Business as usual.
Report Post »slapmynee
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:50pmId still rather eat beef then horse………although horse hide is good stuff, much nicer then cow
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 7:35am.
Obama can’t even take care of his own dog, much less a bunch of horses…..
How hard can it be? Their wild and out west, feed & water themselves. just leave them the hell alone. But Nooooooooo we can’t do that now can we…………..
Report Post »CottonMPG
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 7:31amWe “manage” all wild animals in one way or another. The question is which is the right way. Perhaps we should sell hunting permits that allow individuals to take out a limited amount of horses. I’m talking live round up type or tranquilization dart technique not killing them. I love horses too. I’m thinking you limit the amount of people out there, the means of taking, the number of captured horses each person gets and you collect a voluntary tax. It would be fun for the participants and would affect the wild herds much less. I’m talking about the way people used to collect wild horses, no helicopters, no mass collections. You pull a permit, you are allowed to collect a max 3 horses “for example” the animals must be of a certain age, and you can only use temp corrals, horses, tranq guns, ropes etc. to capture the horses. You pay for the privaledge of trying, no guarrantees. The animals are registered to the new owners after collection is complete. The regulators decide how many permits to issue, the sale price, the limitations, the standards on equipment/animal classification. If you want to recue old sickly or injured horses and vet them you can. Once you own the horse it is yours for whatever you want, within the law.
Report Post »Jomil48
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 6:43amIf you’ve never had the opportuity to see these wondeful creatures go to http://www.ospreynestartgallery.com and look at the photos of them in the wild.
Report Post »GeorgeWashingtonslept here
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 5:11amWow, I’m amazed at all the experts here. I am a horse owner and have been for years…….so don‘t give me a line that I do not know what I’m talking about. First off LukerW, horses Do have natural predators. Wolves, coyotes, cougars. They are “flight” animals (prey). Where did you get your information? Second, anytime the government is involved with something it always fails one way or the other. The wild horse population needs to be controlled. Via auctions, birth control and natural causes. Horses in the wild rarely live a long life. They are the most delicate creatures on the planet. Trust me I know. I’d love to know what idiot made the statement “Healthy as a Horse”. There is no such thing. The biggest complainers about the wild horse is Cattle Ranchers. They get pissed off because horses are eating the grass on the BLM that they want for their steer. And guess who has to big bucks to bitch………not the horses . So management is a must. Unfortunately the government is in control……hence the astronomical amount of “funds” being spent.
Report Post »Jomil48
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 6:30amto Goerge:I want to voice in on these magnanimous animals, but I am no expert so I will count on people such as you. I do enjoy photographing them, they are so beautiful. since I live on the east coast the best chance for me to do that is at the wild pony roundup and auction in Chincoteague Va. that is held every july. Ever since my childhood when I was given a book called “MISTY THE WILD PONY OF CHINCOTEAGUE” I was intrigued. I want them to be wild&free for my great grandchildren to enjoy, so I count on men and women such as you.
Report Post »completehorsesense
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 2:30amWith 35+yrs being a trainer,farrier and equine health including wild mustangs. This situation has gotten way out of control. Number 1, there is no economy for wild horses because they take to long to train and their up keep out ways the selling cost because we don’t have real horsemen anymore. Number 2, We have people today that claim they are trainers,cowboy hands etc.. and they only muddy the waters even worse. Anyone just needs to watch NGO of prisoners training wild mustangs.The prisoners are doing fine, it’s the system they use from some TOP horse clinician that has no business even being in the equine industry,that totally goes against the physics of the animal.All it does is create fear and accidents that the media can’t wait to get their hands on. By simply stimulating the pituitary gland,horses reguardless of their disposition,calm down! Anyone! REGUARDLESS of their wisdom and knowledge can make these horses gentle that day! with LITTLE EFFORT!
Report Post »http://www.completehorsense.com
Baddoggy
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 4:32amI saw the guy called the horse wisperer train and ride a wild horse in one hour while giving the gospel of Jesus Christ. Looked pretty simple and straightforward. Saved a few souls and trained a horse for someone.
Report Post »There is however a market for horsemeat…Just not here in the US. We dont have the will to eat horsemeat and we have regulated the crap out of the meat packers that do slughter horse here.
sawbuck
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:22amwild…managed..? Isn’t that a contradiction .?
Report Post »sawbuck
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:26amKinda like a diabetic….Winning a pie eating contest .
Report Post »Pouncing Porcupine
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 2:06amWildlife is managed all over the world by people. Always has been. That order came down in the very first chapter of the Bible.
Report Post »bornagaincowgirl
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:09amIts so sad. The best life for these horses, I believe, is a warm barn to go into to get out of the weather and escape the bugs, plenty of hay, grain twice a day and, of course, treats. I don’t believe being a wild horse is as glamorous as some have made it out to be. But, that doesn’t settle the question of what to do with all the horses. So many horses in the U.S. need good homes! Way too much breeding going on, too many horses and just not enough homes. My heart breaks for them.
Report Post »Modawg734Blue
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:34amWild Horses and managed, isn’t that a contradiction? I grew up on a farm, cows, horses, pigs, chickens, goats and all. These were domesticated animals, and they were managed. The deer were wild, they managed themselves. We ate quite a few of them, but, for the most part, they managed themselves. Hint….. That’s what the WILD part means. If the animals are overpopulating, a predator must be introduced, natural or artificial. This is nature, if man intervenes, the results are usually catastropic, look at our government for example. If the animals overpopulate, disease or starvation will result. When I was young, my best friend was a horse named Rosie, I would have put her down out of love before I would have seen her suffer.
Report Post »grayling646
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:56amI have to disagree with you saying deer manage themselves. We actually manage them through hunting. The DNR allots deer tags based on population estimates. The problem is that most Americans don’t eat horse meat. If we did, the wild horse population could be managed in a similar way.
Report Post »grayling646
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 12:58amI can be at a stop sign on a country road and if there‘s a horse with his back to me in a pasture half a mile away and he’ll turn around and look at me. I‘m skeerd to death of them but they’re one of the most gorgeous animals on earth.
Report Post »mauijonny
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 12:54amThese horses are not wild, they’re feral. And I could have gone my whole life without seeing the pic of that horse getting so horribly injured.
Report Post »Pouncing Porcupine
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 2:29amTheir ancestors were feral. You’re as intellectually crippled as the woman in the video who said they were the pony express horses, and the battle horses, and whatever else she was blathering. Wrong. These horses are their descendents. They have always lived on the range. They are truly wild.
Report Post »barnsy
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 3:05amFeral or not they are an invasive species brought to the americas in the 16th century by the Spanish.They are not native to the american southwest.They have few if any natural preditors.They must be managed or they will overpopulate their range.
Report Post »tersky
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 5:39amThere is compelling evidence that horses were never fully extinct here, hides in Alaska, the tradition of “one-toe soup” among the Haida people, more. It is not advantageous for the BLM and ranchers to have horses restored to their native status (no one disputes that they evolved here) because then they could not be ‘managed’ like this.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 12:40amSocialists… want to Control everything… and not just let Nature work it’s wonders!
Report Post »recoveringneocon
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 10:02amI don’t think horses are native to the Americas.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on November 29, 2011 at 2:11pmhorses are native. seriously there are people out with an agenda who have spewed that line for years. nature will take care of nature. I ride wild mustangs and domestic american breeds. the wild ones need to be left alone, when the food runs out as they like to say nature will take care of itself.
Report Post »