A loss in the feral horse battle

[cmahoney]

https://thisisreno.com/2025/07/trump-funds-cut-wild-horses/

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[roosiebull]

That’s unfortunate but not at all surprising. I spend a lot of time with horses, they are awesome animals, but something needs to be done about the feral population, they are devastating to the landscape and native species, which is a completely different issue than the crazy amount of money spent on them… it’s crazy

 

[mt terry d]

Eliminating horse slaughter houses in the US caused more abuse to horses.
Note, I love horses. Had horses for about 60 years.
I'm not one of those crazy "horse people" though

 

[Nine Banger]

I'm not one of those crazy "horse people" though

That's what they all say.

 

[roadrunner]

These are not wild horses and do not need protection.

No different than the "wild" hog issue that so many states want to be removed...

 

[canyonhunter47]

Your average person off the street thinks that “wild” horses are native wildlife and neutral-to-beneficial to the environment. As long as that is the case, it is unlikely that progress will be made on controlling their population

 

[rayporter]

numerous equines are turned loose every year because of the lack of slaughter houses.

back when they brought 50 cents a pound the worthless ones could be sold.

 

[MallardSX2]

I mentioned a mobile woodchipper on another forum. You know, one of the really big ones, that grind up stumps.

Maybe that still an option?

 

[OKHunter84]

How many guys would hunt them if it was allowed? Grip and grins with a stallion, talk about getting a large reaction from anti hunting community.

 

[BTLowry]

I have nothing against horse, have owned a few

But feral horses are no different than feral hogs.

Not native, compete with native species, destroy environment in some cases and generally just have no value to nature (other than a few feeding bears, mt lions and other large predators)

Best thing would be to thin them out

 

[nphunter]

Seems like a good use for thermal scopes and helicopters.
There use to be a huge feral horse issue along the John day river in OR, they were destroying private land but spent a lot of time on BLM. Eventually the landowners got tired of it and eradicated like 60+ horses. There is no longer a feral horse problem in that particular area.

They need to just list them as feral non native like audad are listed in some states. If you see one on public ground it’s free game, even with no regulations on audad we still have a healthy population in OR but mostly on private ground. I think horses should be the same. If they want them on reservations, private land or reserves awesome, as soon as they get loose on public land then allow Lethal removal.

 

[MallardSX2]

How many guys would hunt them if it was allowed? Grip and grins with a stallion, talk about getting a large reaction from anti hunting community.

They would sell every single tag in seconds.

 

[Nine Banger]

They would sell every single tag in seconds.

The cooking forum would get some bumps.

I'm imagining moose-like quality on the table fair.

 

[TaperPin]

It’s quite amazing how much the average clueless person loves the idea of stray horses. “Oh look they are playing!” No lady, they are fighting for dominance and if one could kick the other right in the head it would.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Write to your legislators and ask them to fix the issue.

 

[OKHunter84]

The cooking forum would get some bumps.

I'm imagining moose-like quality on the table fair.

I would definitely try it.

 

[dtrkyman]

Who is pocketing that cash, it certainly isn't all going to horse "conservation"!

Talk about a way to piss some people off, go out and kill a bunch of horses!

They are thick here in New Mexico!!!

 

[HairyScandinavian]

...slash funding for the Bureau of Land Management’s Wild Horse and Burro program by 25% would have allowed the slaughter of some 64,000 federal protected wild horses in government holding facilities.

Good grief, we're really housing 64k horses in government facilities?

 

[Yoteassasin]

I’d hunt em .

 

[Legend]

If I had to pick an animal to shoot at a 1,000yds it would have to meet the following criteria: be very big, have an excessive amount of them, be an invasive species, and live across many states on public land. Hmmm.....