NM plans to create state-run wild horse preserve

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

NM plans to create state-run wild horse preserve
The Associated Press

Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010 | 9:13 a.m.

New Mexico plans to become the first state to operate a preserve for wild horses, which have disappeared from much of the Western landscape.

Horse activists praise a plan by Gov. Bill Richardson to buy a 12,000-acre ranch near Madrid (MAD-rid), in northern New Mexico, to create the horse sanctuary. Supporters say it will protect horses and create an "eco-tourism" opportunity for people to see a free-roaming wild horse herd.

However, the governor's proposal to buy the ranch with federal economic stimulus money is drawing opposition. Critics say the federal aid should go for services to people rather than animals.

Most wild horses removed from federal lands are held in long-term facilities in Oklahoma, Kansas, South Dakota and Iowa.


Read more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/sep/25/nm-plans-to-create-state-run-wild-horse-preserve/

[InvisibleTouch]

1. I like!

Bill Richardson has also been active in wolf protection, so I'm definitely a fan!

[EFerrari]

2. That's awesome! K&R

[xchrom]

3. Awesome. Nt

[Uncle Joe]

4. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Judi Lynn.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Hope his decision will prevail. Thank you, Uncle Joe.

:hi:

[Uncle Joe]

6. I thought the OP was a natural for you,

considering your Seahorse Avatar.;)

Peace to you. :hi:

[lovemydog]

7. love it

This is precisely the kind of thing I want my tax money going toward.
Not another obsolete weapons system.
Go horses!

[HereSince1628]

8. It takes upwards of 60 acres of grazing land to support 1 horse per year in NM

at least according to NM ag extension...if that's correct, the preserve will support 200 horses. In terms of preserving genetic variability, 200 total seems like something of a bottleneck. I wonder if the horses on this range interbreed with other wild horses off the preserve.

Anyone have a horse/acre/year of grazing land for New Mexico that they trust more? Or an estimate for this particular range? I realize variations in topography could influence environmental factors in a way that would make estimates vary widely.
supported by adding this 12,000 acres to state land in New Mexico.

[owlsayswoot]

9. Just wondering...

if just such a bottleneck might be a good thing, in the long run. It is, after all, what preserved/created the Spanish and Kiger Mustang, the Chincoteague and Banker Ponies, etc, etc,. I'm thinking it'd be just another semi-hands-off breeding program, especially if they continue to cull.

[HereSince1628]

10. Some would say that 'it all works out'

And of course "LIFE" goes on regardless of the insults that it must overcome.

It just seems to me that the science isn't behind this preserve on the basis of wild horses. I am suspicious that there is something else at work. I haven't a clue what it could be.

[BlackHoleSon]

11. Ortiz Mountain Ranch

The Ranch is called Ortiz Mountain Ranch for a very good reason - it has VERY steep ridges and peaks. Doubt it could support even 200 horses.
That being said, it's a beautiful piece of property and a very important North to South wildlife corridor from Santa Fe down to the Manzano's.

[izquierdista]

12. Averaged over the state maybe...

The grazing land in the south of the state is very sparse and would be lucky to support 1 jackrabbit per acre. This is in the northern part of the state where the vegetation is better. I have seen large herds of pronghorn in the area, so I would expect this could support more than your calculation of 200 horses.