A Mustang is a free-roaming feral horse of the North American west that first descended from horses brought to the Americas by the Spanish. Mustangs are often referred to as wild horses, but the more correct term is feral horses.
In 1900 North America had an estimated two million free-roaming horses. Since 1900, the Mustang population has been reduced drastically. Mustangs were viewed as a resource that could be captured and used or sold (especially for military use) or slaughtered for food, especially pet food. The BLM considers 27,000 individuals a manageable number, but the feral Mustang population currently exceeds 33,000. Today, free-roaming horses are protected under United States law, but have disappeared from several states where there were once established populations. More than half of all Mustangs in North America are found in Nevada with other significant populations in Montana, Wyoming and Oregon. Another 30,000 horses are in holding facilities.
In 1971, Congress passed the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act. This law was the first of its kind to protect wild horses and burros. The law stated that "wild horses and burros are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West," and that they "enrich the lives of the American people."
In that year the American government set aside 80 million acres as wild horse territory where herds could run free. Unfortunately, over the years, the amount of land set aside for wild horses has been reduced, so that today less than 40 million acres remain. And many of those acres do not offer the kinds of grazing lands that horses need.
Wild horses that live on public lands must share the resources of grazing lands and water with farmers' livestock, including cattle and sheep, as well as other wild animals. As increasing numbers of animals compete for the limited resources of America' public lands, there are few people to speak up for the wild horses to assure that their interests%u2014and their homes%u2014are protected.
As a result, the number of wild horses roaming free in America continues to decline. Just a few years ago, there were approximately 48,000 wild horses in America. According to the BLM, in 2002 only about 34,500 remained. By the year 2005, the government has stated that it wants to reduce the population further to about 26,900 horses.
At Return to Freedom, we feel that wild horses need to be protected. And we feel it is just as important that bonded herds be able to stay together when they are moved off public lands.
Currently we have over 200 horses at our Sanctuary. And we have to make sure they are all fed and cared for. Also, in order to save even more horses, we need more land.
Please consider how you can help. Contact Return to Freedom, American Wild Horse Sanctuary, 805-737-9246 or P O Box 926, Lompac, CA., 93438: Wild Horse Spirit, Ltd., 25 Lewers Creek Road, Carson City, NV 89704, (775) 883-5488, http://www.wildhorsespirit.org
