What is the Problem?
“The current estimated on-range wild horse and burro population is 82,384. The government has stated that 26,785 can live on the land sustainably.”
Unfortunately, many people don’t know there is a problem, which is one of our main reasons for doing this trip. In a very short summary, there is debate over whether or not there are too many wild horses and burros* on America’s rangelands.
*Burros are donkeys.
Photo by Mollie Horan
I thought there were very few wild horses left?
Their numbers have been on a rollercoaster for a long time. Between 1850 and 1950, the population went from an estimated 2 million to 25,000. After public outcry about the inhumane practices being used to control herd sizes, the government stepped in.
How did we end up with too many horses?
In 1971, the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burro Act was signed into law. The law states that “…wild free-roaming horses and burros are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West; that they contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people; and that these horses and burros are fast disappearing from the American scene”. The president and the public agreed that wild horses and the symbol they represent are important to the American people and should be protected - not captured, branded, harassed, or slaughtered.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) - the agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior that is in charge of managing public lands - was subsequently tasked with the protection and management of wild horses on public lands. The BLM had to decide how many horses could live on the range without destroying it and themselves, which the Bureau calls “Appropriate Management Level” (AML). The BLM has attempted to reach AML by organizing round-ups and placing the horses in government holding pens where they live until they are, ideally, adopted.
has the BLM ever reached aml?
No. They have been trying, unsuccessfully, since the 1971 act passed.
As of March 1, 2023, there are an estimated 82,883 wild horses and burros living on public lands.
The government has stated that 26,785 can live on the land sustainably.
Why else should I care?
You care about wild horses and all they represent
We (and the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act) have already told you that the wild horse is a historic symbol of the West. Without horses, we never would have been able to trek across and develop what is now the Western United States. And, if you’re a horse person you know, love, and cherish the deep connection that develops between horse and human. We can all agree it is hard to watch these majestic animals starving to death because the range cannot support their numbers in some areas.
you care about the american landscape
Additionally, there are so many wild horses living on the land that they’re changing the ecosystem. As an example: wild horses eat all of the “good” forage; cheatgrass - which is inedible for most of the year – then takes over the range; fires now occur every three to seven years (instead of every 100 years), and the important species don’t have time to grow back. Fires get bigger and more regular, affecting air quality all over the West, in addition to altering the landscape.
you care about women empowerment
Finally, we are an all-female team taking on this excursion. We believe this project provides a unique opportunity for us to embrace parts of ourselves we feel we have to hide to fit in as a woman in today’s society. We hope to empower all of our audiences to challenge these artificial boundaries, especially women. We believe our expedition is one small way to shatter stereotypes about gender roles in our society.