A controversial wild horse gather ends with removal of 167 animals from herd

A controversial horse roundup conducted by the Bureau of Land Management ended Wednesday after 167 horses were removed from the West Douglas Herd Area.

The BLM used helicopters and bait traps to capture the animals. Two horses died during the roundup. A stallion fell while being loaded onto a trailer and another horse stepped on his neck. Also, a young foal broke its leg while trying to run away. He was eventually captured and then euthanized.

BLM spokesperson Chris Joyner said the BLM must manage wild horse herds so they don’t go through “boom and bust” cycles. In that cycle, the population grows, the environment can’t supply enough food or water for that large of a number, causing large numbers of animals to die off.

Joyner said the BLM really only has two options to control the populations, either through roundups or fertility management drugs. He said the bureau is under fire for using both methods. Still, he said the BLM is dedicated to keeping the population healthy.

“We do care deeply about these animals,” said Joyner. “Just looking at them running across the mountains, it really speaks to the American ideals of freedom. And it’s a very emotional issue for a lot of people.”

The herd management practice has been meet with much criticism and blacklash from advocacy groups across Colorado.

The Cloud Foundation, a group trying to preserve the U.S.’s wild horse population, filed a lawsuit to try to stop the roundup scheduled for the West Douglas Herd Area. They lost the lawsuit and shortly after, the round up started.

Jaime Wade is part the foundation. She said the use of a helicopter to scare horses into corrals was cruel and unnecessary. Instead, the Cloud Foundation advocates feeding herds fertility management drugs.

She said the area can sustain this herd, and instead, it’s cattle and ranchers that are the ones over-running the area.

“They (wild horses) are not ruining the land. In fact, wild horses have lived there historically. The cattle farms and and the cattle that have come in have taken over for limited amount of money,” said Wade.

Poyner said all 165 horses will be taken to aCaon City prison. Inmates will train the horses so they can be adopted. Some animals will be kept in long-term holding facilities. Some of the animals may also be auctioned off.

Several years ago, a Southern Colorado rancher was caught purchasing horses from BLM auctions and selling them for slaughter in Mexico.

Wade said that continues to be a problem.

“Someone could buy a horse for $25 dollars and do whatever they want with them. We don’t have horse slaughter here in the U.S. but Mexico is a few states away and they can ship them down there for next to nothing,” said Wade.

Wade has 10 wild mustangs she’s adopted after they were rounded up by the BLM. She also runs MAP, Mustang Ambassador Program, which teaches children leadership through learning with wild mustangs.

She wants these horses to be around for future generations.

“I want my kids to be able to go and watch horses run wild and there is nothing that could be more magical then that I think every one of us could adhere to that idea,” said Wade.

Some horses have already arrived at the prison. The remainder will be delivered on Thursday.