Untethered horses

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Perhaps a dumb question but I had this question in my head last fall but never got around to asking about it, just remembered. I was in BLM / national forest (very west side of CO) and came across two loose horses with no halter or anything on them. I never got super close so no idea if they had a brand or such. But it got me wondering at the time if they were purposely loose and grazing (do ranchers do that with horses like cattle on big areas of unfenced land?), if they were horses that got loose from somewhere, or if they were wild horses? I didn't see any signs posted at any road junctions looking for stray horses. Basically wondering in hindsight the likelihood they were horses that got loose and if someone was looking for them.

 

[Ucsdryder]

I found 2 horses that I reported to fish and game and BLM a few years back. I assume they were escapees. I tried to catch them, I’d have loved to ride one back to civilization but they were grain bucket catchers and I didn’t have anything with me.

 

[Dos Perros]

I've seen horses grazing high forest stuff, but with halters and some hobbled.

Also seen horses grazing lower BLM without halters but obviously domesticated animals.

And then also the mustangs.

Tough to know which sort of horses you may have been looking at.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Also seen horses grazing lower BLM without halters but obviously domesticated animals.

For someone with little horse knowledge, what makes a horse obviously domesticated?

 

[Dos Perros]

For someone with little horse knowledge, what makes a horse obviously domesticated?

The instance I'm thinking of, it was a group of horses on BLM that were very curious and approached us within yards.

 

[BBob]

In a popular northern AZ deer and elk unit there used to be a large ish group of horses that ran around. Several had bells around their necks and all were branded. I assumed that group were owned by someone but left out to graze just like a rancher would with cattle? We definitely have feral horses and donkeys running around too.

Back in ‘08 or ‘12 due to the bad financial times lots of horses were supposedly set free. I was told by a horse person I knew at the time that lots of people couldn’t afford to feed them so they were let loose into the desert. That conversation came up after I asked him why we were seeing so many loose horses at the time.

 

[wnelson14]

For someone with little horse knowledge, what makes a horse obviously domesticated?

what you saw may have been wild horse? I know they are a huge problem in Nevada not sure in western CO.
Signs of a domesticated horse with some caveats, would be a saddle-sore mark on the withers (White patch), saddle blanket sweat marks from previous days, non-matted and tangled tail and mane, shoes on hooves or trimmed if you could see them, possibly trimmed bridle path on the mane behind the ears.

 

[BBob]

wild horse

Whoa now! I’ve been informed on this site that there are no wild horses only feral horses

 

[wnelson14]

Whoa now! I’ve been informed on this site that there are no wild horses only feral horses

Mustang, lol

 

[Ucsdryder]

Tracks…shod horses? Pretty dead giveaway. Mustangs are pretty easy to identify. I don’t think there are “wild” horses in the Colorado mountains.

 

[wnelson14]

Programs: Wild Horse and Burro: Herd Management: Herd Management Areas: Colorado | Bureau of Land Management

Colorado Herd Management Areas BLM Colorado manages four wild horse herd management areas (HMAs) on approximately 400 thousand acres. The combined appropriate management level for all HMAs in the state is 812 animals. Explore Colorado's herd management areas using the links below. Learn more...

www.blm.gov

 

[Dave_]

Map of feral herd areas. There are a few in western CO . https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/about-the-program/program-maps/maps-by-state

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[BadDogPSD]

We have a small herd of about 12 wild/feral horses in the open space behind us. They are very used to humans and I think some people are feeding them. I've had them follow me when hiking with my dog and have had to bail off the trail to let them pass. I think some might be escapees as they are geldings...

 

[JoMa]

We'll frequently see untethered horses on BLM and national forest land. They are usually hobbled and belong to sheepherders who use them to move their wagons to/from grazing areas. When they stop to allow the sheep to graze an area, they'll turn the horses loose to graze.

 

[elkliver]

For someone with little horse knowledge, what makes a horse obviously domesticated?

often pretty obvious(but that may be because of being familiar with horses). Wild horse will not have shoes and will never have had their feet rimmed. Feet often have grown out or worn poorly. Mane & tail is usually matted, non branded. A domestic horse, even if not shod will usually show signs of its feet being taken care of. Cinch marks, etc

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

what you saw may have been wild horse? I know they are a huge problem in Nevada not sure in western CO.
Signs of a domesticated horse with some caveats, would be a saddle-sore mark on the withers (White patch), saddle blanket sweat marks from previous days, non-matted and tangled tail and mane, shoes on hooves or trimmed if you could see them, possibly trimmed bridle path on the mane behind the ears.

Good to know thanks.

Map of feral herd areas. There are a few in western CO . https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/about-the-program/program-maps/maps-by-state

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Looking at those maps it was in a herd management area.

We'll frequently see untethered horses on BLM and national forest land. They are usually hobbled and belong to sheepherders who use them to move their wagons to/from grazing areas. When they stop to allow the sheep to graze an area, they'll turn the horses loose to graze.

I would have considered a hobbled horse as "tethered" for the purposes of this discussion. By untethered I meant a horse completely free roaming.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

SO it seems like those ones were likely feral ones in a management area.

But in the future if I see what appears to be a loose domestic horse is there anything useful to do aside from noting the coordinates and letting the warden / land manger know in case someone is looking for a horse?

 

[elkliver]

SO it seems like those ones were likely feral ones in a management area.

But in the future if I see what appears to be a loose domestic horse is there anything useful to do aside from noting the coordinates and letting the warden / land manger know in case someone is looking for a horse?

that depends on circumstances... if coming down the trail loose, I'd try and catch and wait for someone to show up. Otherwise, leave them alone as you don't know the circumstances if you notice some grazing on the hillside or from a distance, maybe tell sheriffs office when you get back. If someone has reported missing, the sheriff should know.

 

[Reburn]

We have a small herd of about 12 wild/feral horses in the open space behind us. They are very used to humans and I think some people are feeding them. I've had them follow me when hiking with my dog and have had to bail off the trail to let them pass. I think some might be escapees as they are geldings...

Dumped most likely. Not escaped.

 

[Erebor]

My first pony was routinely tethered in the day time and in a small paddock on her own at night. She was perfectly happy, well balanced and socialised. Her first love was hunting which made her hugely excited but she behaved perfectly whilst out. I think unless you have practical experience of managing a tethered horse it's difficult to comment in an informed way. I appreciate that it doesn't suit all horses but have no problem with tethering hardy natives in a well managed way.