The problem with the wild horses is that there is nothing to check their population growth, no natural predators in the wild. It was originally thought that the excess mustangs could be rounded up and then put up for adoption. This isn’t really happening. My wife has two horses and pasturage for at least two more, problem with wild horses is that they are wild. It takes almost a professional trainer to condition them and train them to take a saddle and ride. Many people show up at these adoptions without a clue what it takes to care, raise, feed, etc. a horse. For those people who do know about horses, have the land and resources to support adopted mustangs, there are simply too many horses to be adopted.
I did understand that, and I rode some in my youth, so I understand that the horses are wild and take a professional trainer.
My complaint is this problem has escalated due the coming drought and BLM unwillingness to tackle this problem two years ago...they knew the wild horses were procreating at 20% a year.
Need to open up the adoption to the French, as they are such horse lovers and know exactly how to train them in short order.
Not only are they extremely difficult to handle, but feed and hay has become astronomically expensive. Horse rescue programs have become overrun with horses that actually could be used and ridden... not too many people have the resources to keep a wild mustang just for a lawn ornament.
Years ago I was given a wild mustang that had been adopted by someone, and after finding out that he was indeed wild, dumped him off at a mutual friend’s farm. By the time I finished training him he was the most loveable horse.
Here’s a bunch of facts about the wild horses and the BLM.
I own a BLM mustang, but I think the truth is that most of the feral horses should be shot.