We would like to acknowledge that the Alberta Mountain Horses inhabit the traditional lands of the Stoney lyethkabi, (mountain) people.
It all started as usual as we went out to monitor the rate of grass growth at several locations in the Equine zones. As a note on this, we do have teams of volunteers doing this monitoring in the Equine Zones, except the Nordegg and Brazeau zones. This will assist us in our citizen research into what affect the horses have on the rangelands in these zones.
It was a chilly start to the day and the valleys were hazy filled with thick smoke. None the less, it is always great to be out in the foothills of our province. As we travelled we began to see the Alberta Mountain Horses we love so much and began to photograph the different horses that we came across.
As we went along we came across an area with several horses with a few young foals frolicking about or sleeping. Everything was serene and peaceful, making one appreciate so much what these beautiful horses represent to all of us that take the time to advocate to get them better protection and respect.
As we went along we came across the small family group we consistently see of a beautiful black stallion, a black mare and their foal. We are quite familiar with this family and they always seem to be off by themselves away from other bands in the area. It was great to see their foal is so healthy and growing quickly.
A little further along we noticed one little foal sound asleep with the mom a short distance away and another mare and its foal close by. Here’s where the story starts.
It is the little foal further out that we were about to have some anxious moments about. But in the meantime we enjoyed the beauty that surrounded us and continued our drive to another of our grass monitoring sites. We continued to take pictures of the horses we saw. We came across this family with a battle scarred stallion. They struck a wonderful family pose for us.
Heading back into the area where that we had just mentioned we found that the bands had moved off from where we had first seen them. We saw that one of the stallions was chasing a mare of his who kept trying to go back to where they had come from. We didn’t know why this was happening.
Just a short distance down the road we came across the foal all by itself still flat out. Something was wrong here as there was no mare nearby. Most of the bands had moved a considerable distance off. We watched this baby from a short distance and it appeared to be in difficulty. We were very concerned and were unsure as to what to do. We always have a baby halter in the truck just in case. We decided to approach it to see if it was hurt. It could barely lift its head and didn’t move. It seemed to have trouble breathing. Had it been hit or kicked? I approached it and it hardly responded to me touching it to see if its legs were okay or if we could see if there were other injuries. I pulled it onto a little bit of a side hill and this immediately seemed to help it a bit as it was able to lift its head. It started to breath easier but still its mare was no where around.
All of sudden the black stallion and his mare that stay off by themselves started to approach and call out to warn whoever that someone was touching their baby. At this point we backed off to see what would happen. Remember it is not unusual for mares to leave their sleeping foals as they feed off a bit. We stood back as these two continued to call and we wondered what would happen next.
All of a sudden thundering hooves and here came the stallion that was previously chasing his mare. He was at full speed coming towards the other three horses. Right behind him came the mare that he had been chasing. The stallion charged toward the horses that had been calling and suddenly saw his foal just laying there. Under his breath it seemed like he said “Get up and run!” That is exactly what happened. The foal sprung to his feet and raced off at full speed, joined up with the mare, his mom, and off they went at full gallop with the stallion chasing them at their heels.
Such a relief to discover this little foal was okay and able to join back up with his band. We when looked back we could see that he was nursing! It was not the fault of any of these horses. It is just the way it is in wild horse country. Sometimes you just have to let nature be. This is such a happy ending!
We would like to acknowledge that the Alberta Mountain Horses inhabit the traditional lands of the Stoney lyethkabi, (mountain) people.
The Alberta Mountain Horse Society is continuing to bring the facts surrounding the decisions that the government makes in what they call population management strategies. A lot of what is presented to the public by the Minister of Forestry and Parks, Todd Loewen and his staff is, we believe, misinformation. Based on their preconceived prejudices against the wild horses, they prefer to paint a picture that it is the horses fault that the ecosystems Equine Zones in our Alberta Mountains and foothills are being impacted negatively by them. We do not believe this and have for many years sounded the alarm that there is no scientific proof of this and that the horses are being used as a scapegoat for their lack of proper management of our Alberta lands, natural resources and wildlife. So what we will continue to do is to present the facts in order that you can have a clear picture of activities that are having a negative impact.
What effect do cattle grazing have on the rangeland and the wildlife?
We talked about this in our last post but we believe this is an area of concern that needs to be continually brought forward. Here are some more observations that we see by the time the cattle are removed from the grazing allotments in mid-October.
The first picture was taken just this month in the Clearwater Equine Zone and with the coin on the ground you can see how little feed is left for any wildlife or the horses. The second picture just backs this up that there is nothing there. This chronic overgrazing has a very negative impact on the grass and the soil substrate. The soil becomes very compacted and invasive plants will takeover from native grass.
These valleys, where this damage is occurring, used to be the wintering grounds for elk and deer. Nowadays though there is nothing for the wildlife to survive on in the winter months. They therefore have had to migrate into different areas. The wild horses, though there are a few in this area, do not have the ability to move and therefore have to eke out an existence as best they can. What is amazing and shows the resilience of these horses is that somehow they are able to do this by finding areas where the cattle can’t go or have not been.
In talking to an oldtimer, and a person with lots of experience in this country about this problem, he stated that “I have never seen a cow starve to death out there on the range, but I have seen lots of horses and deer die of starvation.”
This lack of forage in the early spring can greatly impact the pregnant mares and their ability to successfully carry their foals to full term.
