Feral Horse Management Framework PDF
2025 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Alberta Government
Q: Has WHOAS signed an agreement with the Alberta government to round up and remove wild horses?
No. The MOU does not mandate removals or culls. It allows WHOAS to participate in decision-making when removals are already being considered by the government. Our role is to ensure any removals are done humanely, with priority given to rescue, care, and adoption—not auction or slaughter.
Q: Are you receiving government funding to do this?
WHOAS is a registered charity. We are not paid by the government to capture or remove horses. Any government funding received (if any) is designated for infrastructure or specific collaborative initiatives—not profit.
Q: What is WHOAS’s role in fertility control?
If fertility control does happen, WHOAS will be able to provide input on the location and protocols but final decisions rest with the government of Alberta.
- Vaccines are temporary and reversible
- Administered by a licensed vet
- Pregnant mares or mares with young foals are not vaccinated
Q: Would mares be removed from their herds to give them vaccines?
No. They would be vaccinated and returned to their original bands.
Q: Do you support culling?
Absolutely not. WHOAS has always and will always oppose any form of culling. Our participation in the MOU ensures that we’re at the table to prevent inhumane practices, not enable them.
Q: Are you capturing stallions or sub-adults to make money from adoption?
No. Any young horses brought into our care are typically abandoned, injured, or removed by the government.
WHOAS does not profit from adoption. The $800 adoption fee often doesn’t cover even the basic care, feed, and veterinary costs we provide.
Q: Why did WHOAS sign this MOU at all?
Because without it, wild horses in Alberta are at risk of being removed without oversight, transparency, or humane alternatives.
Being part of this agreement allows WHOAS to:
- Influence decisions on removals and contraception
- Ensure horses are not auctioned or culled
- Advocate for better protections from within the process
Q: What’s next?
We will continue:
- Rescuing and rehoming horses in need
- Advocating for wild horse protection
- Pushing for Alberta to reclassify wild horses from “feral” to a recognized wildlife species