As we stated in the previous blog this winter is going to be a hard one on Alberta’s wild horses. We have come across several articles in horse magazines about the care of our own horses during winters such as we are receiving this year. In all of these articles, if the horses are on pasture, they talk about the stress put on the horses by having to paw through the deep snow to obtain enough feed. Even our own horses which I feed, have to be monitored in order that they stay healthy this time of year.
I have attached an article posted in the last Horse Industry Association of Alberta’s, Horse Industry eNews, which speaks to this. (Click on this link which is a .pdf file and will open on a new page.)
Alberta Horse Industry – Winter Management Considerations
You can see that the older and younger horses will find these conditions the most difficult. In studies out of the US on wild horse survival they also speak of the “thermal stress” that is put on the horses with extreme cold. Our Alberta wild horses are undergoing all these factors already, even though this is officially the first day of winter. According to the old-timers that have lived in the area for a very long time, other hard winters like this one is shaping up to be have seen a large number of horses perish as well as other wildlife.
As this weather continues through the next few months, as the experts predict, we are going to loose a large number of these old and young horses to it. This is sad but a part of Mother Nature and shows the main reason we do not need a capture season to allegedly manage wild horse numbers.
The wild horses desperately need your help by urgently writing or emailing both Minister Robin Campbell and the Premier, Alison Redford to not go ahead with any capture season this winter. It is apparent that the only groups that want a capture season are those that want to line their own pockets to their own selfish benefit by catching and selling the wild horses that go for slaughter.
WHOAS does believe the wild horses and their numbers have to be managed properly and we have a plan to do this. However, it is certainly not going to be needed this winter. It is really imperative that you let the government know how we, as Albertans, feel about the welfare of these beautiful and magnificent wild horses. The horses really need our help this year.
Contact info:
Honourable Robin Campbell
Minister of Environment & Sustainable Resources
#323 Legislature Building
10800 – 97 Ave
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6
robin.campbell@gov.ab.ca
Premier Alison Redford
Office of the Premier
#307 Legislature Building
10800 – 97 Ave
Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6
alison.redford@gov.ab.ca
We thank you for your continued support. Bob
