International animal protection group encourages equestrians to come to the aid of the wild mustang

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It’s all too easy to get caught up in the headlines predicting the doom of the wild mustang and feel hopeless. Many of us shrug and assume there’s nothing we can do. In Defense of Animals (IDA), an international grassroots organization that looks after the well being of all animals, disagrees. They are on the frontlines of the fight to protect the wild horses from the Bureau of Land Management that is continually rounding them up and sending them to auction and eventual slaughter. They believe that if we act now as a united front, we can save these majestic animals.

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According to IDA’s found, Dr. Elliot Katz, “we are in the process of going to the courts asking for an injunction to prevent the round-up by the US Bureau of Land Management of wild horses in Arizona and Nevada. This round up is essentially driven by the cattle industry whose objective is to take over land that was set aside, specifically for our nation’s wild horses.”

Matt Rossell, IDA’s Northwest Director, adds, “Round-ups of wild horses and burros in recent decades have left wild herds splintered and in many cases so small that their genetic diversity--and thus their survival--is threatened. There are more wild horses in BLM holding pens, approximately 30,000, than there are currently in the wild, and the government claims they can't afford to feed them at a time when the adoption market is sluggish. And yet, shockingly, the BLM still continues to round them up!”

IDA opposes any more round-ups until the current crisis is resolved regarding the mustangs already in holding. IDA spoke last November at the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Council and gave our position on wild horses.

Everret, one of IDA's many success stories

Rossell encourages anyone who loves horses to take action. “People need to speak up for these wild horses and our collective voices are being heard in D.C.” He notes that there are heroes out there like Congressman Nick Rahall, Jr., the Chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources has repeatedly defended wild horses and has introduced legislation including the Restore Our American Mustang Act, or ROAM Act (H.R. 1018).

This legislation would encourage the reopening of certain public lands to the mustangs, thus potentially decreasing the number in captivity. The bill also restores a crucial protection to keep wild horses from going to slaughter, which was stripped away several years ago.  Recently passed in the House of Representatives, it still needs Senate approval. Rossell urges everyone, “Please contact your federal Senators today and ask them to support the ROAM Act.”

Click here to find your Senators so  you can let them know where you stand. 

IDA isn’t just focused on the mustang problem. There are also abandoned and abused horses in sanctuaries for whom the group is committed to providing lifetime care. IDA’s Project Hope, in rural Mississippi, continues to rescue and care for abused and starving horses.

Locally, IDA coordinates many educational and outreach efforts in the Los Angeles area. They also have a weekly E-Newsletter that keeps members informed of local events. For details on how to get involved or to make a donation, contact their headquarters in San Rafael, CA at 415-448-0048 or visit their website.

Katz, who came up with the idea of protecting animals as a boy brought his dream to fruition in the early 80’s when he bucked the university system and came to the aid of a UC Berkeley veterinarian who was under attack for refusing to sign USDA documents because the university was violating the Federal Animal Welfare Act. Katz’s life was changed forever when they won their case and IDA was born. Today, celebrities like Pierce Brosnan, Zachary Quinto and Wendie Malick are just a few who support IDA worldwide.

Every equestrian and horse love must act now. As Dr. Katz points out, “Whether it be through financial support or active participation, everyone’s involvement is critically important.”