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Wild Horses
Snow flies from under the pony’s unshod hooves. With each stride the warrior can feel the raw power of his favorite warhorse beneath him. Far behind the mustang and his rider, dozens of U.S. Cavalry are strung out in a ragged line. For hours the larger horses have pursued the pair over broken country. Hour after hour the smaller mustang has gained ground against the longer legged animals. At a glance, his shorter legs and powerful build do not announce speed, however ,decades of living in this country have hardened and refined the wild mustang to a razors edge concerning survival and stamina. Near the top of the Wind River pass Lame Eagle slows his horse to a slow walk, and finally to a stop. They are now several miles above the plateau and the desperately pursuing cavalry. Dismounting, he caresses his trusty steed and offers up a war song to the animal for his bravery and strength. The horse, sensing his master’s affection, nuzzles Lame Eagle and standing in this high place looks down upon the inferior horses who have tried once again in vain to catch him in his own country. After a short rest, the rider remounts, they disappear over the ridge and begin an easy trot toward the high country and home, confident that they will have no problem losing the soldiers in the timbered slopes ahead.
Captain Smith slows his tired gelding to a stop. Every man and horse in his regiment is either tired or nearly broken. For the life of him, he cannot figure how the savages and their wild horses can consistently outrun and outmaneuver his highly trained and conditioned men and military stock. For ten years, he has chased, tracked, and pursued the savages, and never once has he caught a lone warrior… even on open ground. Maybe instead of shooting the Indian ponies at every opportunity the army should consider commissioning the wild stock and using them for troop movement. Never! He and his regiment would be the laughing stock of the western army. Civilized men riding wild beasts. He shakes his head, looking through his looking glass, he watches the savage disappear over a far ridge. He decides that “this” chase has come to an end. Indian ponies must truly be the devils spawn, he thinks to himself. No mortal steed could possibly keep up such a pace.
Today, the wild mustang is still wild and free upon the western plains and mountains; but who can say for how much longer. Their habitat is under attack by those wishing to use the land to graze cattle, sheep, as well as those hoping to open the wild horse habitat for oil exploration. Often times the majestic wild mustang is viewed as vermin by those wishing to profit from their home range. I do not begrudge the rancher for needing graze for their cattle, nor the oilfields for drilling American oil. The media would like everyone to believe that the horses are in need of a drastic decrease because of overpopulation. The truth is, their home range is being taken away so quickly and loss of food sources on crucial winter range to overgrazing is causing the wild mustang to have to fight for survival within their own designated habitat. Millions of acres are open to cattle grazing across the American west on federal, state and BLM lands, and now most of the wild Mustang habitat is being shared with grazing operations. This practice of “Give the wild horse whatever is left” is ridiculous. Just because the wild mustang cannot pay for grazing rights, they are facing destruction and have been slaughtered by the thousands to ensure their numbers stay down. We must not let the wild mustang fall prey to greed, we will lose them forever. The rancher is not to blame, he is just trying to make a living. The oil companies are not to blame, they are just creating jobs in a jobless market. The blame needs to be placed on the greed and irresponsible choices made by our Federal government. The BLM and state agencies who decide what gets left for the wild horses need to be vigilant of their position as stewards of the land and protectors of the wild mustang. Quit selling grazing rights on wild horse range! This is just my opinion, I don’t believe any wild creature should be cast aside for the betterment of any type of industry. Save the wild mustang before it is too late.. Their habitat is being taken away, and nothing is being done to stop it, except killing the wild horses,(vermin) because they are too many. I hope we can find a way to live with the wild horses instead of trying to move them aside and pretending that the problem will just go away.. Voice your opinion, contact your local Bureau of Land Management (BLM) office and ask for info on adopting one of the many horses who are already in captivity.
(B&B)- Mike “Hawk” Huston is contributing editor for Bulls & Beavers LLC
www.journeywithredhawk.blogspot.com/
Author: admin2 · 11 Comments
Tags: blm, mustangs, wild horses
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Great article, Hawk, and very current. Right now, the BLM is rounding up a herd 300 wild horses in Challis, Idaho to be sold at auction. At best the horses will go to animal loving families, at worst, they will be made into dog-food. How can we allow this to happen to these majestic beasts that symbolize the ‘Wild West’ and are a lasting remnant of our heritage?
