Along with protection and preservation comes the responsibility to keep public lands in balance,
The Wild, Free Roaming Horses and Burro Act of 1971 requires the
BLM to maintain animal levels that achieve a "thriving natural ecological balance." When populations of wild horses and burros along with wildlife and livestock exceed the
capacity of their habitat, land health begins to deteriorate. Native vegetation is damaged, encouraging the growth of invasive weeds and reducing the amount of food and
water available to support the animals.
When the BLM determines that the mustang population exceeds habitat capacity, the excess animals are removed from the range and prepared for adoption to qualified adopters.
Finding homes for mustangs can be challenging, but here is your opportunity to help.
>> Learn about Adoption
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America's mustangs are the descendants of wild horses brought to the New World by Spanish explorers and missionaries in the 16th century. Others come from stock
that were released or escaped from miners, ranchers, homesteaders and others who settled the West. Although horses evolved in North America there are many different
opinions as to why no horses or burros existed on this continent at the time of European exploration. Spanish explorers reintroduced horses to North America beginning
in the late fifteenth century and Native Americans helped spread horses throughout the Great Plains and the West. Until as recently as the mid-twentieth century,
horses continued to be released onto public lands by the U.S. cavalry, farmers, ranchers, and miners.
The "Pencil War"
By the mid-20th century, domestic markets for pet and chicken feed and European markets for horse meat emerged, further reducing the number of wild horses and
burros remaining in the West. Public concern escalated in response to the brutal methods used by mustangers to capture and transport wild horses for sale to rendering
plants. Horrified by the gruesome practices, Velma Johnston spearheaded a "Pencil War", a letter writing campaign that generated more letters to Congress than any
single issue besides the Vietnam War! Thousands of letters were written by school children concerned for the horses' welfare.
Congress passes "the Act"
As populations on western rangelands declined to fewer than 20,000 animals, the Congress of the United States deliberated over the animals' future and passed the
Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burro Act in 1971 (Act). The Act placed America's mustangs and burros under federal jurisdiction, and charged the Department of the
Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Department of Agriculture's Forest Service (USFS) with preserving and protecting wild horses and burros as
"living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West."
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Three photographers have earned the winning spot for the Wild Horse Adoption Awareness photography contest, launched earlier in the year.
In the Professional category, Linda Unger from Houston, Texas received $250 as the grand prize winner for her photo of a mustang showing the unmistakable bond between man and horse.
She also had an additional photo that qualified in the Top 10. Kyrstle Pehrson from Buhl, Idaho received a grand prize of $150 for the amateur category with a stunning picture of two wild mustangs
fighting on the prairie. Jennifer Deden from Centerville, Texas received the $100 grand prize for the youth category with an adorable photograph of two mustangs in the holding pen waiting to be adopted.
>> Top Ten Finalists - Amateur Category
>> Top Ten Finalists - Professional Category
>> Top Ten Finalists - Youth Category
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Want to keep in touch or talk to us about National Wild Horse Adoption Day? Join our online communities and help spread the word!
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