We would like to acknowledge that the Alberta Mountain Horses inhabit the traditional lands of the Stoney lyethkabi, (mountain) people.

Over and over again we hear from Minister Todd Loewen, his government officials and those opposed to the Alberta Mountain Horses, that the depletion of the native grasses in wild horse country, is because of the horses. In this segment we just wish to present a few more facts surrounding this misinformation.

The basis of the government’s claims lacks a lot of scientific basis and lacks proof of range damage by the wild horses. Even their own government rangeland assessments continue to show this fact (it is not the horses). Many of their claims definitely are not based on available research and as Wayne McCrory in his report states ” these claims were contradicted by a number of scientific studies available their technical staff.” In 2015 even the head of the advisory committee admitted that they could not point out any sites within the Equine Management Zones (EMZ) where confirmed horse range damage occurred. As recently as this past year an assessment of these reports by an agrologist, Brian de Kock, highlighted this point.

So what other contributing causes in the depletion of the range, besides chronic overgrazing in the EMZs? One of the biggest factors that has been documented is brush encroachment. Dr. E. Bork from the University of Alberta has done several studies on this problem and presented the results of his findings many times to the FHAC and the government. It is extremely noticeable in the more open valleys of the Sundre and Clearwater zones.

These pictures show the extent of brush encroachment in these prime rangeland valleys. Previously our Indigenous people used fire to clear the brush and improve the range for wildlife that they harvested to maintain their lives. This does not happen anymore and the amount of grass available to wildlife, horses and cattle is greatly diminished. In the early spring and summer the grass in the open spots can be abundant however, by the end of summer the cattle have grazed it completely down, leaving nothing for the wildlife in the winter. Also because of the brush, the cattle on the range are forced into more concentrated areas, compacting the soil and further diminishing the quality of the habitat. Remember there are 60 times more cattle than horses for 6 months of the year.

What we have found is that the horses can range in these areas finding grass underneath the scrub brush that the cattle are unable to reach. In one small area around Radiant Creek in the Clearwater, Trout Unlimited has tried a 20-acre brush clearing to try to improve the range and riparian zones for the native bull trout. We commend them also for erecting fencing along several large portions of both Radiant and Elk Creek in order protect the banks from erosion and cattle damage.

One other cause of rangeland damage that has been documented and reported in many locations is the destruction caused by irresponsible ATV users. First of all most of the ATV users out west do show respect for the land and other users. We have encountered this many times ourselves when riding our own horses and come across people on ATVs that they shut their machines off out of courtesy. However, there are those odd few that just don’t care.

This hillside behind the Red Deer River Ranger Station had been pristine for many decades. It has been used by wildlife in the winter and springtime as it is cleared by the chinook winds and warm sunshine. Now because of the few reckless individuals, they have torn it up and the erosion is getting worse every year. You can even see where they have cut across the hillside causing even more damage. Why? When I first noticed this 2 years ago I sent a message to Mike Alexander, Director, Rangeland Conservation and Stewardship Section, of the Alberta government, who is also a key member of the FHAC to complain about this and asking for intervention. Nothing at all was done. Yet if a horse was on the hillside, they would be complaining that there’s too many and they should be removed.

This sign clearly shows that if they wanted to do something they could under the Public Lands Act as noted above. It is so discouraging that they would do nothing about this but keep laying the blame on the horses that there are too many of them and they have to be removed.

Basically what we are trying to say is that Minister Todd Loewen and his officials are scapegoating our beautiful Alberta Mountain Horses while ignoring all the other contributing factors and the cumulative effect that they are having on our public lands. Quit blaming the horses and the wolves (that’s another story!).