I agree that we should quit selling grazing rights on wild horse range land! Thanks for raising awareness on this issue.
Wild-Art
Wild horses are amazing animals.. we have had 4 of them over the years that were adopted from the local herds..I can’t understand why the government will go to such extremes to protect the wolves (and grizzly bear) when they are causing so much harm to the ecosystem, yet they will not stand up for the wild horses.. they are not a threat to people or other herds..My guess would be that it all comes down to the all mighty dollar…. and once again our wildlife will be the ones to pay the price..
Get educated. It’s completely against the law (and has been for some time) to sell adopted wild horses to canner facilities. Point 1: there are no functioning horse canner plants in the U.S. any more. Point 2: There are no truly “wild horses” in N. America, just escaped feral livestock. The closest thing to old bloodlines are the Spanish barb types in Montana; the rest have been subject to dumping and run aways as recently as the 1950s. Point 3: Horses are recreational grazers, which means they will graze day and night, even if they aren’t hungry; and too many horses and not enough grazing equals habitat destruction. That is bad news for the NATIVE wildlife. Point 4: Horses will challenge and run-off native ungulates from limited resources such as water holes, grazing territory, etc. Another bad deal for natives.Point 5: BISON are much more suited to re-introduction and protection, are native, don’t destroy range, don’t transmit Burcellosis and are easy on other species. Not to mention, they taste a whole lot better than horse!
I think the issue here is responsibility toward all of the species, ethical behavior on the part of mankind, sustainability for all involved… and keeping anger and rhetorical input out of it.
One correction… The Montana herd (Pryor’s and others) are only part and a very small part Spanish blood. In truth even the so called “MUTT Mustang” has a history in this country. Whether that be ranch stock (building and feeding the country), or old remount stock (overtaking this country), or just plain cultural stock (horses related to America’s romance of horses period).
There are many Spanish based herds, Cerbats, Pryors, Kigers, Sulphurs, Bankers, Taylors, White Sands, Wilber Cruce, Choctaw, Cherokee. to name just very small handful. Some with higher percentages than others. Just because one is not of Spanish blood does not make it less value-able as a life. Nor does it make that individual unworthy of equal status.
A little on me. Past long lived Spanish Mustang breeder, trainer, and promoter, BLM Mustang trainer and educator.
I love wild horses, tame horses, broke horses and unbroke horses. They’ve been my life since I was born. My grandad gathered wild horses on the Red Desert of Wyoming. He utilized them and loved them. The economy is now bad. People are turning horses loose because they can no longer feed them. They can only do this if their brand is not visible. Some people cut these out or attempt to make them not readable. There is no horse slaughter in the U.S. now. I didn’t enjoy slaughter, absolutely not, what deranged maniac would? But I would rather an animal be shot or killed quickly than starve or suffer for a long period of time. The horses are still being slaughtered just in different places and with different ways…ways that are less humane. They are speared in the back of the neck. It’s not a very effective but it’s cheap. I know I’m covering two different topics very quickly but they run parralel. I don’t have all the answers. I don’t think they’ll ever get it right. I do know too many animals of any kind in any area will see disease and starvation. I think you’re a great writer. Just check both sides because every story has one. United Organizations of the Horse has some info. from another view. Thanks
Running hooves off of foals, causing mares in mass to abort, horses laying in corrals with broken legs, or dead from colic – and on and on is not a humane way to deal with overpopulation. Move some of the rampaging wolves who are praying on cattle and wildlife into the herd management areas. Cruel? Or Balance for all the species who co-exist. Horses and wolves have a fighting chance at survival.
S
One more thought – those organization who promote breeding of breeds of horses. Also promote genetic disorders and cruel training treatments of horses. Who is more Moral? People who breed DSLD/ESPA. weak bones, spinal disorders, insulin resistance, and on-slot of others disease and disorders and physical handicaps (club foot), etc. These people are not Moral or ethical and they promote cruelty.
Wild horses are largely devoid of these issues and thus a healthier genetic population. Their genetics should be preserved for the equine species, not manipulated with drugs, hormones, and more mankind rubbish.
There is something so beautiful and noble about these animals. I really don’t know much about the issue, but can only imagine the sight of a group of wild horses.