The image of the open land filled with wild horses running free has become threatened by the U.S. government that seems to have aligned itself with “Big Cattle”.
Today, there are more American wild horses being held in facilities than currently in the wild. Since the 19th century, the number of wild horses free in the West has declined by 98%. The practices of removing American horses off public lands has decimated their numbers and raised taxpayer costs by $80,000,000 each fiscal year. Thousands of wild horses are being herded by helicopters and vehicles into holding pens annually. The ones who survive separation from their families, substandard veterinary care, electric cattle prods or other horse ‘management’ techniques are stockpiled
…show more content…
Though BLM has claimed there have been no deaths or injuries to wild horses or burros during the roundups, NBC correspondent Lisa Myers’ exposé on wild horses clearly captures on film a foal being trampled to death in a BLM holding facility.
The crux of the matter is the culpability of the Cattle Industry, which claims the wild horses and burros are nuisances on public land, though cattle drastically outnumber wild horses and burros. 240 million acres (82.5%) of public land are leased to private companies for grazing - less than 20% is allotted to be shared with wild horses, and less and less is being “shared” with the wild horses every day.
30-year retired BLM employee Bob Edwards disagrees with his former employers claiming that it’s the livestock numbers that need managing, not the wild horse population. Says Edwards, “The wild horses are not receiving a fair
…show more content…
Gus Cothran, has stated that the reduction in the U.S. burro population is resulting in an increase of inbreeding due to a lack of genetic variability. Burro populations have only a 20 percent genetic variability factor compared to a healthy genetic variability of 70%.
Such figures led the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to warn in its 2013 report that "removing burros permanently from the range could jeopardize the genetic health of the total population." So far, those warnings have done nothing to curb the roundups.
In June 2014, nonprofit organizations and friends of wild horse preservation petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the animals as an endangered species so as to protect them from cattlemen who would prefer the public lands be used for grazing herds than those “pesty” wild horses (though the cattle population drastically outnumbers the horses). The groups requested that the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) recognize North American wild horses as a distinct population segment (DPS) of the species Equus caballus and protect them on all US federal lands.
“These horses are different, they are treated different under the law, they behave differently and there’s some evidence they are genetically different,” Jennifer Barnes, a lawyer for Friends of Animals based in suburban
The Bureau of Land Management manages the U.S. mustang population and allows the horses run free on 34 million acres of public land. About 271,000 mustangs have been removed from private land by the government since 1971, according to the American Wild Horse Preservation Organization. Most of the mustang populations are found in the Western states of Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, Oregon, California, Arizona, North Dakota and New Mexico. Some also live on the Atlantic coast and on islands such as the Sable, Shackleford, Assateague and Cumberland
Wild horse roundups became more frequent as the population of wild horses began to increase. The methods used for roundups included, “Using low flying planes and mounted armed cowboys, commercial contractors rounded up horses and reduced their numbers on the range” (Aksentijevich). Many times planes and helicopters fly low and while men on four-wheelers chase and spook the wild horses and separate them into groups, “The process includes chasing down entire herds with a helicopter, trapping them and separating the horses based on gender and age instead of by family units” (Boetel). This process takes the families of horses away from each other. Once they are separated, the horses are then put into corrals, feedlots, and other holding facilities,
Subsequently, there is a wide range of people that ride at the AZUCUS Ranch. There are all kinds of different people that take care of their horse in different ways. The spoilers are the ones that take care of their horse the best. The snobby riders don’t really take care of their horse unless they can’t find somebody to care for them. The care less riders are the ones that don’t take care of their
In the case of the horses, they too are at risk of dying if they are not medically attended to quickly. The difference between the
Robert Redford’s “Protecting Our Wild Horses” is a persuasive essay that was written to congress addressing the preservation of the horse’s habitat. In the text he effectively builds a common ground with him and the reader, he gives statistics, and uses inclusive language to strengthen his rhetoric and makes this article compelling to anyone. Redford tries to evoke a sense of patriotism amongst his audience in order to persuade them to take a stand in protecting this countries wild horses. The author keeps reiterating things like “American’s principles” and the “spirit of the American West” and how important these horses are to people and this nation.
