Critics Label Utah Mustang Meeting as a 'Slaughter Summit'

SALT LAKE CITY - A controversial wild horse conference in Utah has sparked criticism from mustang-protection advocates who claim it is a thinly veiled effort to promote increased roundups and eventual slaughter of wild horses. The National Horse and Burro Summit, taking place in Salt Lake City, has drawn attention due to its exclusion of public input and the presence of groups advocating for expedited mustang roundups.

Controversial Summit in Salt Lake City

The National Horse and Burro Summit commenced in Salt Lake City, a week after congressional auditors highlighted numerous challenges but no solutions to the growing number of U.S.-protected wild horses across ten western states. Critics argue that the invitation-only event, hosted by Utah State University, is a 'slaughter summit' aimed at promoting the removal and slaughter of mustangs.

Stakeholders and Criticism

Utah officials, ranchers, and some federal officials claim that the increasing wild horse populations have led to starvation and damaged rangelands. Meanwhile, horse-protection groups argue that cattle cause more harm to rangelands and accuse officials of favoring livestock interests over humane solutions for mustangs.

Suzanne Roy, executive director of the American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign), stated, "The largest stakeholder — the American public — is being left out in the cold."

Defending the Summit

Terry Messmer, a wildland resources professor at Utah State, defended the conference, stating it was organized by a broad coalition concerned with horse welfare and rangeland management. Despite the criticism, the summit includes a diverse range of participants, including federal officials and representatives from various organizations.

Financial and Political Involvement

Utah is contributing up to $50,000 from funds allocated for horse and burro programs to co-sponsor the summit. The event will address challenges faced by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in managing wild horses, a problem former agency director Neil Kornze described as a $1 billion issue.

Contraception and Legal Challenges

Many horse protection advocates view contraception as the only viable solution to control horse populations. However, the sale of horses for slaughter remains illegal under current congressional budget language, despite recent proposals to change this.

Horse slaughterhouses are banned in the U.S. but remain legal in countries like Canada, Mexico, and parts of Europe.

For more information, visit the Idaho Statesman.