The Cloud Foundation and American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, along with veterinarians and congressmen agree that spaying is a poor option for controlling the number of free roaming Mustangs in the American West. They very much object to the Bureau of Land Management for proposing that it is. And, say these individuals and organizations, the BLM is ignoring the First Amendment Rights of citizens by forbidding access of the public and press to what are being called horrific experiments.
The proposed experiment in wild horse population control includes the use of a procedure called ovariectomy. I’ve described briefly what this procedure is in Should You Spay Your Mare From Breeding. While not repeating details here, it is a risky, invasive surgery that is only performed on our domestic horses when there is a problem with the horse’s ovaries. It is rarely done as a means to prevent unwanted foals. It’s not a complicated surgery, but it does present a danger to the mare if the horse is not cared for properly after the procedure. This is why the many people believe it is a very poor way of approaching population management.
Following an ovariectomy, mares need time to heal. They must be prevented from lying down for a day or two after. Because the procedure is done internally, there is no way to tell if an infection is setting in without close monitoring. In a stable, a mare may be tied for a period following the procedure. But in the wild, it would be impossible to immobilize mares safely. Ultimately, the BLM will not be doing the operation on one, two or even half a dozen mares. Mass sterilization may include dozens of horses. Other dangers that require monitoring to remediate is the possibility of internal bleeding and the escape of intestine through the surgical incision. Our own horses will certainly get pain relief and antibiotics. But, this may not happen with wild horses.
At any given time on the range, a mare could be in foal. It’s estimated that up to 75% of the mares subject to the ovariectomy may be in foal at the time of the procedure. Many will lose their foals as a result.
Not only could this procedure damage or endanger a horse physically, but mentally as well. Ovaries produce hormones, and their removal will affect the mare's behavior. This, say advocates, fundamentally changes the wild behavior of horses on the range.
In mid-August wild horse advocates launched a lawsuit against the BLM, citing that First Amendment rights will be infringed upon as the government department plans to deny media and public access while conducting their experiments on two hundred horses in Oregon. Part of the justification for the experiments was to test the social acceptability of the procedure.
The BLM has tried many different methods of population control, and all have met with some resistance from wild horse rights advocates. With so many that are socially unacceptable, impractical, or ineffective you almost can’t blame them for experimenting with a different method. But given the risks involved to the horses, and the potential for backlash from the advocacy community, you really have to wonder if this was the best they could come up with.
Why wouldn't they just geld stallions instead??? Seems less invasive and less risky, as well as less time consuming. You could round up entire bachelor bands and in one fell swoop severely limit the breed's capabilities to expand.
Why wouldn't they just geld stallions instead??? Seems less invasive and less risky, as well as less time consuming. You could round up entire bachelor bands and in one fell swoop severely limit the breed's capabilities to expand.
In the year 1492, horses returned to the Americas after an absence of several thousand years. These horses arrived in the holds of the first ships to cross the Atlantic Ocean from Europe. Today, there are still feral herds roaming ...
Once again, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is coming under criticism for mismanaging Mustang herds, this time, in western Utah. On drought ravaged lands, Mustangs are being blamed for a shortage of grazing. However, proponent ...
The Cloud Foundation and American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, along with veterinarians and congressmen agree that spaying is a poor option for controlling the number of free roaming Mustangs in the American West. They very m ...
In an effort to control the population of wild horses and buros in the U.S. midwest, the federal government is offering an incentive to anyone who adopts a wild horse or burro. The Adoption Incentive Program allows adoptees of wil ...
There is good news, at least temporarily, for those who are against the culling of wild horses in the American west. Last July, the House Appropriations Committee voted to remove from Interior Department budget passages outlining ...
Animal rights activists are angered after the U.S. Forest Service, a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that looks after the national forests and grasslands, began the roundup of about 1000 wild horses. The horses are be ...
A controversial bill is headed to the US senate. Those who approve of the measures set out in the bill, which includes sterilizing mares, say it will effectively control the size of the wild horse herds, ensure the humane treatmen ...
In Defense of Animals is petitioning to halt the sterilization program being planned by the U.S. Forest Service in Oregon that will brutally reduce the herd size and cause harm to horses in the Oregon’s Big Summit wild horse herd ...
In this good news, bad news video from ABC News Prime 'It’s Not Too Late', host Ginger Zee takes a look at the evolution of the BLM’s management of wild horses on American’s public lands. The BLM claims there are too many horses, ...
Approximately 250 feral horses graze the floodplains of the Salt River and areas in the Tonto National Forest in Arizona. Once they were in danger of disappearing. But, a dedicated group of local advocates called Salt River Wild H ...
With a best jump of 102.5" and a jumpoff record of 908 - 4 the 16.1 hand Paint mare PX August Diamond took the #1 spot. Out of the top Paint breeder P a r a d o X stable, she’s by 24th generation sire PX Classic Diamond and dam PX ...
Having trouble loading your horse? Star trainer Brett Kidding has a demonstration that should solve all of your problems. Just follow his step-by-step instructions to trailer loading success. Look for Bett Kiddings other training ...
Ride along with this cross-country rider as she tackles the CCI3*-L division at the 2022 Maryland 5* at Fair Hill in Elkton, MD. A Go-Pro camera catches the tricky footing, unexpected hold, and challenging jumps as the young horse ...
Horse trainer Tim Anderson demonstrates an interesting tool for creating a custom mold to help with saddle fitting. Heated to 180F this pad conforms to the contours of a horse’s back, allowing a fitter to fine-tune a saddle that i ...
The Beast has taken over the top ranking on PonyBox after toppling PX August Diamond and Felix Felicis. The Beast is a purebred 17-hand Canadian Warmblood foaled on October 2, 2022. He’s sired by 102nd generation Helix and his dam ...
Over 100,000 Mustangs roam the wilder parts of the U.S. and while many view them as a historic symbol of American heritage others see them as pests destroying wildlife habitat and important cattle grazing lands. This video takes ...
*Rhaenyra Targaryen finally toppled PX Vindictive Paint’s steely grip on the #1 rank. Owned by BMC General Store Ryaenyra Targaryen is a 16.2-hand Moyle mare. She is out of the 101st generation stallion * Caraxes whose accolades i ...
The final 2022 FEI Eventing Nations Cup was held October 6-9 in Boekelo, Netherlands. Enjoy the replay of the cross-country phase with over five hours of action. This was the 8th and final competition of the Eventing Nations Cup a ...
By 
MOD 
