Horse (Non) Sense

Field &Stream ^ | November 2003 | Thomas McIntyre

[Copernicus]

Horse (Non)Sense

Thomas McIntyre

Wild Horses is an oxymoron. Wild equines did evolve in the Western Hemisphere, but they also started going extinct here millions of years ago......

These feral horses and donkeys are about as wild as stray cats and park pigeons. Like many feral animals, they are whizzes at exploiting newfound habitats........

And predators have never represented a threat: In the early 1800s, when it was seemingly possible to walk(rather briskly, to be sure) on the backs of wolves and grizzly bears from the Mississippi to the Pacific, feral horses were estimated to number 2 million.................

Then in 1971, Richard M. Nixon, adding to his other official malfeasances, signed something stirringly titled "The Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act", solemnly and absurdly designating such animals to be "an integral part of the natural system of public lands," and granting them the kind of protection Hindu cows could only envy. And here the problem begins.............

Some would have you believe that horses and donkeys are part of our Western heritage. Far from it- these feral animals are serious competitors with native wildlife and represent an unconscionable drain on the management resources of agencies such as the BLM. Therefore the use of firearms(not adoption or preposterous schemes revolving around contraception ) represent a sane method of reducing feral herds in key habitats.................

[Copernicus]

Provocative article in the November issue of Field and Stream.

Remember Field & Stream?

[Copernicus]

This should crank up the Soviet Socialist Wackos amongst us!

[oyez]

I didn't find the whole article. Cold someone prompt the exact location?

[Cobra Scott]

I couldn't find the article anywhere on the site. I did find Sex, Hunting and Rednecks though, and it was pretty good.

[sean327]

I cant find this article, do you have a better link?

[Scenic Sounds]

Some would have you believe that horses and donkeys are part of our Western heritage.

I think that delusion was caused when Hollywood put all those horses in all those "Western" flicks. ;-)

[Lee Heggy]

Thinning the mustangs is a neccessity. I don't know how many currently exist. I do own one that I ride often...ugly little mare with an attitude. Not reccommeded for children.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[Copernicus]

This is in the print version on news stands.

This excerpt came to me by email (which encouraged me to pick up my news stand copy!).

I found some Thomas McIntyre columns, but not this specific column.

I assume a programmer could find an exact Internet copy with ease. I will ask some associates for help.

Best regards,

[Copernicus]

I couldn't find the article anywhere on the site. I did find Sex, Hunting and Rednecks though, and it was pretty good.

Okay, your turn: so post a link!

Best regards,

[Judith Anne]

My county has a wild horse herd running in it, that the park service wants to remove; the park service says they aren't native animals (and some of them are runaways) and since they aren't native, they should be shot, rounded up, sold for meat, in other words, removed from the scenic riverways.

Most of us are a looooooooong way from tree huggers, but we don't want the wild herd molested by the park service. We want them left alone to run. They don't harm the streams or rivers (a park service allegation) they don't harm the local ranchers, they don't annoy anyone except those folks who think that only animals that were there when the park was formed can be allowed to come in. Pristine nature, or some darn thing. Never mind that it was logged to bare ground in the 1920s.

Of course, the park service doesn't mind the bears, or the wolves...

[El Gato]

Therefore the use of firearms(not adoption or preposterous schemes revolving around contraception ) represent a sane method of reducing feral herds in key habitats.................

And the meat can be sold to the French, at premium prices. Or if you don't want to do that, I guess you could make Burro Burritos. :) I think I could take the horsemeat, but burro? I don't know about that.

That said, it should only be done in places where the feral equines are upsetting the local native species, or a becoming the same sort of problem that deer have become in many cities. (Rat's with antlers pushed replaced by rats that you could ride?)

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[E.G.C.]

BTT!!!!!

[B4Ranch]

They don't harm the streams or rivers.

You need to come to Nevada and see just how wonderful wild horse are when they have eaten all the decent grazing feed and are just skin and bones stumbling around wishing somebody would shoot them.