The Dangers of Summer Stampedes for Wild Horses

Dr. Bruce Nock, a tenured faculty member at Washington University School of Medicine and founder of Liberated Horsemanship, sheds light on the dangers of summer stampedes for wild horses. His insights reveal the physiological and genetic impacts of such practices, urging a reconsideration of current management strategies.

The Immediate Physiological Impact

Dr. Nock previously described the trauma wild horses endure when chased by helicopters and forced into captivity. If a horse survives the initial chaos, it faces accelerated deterioration. Common sense should deter the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from conducting gathers, or stampedes, during the summer heat. Yet, despite public warnings, these practices continue.

Horses can experience dangerous body temperature increases in less than 20 minutes of moderate exercise during hot and humid conditions. The stress of being chased by a helicopter exacerbates this, leading to dehydration, colic, convulsions, and potential heart and renal failure.

The Role of Sweat and Dehydration

Horses sweat up to 30 liters per hour, losing vital minerals and trace elements. Simply replenishing with water is insufficient and can worsen dehydration without electrolytes.

Impact on Young Foals

Summer poses additional risks for foals, who are only months old. While young animals may seem resilient, early stress can have lasting effects. Epigenetics, the study of gene expression influenced by environmental factors, shows that early adversity can lead to lifelong health and stress reactivity issues.

Epigenetic Consequences

Epigenetic changes can alter gene activity, potentially turning genes off. These changes, caused by early life stress, can affect mental and physical health. Alarmingly, some epigenetic marks are inheritable, meaning the impact of current practices could affect future generations of wild horses.

Dr. Nock's insights highlight the urgent need to reconsider summer stampedes, not only for the immediate welfare of wild horses but also for their long-term genetic health.

[1] B. Nock, PhD, Neurobiologist, Washington University School of Medicine: Wild Horses—The Stress of Captivity. Liberated Horsemanship Press. Commissioned by The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation). wildhorsepreservation.com, March 16, 2010.

[2] M.I. Lindinger, MSc, PhD, animal and exercise physiologist at the University of Guelph cited by T. Pitman, University of Guelph: Summer Riding: When the Rider is Hot, the Horse is Hotter, TheHorse.com, Article # 16625, 2010.

[3] Ibid.