This winter continues to make it a struggle for our wild horses to find adequate feed because of the deep snows. In some places the snow is up to their bellies and they are trying so hard to find areas where it is not so deep. When observing them they work so hard to paw the snow aside. Then they bury their heads to the point where you cannot see them and the whole herd slowly moves ahead repeating the process over and over.
It is even harder on the younger members of the herd who have to follow in the hoof steps of the more mature horses. Here you can see one of the young ones right up to his belly in the snow of this meadow. Still right now it appears that most that we have seen are managing to remain in reasonable condition although the rib cages on the older ones are starting to show. Even in the nicer temperatures of the last week, these wild horses have to expend so much energy to find enough feed to survive. The life of the wild horses is not an easy one.
Part of the information we heard was that a road had been plowed in by a contractor paid for by the ESRD to an area where we know a horse trapper had set up his capture pens many years in the past. We were lucky enough that the owner of the ranch is also a pilot and he offered to take us flying out west to check on the wild horses. We also were determined to find out if this information was true. So it was wonderful to finally locate some of the herds that we had wondered about and hadn’t seen for some time because of the winter. Our hearts were soon to sink when we flew over the site that had been reported to us. There indeed was a trail plowed through the deep snow through a meadow and muskeg to the location where we know wild horses have been trapped in the past.
This trail led right around to where a site had been cleared off large enough to set up a capture pen.
It is hard for us to believe that what we are being to told about the decision about the issuance of capture permits had not been made when you see this. What would you think?
More information has come to light again from concerned individuals that meetings had taken place between the capture permit holders and the ESRD about going ahead with a capture season and that the ESRD would help get sites ready by having roads plowed. Another part of the information is that the reason they are going to go ahead with a capture season is because allegedly the wild horses are carrying Equine Infectious Anaemia or as is commonly known as swamp fever. This is a viral disease that can be carried and afflict horses. This disease is characterized by recurring fever, a staggering gait and general debility. It is transferred by horse flies. There is absolutely no proof that this is indeed fact in the wild horse herds. As far as we know, no work has ever been done to prove this and we have never seen evidence of this. The CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) who monitors this, reports that in 2012 there were only 10 cases in all of Alberta and they were all in the northeastern part of the province. No matter what most captured horses would end up going for slaughter.
Our request to the Minister for a response to our concerns about a capture season this year and now the issuance of capture permits goes unanswered. So now we wait….. I strongly believe in my own heart that we have been misled by the Minister and his staff.
We must continue to let the Minister and the ESRD know that the vast majority of Albertans treasure our natural resources including the wild horses and do not want to see them captured and sent for slaughter for the financial benefit of a few. So we encourage you to write, phone or email to Minister Robin Campbell voicing your concerns. Just remember that the arguments used against the wild horses and to justify a capture season are not based on any proven scientific evidence or facts, just old prejudices and greed.
Honourable Robin Campbell
Minister of Environment & Sustainable Resources
#323 Legislature Building
10800 – 97 Ave
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6
robin.campbell@gov.ab.ca
780-427-2391 or toll free in Alberta 310-0000 followed by the previous number
Bob
The Wild Horses of Alberta Society 
Bob,
Great Work. Things are gaining momentum:)
Thanks,
Bruce
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I wrote a letter tonight after seeing Global News.
I pray that it is not too late.
Thank you for all you are doing.
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Culling of wild horses is the most disgusting thing I’ve heard of. It is bad enough that Alberta maintains a slaughter operation for non-feral horses. This is equally as bad. So this is Canada? This is Canada without a soul.
J. F.
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I think this is disgusting and terrible thing they are doing by rounding them up .horse where the frontier leave them alone
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So how much profit has Jason Bradley made in all the years
he has been capturing and selling wild horses – isn’t being on the steering committee a conflict of interest??
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The Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF) has adopted the following statement about the upcoming feral horse cull near Sundre in Alberta. I have stepped down from my board position due to this and other reasons. The fact that our provincial horse organization supports this is appalling. They are supposed to protect he horse, not kill them. This initiative was driven by someone on the board who is in bed with the slaughter industry. While this story does not directly refer to slaughter, it does refer to the rights of our wild animals.
Please contact the AEF and tell them you do not support their statement.. (see below)
https://www.albertaequestrian.com/
Please read the story in today’s Calgary Herald.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/alberta/Feral+horse+capture+kicks+controversy/9541563/story.html
AEF Statement: Feral (Free Roaming) Horses:
Feral or free roaming horses are part of the landscape in parts of Alberta and in order to protect the health of our eco-system the lands must be managed with respect to capacity. The Feral Horse Advisory Committee was formed by the Sustainable Resources Division (SRD) of the Government of Alberta to provide input. Horses are not native wildlife and are not managed under legislation pertaining to wildlife. Free roaming horses are under the Stray Animals Act. The population of free roaming horses requires management to assure the sustainability and the welfare of the loose horses, management and traceability of disease that could affect domestic horses and other livestock as well as the sustainability of the eco-system and limit damage to farm and ranch property and other livestock.
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So the wild horses are looking like the only cause of effects on the environment? What about deer, moose and all the other wild animals? Horses are not the only animals threatening our environment. What about humans??? We have put the biggest threat to our environment by building big cities, manufacturing plants, and everything else we have brought to where animals used to be. We took over their home and now farmers have the right to kill them??? How does this make any sense?
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