[arabgirl15]

MyBabyTex-sure

[CowGirlUp1833]

http://hsus.ga4.org/campaign/FED_2004_wild_horses Here is a link to the Humane Society who is also working on this matter. I had included a link in a post below allowing you to lookup your congressmen or senetor. I plan on writing a letter and making a dononation if possible, and I encourage you to do the same.

We may not be able to STOP this...but we can at least let our government know that we CARE and want to be able to vote on amendments like this.

Remember: "The squeaky wheel gets the oil" So lets squeak! There are government programs that protect wildlife...why can't our horses be protected as well!? Also, I agree with the many of you that say we need to offer solutions with our protests...so lets hear them! I know that I will be reasearching possible solutions, DO YOUR PART and offer ideas!

[cassidy]

i think she has a very good point an i totally agree


well said sandra!

Originally Posted by Sandra-A1

What is the alternative?
What suggestions do you have for all the unwanted horses?
I doubt that you will find anyone here who would not want it to stop BUT...when you see that there is a problem you have to offer a pracital solution to it...to simply say "stop doing something" does nothing to solve the problem that created the situation.

I admire your passion and enthusiasm and am honestly interested in hearing your alternative plan.

[just_ride]

Originally Posted by CowGirlUp1833

Remember: "The squeaky wheel gets the oil" So lets squeak! There are government programs that protect wildlife...why can't our horses be protected as well!? Also, I agree with the many of you that say we need to offer solutions with our protests...so lets hear them! I know that I will be reasearching possible solutions, DO YOUR PART and offer ideas!

The goverment is trying to manage the herds. However, because the population is to high for the amount of federal ground and the demand from private citizens to adopt is not high enough. They need to control the size of the herds before they can help them. Unfortunately slaughter may be the only answer. Much of the wildlife is managed through hunting, the whitetail deer, elk, turkey, rabbits, coyote ect.... The wild turkey is a key example. The turkey population was not thriving in Ohio. Wildlife Management came in and now turkies are so abundant we have 2 hunting seasons to mange the flocks. At any given time I see 40-60 wild turkies in the field behind my home. My point is you can "over protect" something. By doing this we allow them to harm themselves through over population which causes a lack of their basic needs.

If I had a bigger place I would adopt one. I have thought about it several times, but I won't sell my cows or one of the horses I already have to get one. That would make no sense. Sometimes there are just no easy answers.

[mylilpony]

ME!!! i AM IN ALL THE WAY!!!

[Wild_Horses]

I am soo IN!!

[CanadianWrangler]

The main cause of horse herds overpopulating, which necessitates the adoptions, and the auctions, is this.

LACK OF PREDATORS.

The only time a wild horse becomes vulnerable to the most common predators in the areas they live is either 1. when very young, 2. when very old, 3. when very ill/injured.

I cannot see a pack of coyotes (most prevalent predator in N. America.) being able to cull enough young, old, or ill/injured horses from a herd NATURALLY to make a significant impact on regulating the population.

Simply put the only real North Americain predators that stand a chance of being efficient at culling horse herds, by using them as prey (Mountain Lions, and Wolves) are shot as 'threats' to humans, and livestock on a regular basis. Where is the sense on that side of the coin?

So where is the killing circle going to end. Humans kill the animals that can kill the inferior horses in a herd, and the horses end up having to be killed by us in turn. Too much human interferance is mainly to blame.

It is nature, if a population gets too big, they become weakened, preyed upon, and the population decreases to a stable number once again. Strongest individuals of that species survive, and species thrives again.

These horses, and any other animal for that matter, have NO need for humans to manage them. Ecosystems are self governing. We are creating gaps in them though by removing predators (the scary monsters must be destroyed), and the prey (oh how cute they look) are preserved to thier own detriment.

Just some more food for thought on the subject.

[wyldterv]

Originally Posted by CanadianWrangler

...These horses, and any other animal for that matter, have NO need for humans to manage them. Ecosystems are self governing. We are creating gaps in them though by removing predators (the scary monsters must be destroyed), and the prey (oh how cute they look) are preserved to thier own detriment.

Just some more food for thought on the subject.

The problem with this statement though is that HORSES are NOT Native to the ecosystems they live in... They are an 'introduced' species and the do and will overgraze an area to the detriment of the native species.

I agree we have created large gaps by removing predators and even though I find it a total PAIN to be on both coyote and Mt. Lion watch during lambing (we have Mt Lions that have been known to walk right through our barn before and took out 7 of the neighbor's Llama's!) I don't see the need to eradicate either .... BUT I also do not make my living raising range stock either so I suppose there is a fine line of balance there.

Let's not forget that the BLM has to manage the public lands to the benefit of the wildlife, AND to the benefit of grazing rights. I may or may not agree with some of the preferences given to the ranchers who have grazing rights, but the facts are, if the majority of the ranchers did not have access to grazing leases on public BLM lands, we'd be alot harder pressed to afford to buy beef from the market.

SO now we have TWO non-native species grazing, cattle and horses (well actually three if you include sheep as well, but there are not that many large range sheep herds left in the US any longer) AND the Native wildlife all competeing for the same forage. Combine that with a long term drought, few deaths of the horse by predation, and you have a problem.

If we left the horses to manage themselves with the way things are set up, they'd take over the ecosystem and other species would be permanently lost.

[CanadianWrangler]

Good point I had neglected!! *thumbs up*

[CowGirlUp1833]

Yes, Wyldterv and CanadianWrangler...I agree with both of you on these points. It seems the more we try as humans to "help" manage things of this nature, the further we screw it up.


I've been spending a lot of time thinking about solutions...and there really aren't any "solutions"- just give and take comprimises. I for sure don't want to see mass quantities of horses penned up for holding, awaiting adoption indefinatly....
Many good points regarding costs of programs have been made. Also, the point of stress when rounding up whole herds is an issue.... how difficult would it be to round up just young colts for geldings? Perhaps get veterenarians to volunteer thier time to do this or have a non-profit org. set up to do this....?? Any thoughts?