~ Wild Horses ~
A troubled symbol of the West
March 16, 2008 the Sunday Oregonian published a troubling article concerning the growing wild horse population on the Northwest Indian reservations. Their swelling numbers are causing serious habitat damage as they compete with livestock and wildlife the tribal officials stated.
To further compounded the problem, this ever growing wild horse population crosses over onto the neighboring rancher land and BLM lands, destroying fences and crops. This in turn creates over grazing and loss of revenue for ranchers. Additional concern is raised over their competition with wildlife on the reservations, BLM lem lands and private land.
Wild horses have become a symbol of the West and Native Americans. The majestic animals have long symbolized the history of the West with its freedom and wide open spaces.
As asked in the Oregonian - are they a symbol or a nuisance? You must understand the changes that have taken place in order to answer this question. The Bureau of Indian Affairs states they are no longer the original Cayuse horses but a hodgepodge of breeds and their numbers should be reduced. Some of the Natives still consider them to be sacred tribal horses. Yet others say they are feral horses released into the wild herds or were turned loose.
The Northwest tribes used to periodically round up these horses for their own use and selling them off the reservations. The changes in government regulations on slaughter facilities have played a role in the loss of reverence for the wild horse and their ability to run free. Presently the problem facing the wild horses is the lack of an adequate market for these animals. The tribes struggle with an answer on how to control these numbers. In the past the Yakima and Warm Springs reservations would gather the wild horses and castrate the stallions. Many were put up for adoption and some had to be shipped to slaughter facilities. The last horse slaughter facility in the US shut down their operation in 2007. This has created a glut on the market for unwanted horses and wild horses.
Wild horse herds have grown at a rate of approximately 20% each year. Not all are suited for adoption or use on a ranch. The old horses are hard to get rid of with the current inflated horse population we are experiencing today. Costs to the tribes run as much as $300 a head for disposing of these unwanted animals.
The Northwest tribes will be meeting soon to discuss their options of dealing with the large wild horse numbers. There has been mention of building a tribal slaughter facility. They need to do something to find an outlet for these unwanted wild horses.
Keeping all these concerns in mind, I would like to take you back to 1994. Bobby Ingersol, a California horse trainer and National Reined Cow Horse Hall of Fame inductee, adopted a wild mustang stallion for $125. In his book, The Legendary California Hackamore & Stock Horse, he states “Looking at bloodlines alone, some horses do not have a chance to find out what abilities they have.”
Bobby went on to prove this statement. First in 1983 he trained and showed a Half-Welsh mare at the National Cutting Horse Association’s Novice Championship. Then in 1994 he trained the wild mustang, Kiger Cougar, he adopted. Kiger Cougar performed well enough to win one three year old snaffle bit futurity, and placed well in the NRCHA World Championship Futurity held annually in Reno, Nevada. Bobby further states in his book, these horses performed well, in part, because of correct conformation. Good conformation can make training much easier…..even a wild mustang.
To this day I can remember Bobby riding into a herd on the little mare and hear her let out a squeal of delight. The little welsh mare would do this “every time” as she dropped down to work her cow. She was unique and tough to beat. Just like Kiger Cougar, the wild mustang, they had to be “better than the best” for judges to a horse of this type of pedigree when competing against hundreds of “world class” horses.
Photos courtesy of Bureau of Land Management
The question remains, is there a place for these wild horses in our horse industry today. Do you have any suggestions on how they can be preserved and not become a detriment to the Native Americans and ranchers? They are part of our western heritage? Do we want save them? Would you rather see these horses adopted and taken home? Should they be eliminated? They have a place in our history. Do they have a place in our future?
Please add your comments to this article here!
The following links will give you more information on wild horses.
- U.S. Department of Interior - Bureau of Land Management
- Wild Horses an American Romance
- The Wild Horse Sanctuary
- Bureau of Land Management - Adopt a Horse
- Wild Horse Pass Resort
- The American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign
- The Pacific Wild Horse Club
- Wild Horses.com
- Kiger Mustang Ranch
April 28th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Thanks for making me aware of the problems facing wild horses today.
May 23rd, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Have you checked out the Extreme Mustang Challenge? It is opening up a whole new world for the wild horses in professional competition. This could make these horses very attractive to the public and a more economical type of competition.
May 27th, 2008 at 8:53 am
June 9th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Has there been any discussion regarding hormone implants in the wild horses to control fertility? These animals are being roundup, gelded, DNA tested; so why not do implants to limit the number of foals being born each year on the reservations.