Protestors Criticize BLM Wild Horse Policies Favoring Cattle Ranchers
Wild Horse advocates recently gathered at Central Wyoming College to protest the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) treatment of wild horses across the West. Simone Netherlands, representing Respect 4 Horses, emphasized the need for change in BLM policies.
“There is no overpopulation of wild horses. We’ve gone from over two million wild horses to just 30,000 in the wild,” Netherlands stated. “Yet, they complain that they’re overrun with wild horses.”
Netherlands highlighted that over 50,000 wild horses and burros are confined in holding facilities, often in poor conditions. She pointed out the disparity in land allocation, with wild horses having less than 26 million acres compared to the 160 million acres available for cattle.
She criticized the BLM for policies that contradict their mission, stating, “Their mandate is to protect wild horses, not do pest control for cattle ranchers. It’s not fair to wild horses, and it’s because they don’t make anybody any money.” She noted that wild horses receive only 18 percent of the forage in their management areas.
Marjorie Farabee from the Wild Horse Freedom Federation added that the BLM's actions disrupt the natural balance by removing older horses, which are crucial for the herd's survival and knowledge.
“Every wild horse we have today is a survivor of two centuries of persecution by ranchers and our government,” Netherlands said. “It’s a very sad and scary state of affairs, that just like the rainforest of the Amazon, our own government is exploiting and using up our public lands for the benefit of profit-driven businesses. It’s time someone steps up and fixes this very broken program. It is unsustainable, unscientific, inhumane, and a despicable waste of our taxpayer dollars.”
In a related development, Governor Matt Mead urged the BLM to “take immediate action” and “remove excess horses from its herd management areas” in Wyoming. See that story by clicking here.
Originally Posted By County 10