The original ancestors of wild horses we know today first came to this country in the fifteenth century with Cortez. Much of the historical mustang horse information we have today comes from the daily logs kept by the first explorers to set foot on American soil. With each expedition horses were lost in large numbers. These horses banded together in herds and lost all domesticated traits and characteristics.
As the horses became more numerous the Native American tribes welcomed them into their lives. They soon became the main source of transportation for all native peoples. Beyond transportation they soon replaced the dog for pulling loads between lodging sites. They also became a source of wealth to be traded with other tribes for goods needed for survival.
The Native Americans soon began breeding their horses to accent the strong points of their stock. This selective breeding was common among the Comanche, Shoshoni and the Nez Perce. The Appaloosa was first bred by Nez Pence tribes and is the first distinctly American breed of horses.
At the turn of the century these horses and burros numbered over two million strong. As a result they were hunted and killed by the thousands. The military saw them as resources to be taken for their use by the troops at war and at home. This was probably the most humane use they were put to during that period. At some point they became fair game to be hunted by air planes and run to ground by motor vehicles. Thousands were poisoned for use as pet food.
The Wild Horse Annie act was passed in 1959 to protect the horses and burros from being shot from vehicles. This included airplanes and what was commonly called "mustanging" by hunters. It did not stop the poisoning of these animals by the thousands. In 1971 the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros act was passed. This new law stopped all hunting on public lands.
The Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros act also turned them over to the Bureau of Land Management for protection of all herds on public land. The United States Forest Service administers any additional territories needed for the animals. The herds range in Montana, Wyoming, and Oregon as well as Nevada where the largest numbers are located.
Because fossils have been found that show the ancestors of horses lived in the Americas there is some discussion as to what they should be called. One group wants them designated as feral animals because the basis of their history comes from domesticated animals while others consider them as wild horses that have as much right to public lands as the cattle they are said to displace. If designated feral they could be in danger of attempted eradication by ranchers who want the land for cattle.
The management of numbers of these horses is tasked to the Bureau of Land Management. It is their job to find ways of controlling the number of animals in specific areas designated public range lands. They are also responsible for gathering and reporting mustang horse information to the government offices they work for. They have created an adoption program that has been very successful. Interested parties can adopt one for a nominal fee so long as they keep it for at least one year. Within this program over three hundred thousand horses and burros have been adopted to private parties.
As the horses became more numerous the Native American tribes welcomed them into their lives. They soon became the main source of transportation for all native peoples. Beyond transportation they soon replaced the dog for pulling loads between lodging sites. They also became a source of wealth to be traded with other tribes for goods needed for survival.
The Native Americans soon began breeding their horses to accent the strong points of their stock. This selective breeding was common among the Comanche, Shoshoni and the Nez Perce. The Appaloosa was first bred by Nez Pence tribes and is the first distinctly American breed of horses.
At the turn of the century these horses and burros numbered over two million strong. As a result they were hunted and killed by the thousands. The military saw them as resources to be taken for their use by the troops at war and at home. This was probably the most humane use they were put to during that period. At some point they became fair game to be hunted by air planes and run to ground by motor vehicles. Thousands were poisoned for use as pet food.
The Wild Horse Annie act was passed in 1959 to protect the horses and burros from being shot from vehicles. This included airplanes and what was commonly called "mustanging" by hunters. It did not stop the poisoning of these animals by the thousands. In 1971 the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros act was passed. This new law stopped all hunting on public lands.
The Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros act also turned them over to the Bureau of Land Management for protection of all herds on public land. The United States Forest Service administers any additional territories needed for the animals. The herds range in Montana, Wyoming, and Oregon as well as Nevada where the largest numbers are located.
Because fossils have been found that show the ancestors of horses lived in the Americas there is some discussion as to what they should be called. One group wants them designated as feral animals because the basis of their history comes from domesticated animals while others consider them as wild horses that have as much right to public lands as the cattle they are said to displace. If designated feral they could be in danger of attempted eradication by ranchers who want the land for cattle.
The management of numbers of these horses is tasked to the Bureau of Land Management. It is their job to find ways of controlling the number of animals in specific areas designated public range lands. They are also responsible for gathering and reporting mustang horse information to the government offices they work for. They have created an adoption program that has been very successful. Interested parties can adopt one for a nominal fee so long as they keep it for at least one year. Within this program over three hundred thousand horses and burros have been adopted to private parties.
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