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Glut of unwanted horses might be solved with help from ranchersAs every one knows, horses, and particularly those on public lands, are to the point of too many. The Bureau of Land Management is agreeing to set aside old rules and regulations to solicit help from those that have been previously somewhat ignored and, in some cases, damaged. I am writing this letter because I feel that outside intervention to help with this problem is needed. I am not associated with the BLM; however, I have been a contract veterinarian working with these horses since 1976 and have seen many changes in the program. The continuing escalating cost of caring for unwanted horses in long-term holding facilities and just the cost of gathering these horses is out of control. The simple reason for this letter is to ask public land ranchers to take at least one horse, of any age, with no cost and all restrictions removed, to help with this problem. For those ranchers willing to help, an adjustment in their allotted AUM's may be considered in helping to defray the cost of caring for the one or two horses that you will take to your ranch. Another program that is in place is that the BLM will pay up to $750 to any qualified individual that can take one horse or more to gentle them, get them to halter and lead and break them to ride. In this program, certain qualifications may apply as these horses will be either auctioned off or adopted. This is a critical situation. There is no doubt that the number of horses on public lands cost every rancher money in grass loss, water use and, in many cases, riparian areas destroyed. Just one or two horses to each rancher will help to change the concept of what many people feel about the use of public lands for grazing of domestic food animals when they hear that the public land rancher is willing to help the feds out of this hole they have put themselves in. For those of you that want to help, e-mail me at jradosev@hughes.net and I will put you in contact with the BLM. You can also call me at 307-221-4784. --John E. Radosevich, DVM, Wheatland, Wyo. 8/25/08 Date: 8/20/08
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