09/17/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BsWCSAzJE/
Last week I put up a post about how Temple Grandin evaluated the BLM Mustang roundups. She gave some suggestions for improvements and offered some praise as well. Because my page Followers are serious horsemen and women the post got a lot of views and some pretty good discussion in the comments. I want to thank all the people who shared and supported it.
But there were also many people who opposed the idea of herd management for the sake of the horses' wellbeing. I explained that the target herd number of horses, called the Appropriate Management Level (AML), was determined by Federal law. The AML is set by using a very scientific formula that takes into consideration available forage and water, local seasonal climate and more so the herds in various BLM locations live healthy lives.
At present, according to the BLM as of March 2026, the total equine population count on BLM land was 85,466 animals. The BLM target limit today according to the legally prescribed ALM formula is 27,000 animals. Currently the animals exceed the limit by roughly 58,466 animals.
The number of horses that exceeds the 27,000 AML limit on BLM land today is twice the scientific limit. Any rational person should be able to reason that exceeding the scientifically established limit, based on food and water and climate range, will result in problems for the horses.
But still a very large number of the over 750 post comments opposed removing horses from BLM land. Many comments were nasty and most of the opponents of reason said they loved the horses and wanted them to stay. They "love them to death", which is the title of a documentary by Gary Miller, a western rancher who lives with and cares about the Mustangs.
Over the weekend this irrational, death causing cult like idea of "saving the Mustangs" really got to me. Over my 60 year career with horses, I have purchased countless horses from auction kill pens and a great many racehorses off the track that I retrained and gave them good lives. I have put my time, energy and money where my mouth is because I love horses.
From my career perspective, these keyboard warriors who file lawsuits to stop the BLM from following the law aimed at protecting horses' wellbeing are self focused know-it-alls causing countless horses to suffer slow painful deaths from malnutrition and dehydration. They are cruel humans who need to be stopped.
So, I am taking an active side in this irrational debate, and I am asking for your help. I am putting the link to Gary Miller's very well done documentary to try to inject some reason into this painful debate.
The Facebook algorithm will put extreme limits on this post's reach because it contains a YouTube link. So, I am asking people who care to share this post so a wide range of people will see the documentary. This painful irrational suffering must end. Please help.
link to the "Loved to Death" Part 1 video - YOU MIGHT HAVE TO CUT AND PASTE IT -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v6TuvDrcbQ
link to the "Loved to Death" Part 2 video - YOU MIGHT HAVE TO CUT AND PASTE IT -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywwhKAUgpCE
People who leave comments opposing this post will be immediately blocked from my page. Those who don't like it are very welcome or leave because this page is for authentic horsemen and women and if you oppose this post, you are not welcome here.
