After the Onaqui Roundup: A Reflection on Wild Horse Releases

(August 12, 2021) The Onaqui wild horses' release on August 8 and 9 marked a pivotal moment in wild horse conservation. This event, part of a collaborative effort with the BLM, saw the return of several mare/foal pairs and mares to their natural habitat. The release aimed to ensure the safety of these horses, allowing them to return to familiar grounds near a well-known water source.

Representatives from the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign), along with other public members, documented the release of 109 wild horses. This included 49 mares and 60 stallions, observing their return to the habitat they know as home.

For AWHC observers like Suzanne Roy, Kimerlee Curyl, and Steve Paige, witnessing the horses' return was both uplifting and emotional. However, the joy was tempered by the news of a mare's euthanasia due to illness, raising concerns about the conditions at the BLM's Sutherland holding facility. AWHC urges the BLM to investigate and address these issues transparently.

The loss of life from the roundup is deeply upsetting, highlighting the need for systemic change. It's crucial to shift from treating these animals as livestock to recognizing them as protected wildlife, in line with federal law. AWHC remains committed to this cause.

AWHC opposed the Onaqui roundup and mourns the 300 horses still in BLM's holding corrals. However, progress was made, notably in the BLM's collaborative approach to the horses' return. AWHC appreciates the BLM's consideration of genetic viability, social bonds, and the welfare of older horses in their release criteria.

Seeing 123 horses returned to their range offers hope. AWHC is dedicated to ensuring this is the last helicopter roundup in the Onaqui HMA, working alongside partners like the Onaqui Catalogue and Wild Horses of America Foundation.

The Onaqui horses, known individually and as families, hold a special place in many hearts. Their plight is shared by thousands of horses and burros annually, and it requires collective action to change their fate.

STATS FROM THE ROUNDUP:

• 435 wild horses captured and removed from the Onaqui HMA between July 14 - 18, 2021
• 1 mare escaped the trap and remains free
• 1 mare was euthanized after sustaining a broken leg in the trap likely after being kicked.
• 123 Onaqui wild horses (58 mares, 60 stallions, and 5 foals) were returned to the HMA on August 8 - 9.
• 3 mares slated for release died at the BLM’s Sutherland holding facility (one from colic; the other from severe infection).
• 1 mare slated for release is sick and being treated with antibiotics at the Sutherland facility.
• 1 released mare was euthanized hours after her release after being observed to be ill. It is believed that she also suffered from an infection.
• ~210 total horses are currently estimated to be living in the HMA.
• ~300 horses remain in the BLM Delta corrals and will be placed up for sale or adoption in an online auction on October 12 - 19, 2021.