There currently are about 9.2 million horses in North America. They are widespread with many breeds and disciplines that each horse fits into. Horses did not always inhabit North America as they do now. Roughly four hundred years ago the horse made it to America through Spanish soldiers, also known as conquistadores. These conquistadores successfully conquered parts of Mexico and South America before traveling north to the southwestern portion of what is now today’s
Equestrian sports have been entertaining humans for centuries. Many of these sports have turned fun entertainment into a business. The focus has changed from having fun to making as much money as possible. In every equestrian sport, questionable things are done to train and get horses to their “best” potential. Equestrian sports should have stricter regulations and enforcement in order to ensure and maintain the safety of the horse.
In her work “What’s Wrong with Animal Rights,” Vicki Hearne challenges common beliefs of animal rights, arguing that animal rights groups do very little to actually benefit animals. She argues that natural selection should be allowed to take place for wild animals, and animals such as cats and dogs should not be seen as property. To persuade the audience to support her position, she uses ethos, pathos, and logos. Her credibility as a trainer makes the logic behind her views reliable, her logic reinforces the examples she uses, and she appeals to emotion using her relationship with her Airedale, Drummer, to support everything her argument is saying. Through these strategies, Vicki Hearne effectively counters the current, popular views of the
Have you ever wondered where different breeds of horses originated from? There are over 350 breeds of horses in the world. They go from two feet tall to roughly seven feet tall. Horses are a very useful animal when it comes to almost anything. About a third of the horses in the world are used for recreational use.
In North America, wild horses are often labeled as non-native, or exotic species by most federal or state agencies, such as the National Park Service, etc. Despite this, horses were originally indigenous to North America millions of years ago, however, some found their way to what is now Europe and Asia before they died out and became extinct around 2 million years ago. It wasn’t until 1493 when the Horse was finally re introduced. On Columbus’ second voyage to the Americas, Spanish horses were brought back to North America, first in the Virgin Islands, then in 1519, they were reintroduced to North America, in modern‐day Mexico. From there they then radiated throughout the American Great Plains.
Rodeos are big events all over the country. Families come from all over to enjoy watching cowboys compete at the rodeos. While some people come to rodeos to document the abuse and harm that the cowboys are causing the animals. It is a big controversy whether rodeos are animal abuse or not. Animal rights activists are trying to stop rodeos from “abusing” animals, but they don’t know the extensive care that the animals are given.
So many organizations have tried bringing rodeos to a hault. Because they say it is a form of animal abuse. There is a organization (SHARK) which stands for showing animals respect and kindness. One other organization is called (PETA) ethical to animals. Both of these organizations have claimed that in no other sport are half the contestants forced to preform with flank straps, electric prods, raking
So, instead of wasting the money the horse has earned the cheapest way is to send them off to wherever they want. Which, is not a nice home, it is a death home. Living as an animal in the racing industry is difficult exhausting. From endless suffering and injuries, being injected and digesting illegal pills, and if you fail you are thrown out of the industry and killed for multiple usages. The life of a racehorse is not sunshine and rainbows.
Every year on the first Saturday of May, thousands of spectators flock to Churchill Downs to witness America’s top thoroughbreds compete in the Kentucky Derby. It is a huge event filled with celebrities, fancy hats, and fast horses. However, behind all the glamour and glitz, horse racing is full of ethical problems. Over the years the issue of animal abuse has been brought up in the discussion of horse racing. Racehorses are frequently injured, and these injuries often lead to death.
Eight Belles raced in the Kentucky Derby, and flew across the finish line in second place. However, due to the heavy physical work at such a young age, both of her ankles shattered moments after she crossed the finish line. Due to the Kentucky Derby being covered on national television, people began to see that horse racing isn’t all glamour. After mourning the loss of many young horses, I have come to the conclusion that the horse racing industry is corrupt. When working with horses, the number one priority should be the safety of the horse, but in the racing industry, it is winning.