Horse protection advocates see the report of an internal review of this summer's wild horse roundup as a first step in preventing roundup crews from treating wild horses and foals in cruel and inhumane ways and they are encouraged by a series of steps Director Bob Abbey outlined last week to rein in practices that are not in the horses’ best interests.
Abbey, the former BLM state director for Nevada, said the roundup this summer near the Utah line was done correctly for the most part, but he said the review cited some incidents of inappropriate practices, including helicopters jeopardizing the health and safety of horses by following too closely or chasing small bands or individual animals for too long.
In addition to prohibiting helicopters from making contact with horses, Abbey said he would order more training for both the agency workers and contractors involved. The review team also recommended the agency develop a system for tracking a variety of incidents, “from the use of electrical prods, to roping, to injuries or reports of animal welfare concerns.”
Suzanne Roy, director of the Americas Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, a coalition of more than 40 groups that includes the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said,“This review is a first step in addressing the cruelty that is pervasive in the BLM’s wild horse and burro program, and we commend the BLM review team for its honesty.”
Horse advocacy groups continue to fear the worst in some instances during the round-ups, citing the fact that some mustangs were chased individually by helicopters, had their tails twisted when being loaded or forced into trailers whipped and kicked, dragged by a rope around the neck, and repeatedly shocked with electrical prods.
Several advocacy groups also expressed concern that the BLM didn’t find some of the more egregious incidents to be “inhumane” treatment.