An open letter to Ms. Tracy Stone-Manning

Dear Ms. Stone-Manning

In a July 2024 interview with the Daily Sentinel, you stated that wild horse management is a complex issue and expressed concern for wild horses. “There are horses out there with their ribs sticking out, there are horses who are dying on the range right now because they don’t have enough water, and it is our obligation to get them off the range so they don’t suffer.” While I do NOT agree with your statement, it is telling that you want the public to believe that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) genuinely care about wild horses. Unfortunately, the actions of the BLM and your contractors contradict your statement.

There is little to no transparency or accountability for the contractor’s actions. Time and time again, we see helicopters chasing down herds with young foals and prolong the suffering of injured horses.

Most worrisome is the fact that horse advocates and observers are often a far distance from the trap site and/or with obstructed views.

Most recently, the Blue Wing Roundup in Nevada was conducted in brutal temperatures, often exceeding 95 degrees, which led to severe stress and dehydration for the horse. Not surprisingly, the Blue Wing round-up has recorded the highest death ratio – 4 times the death rate as North Lander in Wyoming and Swasey in Utah. 

If you truly believe in the welfare of wild horses, I urge you to make concrete and impactful changes to the way that BLM conducts round-ups.

1. Set Formal and clear rules for an enforceable welfare policy. BLM’s internal standards are simply not an enforceable policy and are failing to provide mandated protections from abuse. We need concrete, clear definitions of temperature and weather conditions, including air quality, at which round-ups must be halted. It should be BELOw 90 degrees at the very least, considering it is brutal for horses that are running for their lives. 
2. Enforce Compliance and Accountability: Strengthen enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with welfare standards and hold accountable any parties that fail to meet these standards. Enforcement mechanism could be monetary, such as a fine for each horse death or injury during round-up. The amount must be high enough to prevent inhumane behavior and outright abuse.

The well-being of wild horses is a reflection of our commitment to humane and ethical stewardship of our natural resources. I hope that the Bureau of Land Management will take the concerns of horse advocates seriously and not wait for Congressional action to force your agency to improve wild horse management and care.  

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. 

Advocate letter: Senator Jacky Rosen (Blue Wing round-up)