ONAQUE HORSES

The roundup of the beloved Onaqui wild horses began on Tuesday, July 14. This herd is believed to harbor descendants of horses that once worked the fabled Pony Express, whose historic trail passes though their range in Utah.

The BLM rounded up 435 horses despite heavy public opposition from people across the United States. They’ve been removed to off-range coral facilities, to be sorted for return to the range or adoption. Of course adoption is a euphemism for slaughter as many of these horses end up in slaughterhouses in Mexico and Canada. The BLM plans to return about 100 horses, an appropriate management level which will allow commercial livestock (cattle) to have 80% of the range.

These are public lands and and the wild horses living there are held in public trust for future generations. These horses are sacred to the American people. What do you think?

FROM WASHINGTON POST OP/ED: "Humans and horses share a unique bond that can be traced back several million years. The suffering we are about to witness — and by our passivity, endorse — is a betrayal of something deep and ancient and profound. The wailing of tortured horses may be beyond earshot, but the fact of it should rattle our bones. No more."