Then you take into consideration the extensive brush encroachment which chokes out the grass and limits even the cattle’s ability to feed. This causes them to become more concentrated in open areas thereby exacerbating the problem for all animals.
This sign is still posted alongside the forestry trunk road stating that in 1984 that the government tried to control the brush by burning. Obviously you can see from the pictures above that they have not done anything since. And yet they claim that the horses are the problem that there is no grass for the cattle or elk and deer.
Many individuals and groups continue to try and blame the horses for there being a lack of elk and deer in these areas but one only has to take into consideration all these other factors that it is not the horses. Personally, myself, I have been enjoying this country for well over seventy years and have seen the reduction in numbers of wildlife diminish because of the increase in cattle grazing in these once pristine environments. It is quite obvious to some of us that there has been a gross mismanagement of our wildlife resources by the Alberta government biologists over many, many years. Just look at the most recent events about lifting the restrictions around hunting of grizzly bears, wolverines, female cougars with babies, other species. Also at play is the destruction of the wildlife’s natural habitat from a lot of these industrial activities.
What about the damage to the environment left by the oil and gas companies?
When travelling throughout our province but especially in the mountains, you see the abandoned wellsites left by the oil companies. Whole hillsides have been cleared in order for them to put up their wells to extract the oil or gas. Then once they have done making their millions they abandon these sites leaving quite an eyesore to what is supposed to be a pristine environment. Here are a couple of pictures taken way back on top of a ridge far from the valley below.
We have also found at several sites that barbed wire had been put around the area and the fences have fallen in complete disrepair. This wire then becomes a hazard to not only the wildlife and horses, but also other users, like ourselves on horseback. One year we had found a new foal that had become hung up on the barb wire and had to be rescued. The foal did survive but this just highlights the problems that can arise by the neglect.
Now instead of taking action to make the oil companies responsible for cleaning up the environment, the Minister Todd Loewen and his bureaucrats would rather blame the wild horses for ruining the landscapes. Wouldn’t it be better if they used their money in their feeble attempts at what they call “managing” the wild horse population and to go after these companies instead?
Why is nothing being done about this?
I know previously we have brought up this point about the hillside by the Red Deer River Ranger Station being damaged by a very few inconsiderate ATV users. Even other ATV users get upset that these individuals spoil it for all and bring them a bad name. I have tried to bring this to the attention of the government officials, but they steadfastly refuse to do anything about this. This picture shows that in one area where there are not many ATV users that action can be taken to prevent further degradation of the land. Why is there refusal to take action here, is it just because we advocate for the wild horses and they don’t want to listen to us?
Signage like this could prevent any further damage to the hillside pictured below.
Along with other advocacy groups we will continue work toward having our Alberta Mountain Horses given a distinct identity by the government as per the wishes of Albertans. Its a continuing battle because of the government officials more interested in hearing from the money interests than those of us who care about our environment, ecosystems and wildlife.
We hope you will continue to contact the government to express your concerns and wishes about our Alberta Mountain Horses. Your voices do matter.
We would like to acknowledge that the Alberta Mountain Horses inhabit the traditional lands of the Stoney lyethkabi, (mountain) people.
Over the years of fighting so hard to try to have our Alberta Mountain Horses afforded better protection and to save them for all future generations, I keep having questions about why this simple thing is not being done. Continually the Alberta government has refused to take any sincere and positive steps to assure their survival. The Feral Horse Management Framework, (FHMF) that was brought forward to allegedly manage the wild horse populations in Alberta’s six equine zones is full of flaws and misinformation. It is very biased in favor of stakeholders who are opposed to sharing the land with the wild horses.
The Framework document has been reviewed by professional individuals, including Wayne McCrory, a world renowned biologist and researcher. We have talked about his review in pasts posts, but again it was not a favorable review of this management framework. It definitely appears to a me that there is an absolute refusal of those in the Alberta government who are in charge of making decisions concerning the management of the wild horses, to look beyond their preconceived prejudices against the horses. Everything they see is that the horses are having a negative affect on the ecosystem integrity of the equine zones. Even though in the framework they talk about decisions that are to be made will be based with science and data .(?)
In the FHMF it brings up the threshold numbers for each of the 6 equine zones and that this will determine the action to be taken to manage the wild horse population. So my first question is –
How and who came up with these numbers? The thresholds that determine action to be taken are #1 – no action needed, #2 Concern and monitoring needed and #3 population levels are unacceptable and immediate action needed. The numbers for the Equine zones are as follows.
Brazeau EMZ – Threshold 1: 18 horses and threshold 2: 30 horses – any number above that would have them culling horses. Nordegg EMZ – Threshold 1: 64 horses and threshold 2: 80 horses Clearwater EMZ -Threshold 1: 99 horses and threshold 2: 150 horses Sundre EMZ – Threshold 1: 628 horses and threshold 2: 1000 horses Ghost EMZ – Threshold 1: 226 and threshold 2: 400 horses Elbow EMZ – Threshold 1: 84 and threshold 2: 100 horses
So where did these threshold numbers come from and who determined them? What scientific base did they use to determine them? No one in the government can tell us this. If it based on their rangeland assessments done each year then it would be very prejudicial against the horses as these are done by the cattle allotment holders using their own agrologists.
Shouldannualcensus minimal countsbe the reasoning for threshold management?
Every year the government does an aerial survey of the number of horses they find in each of the equine zone. Well almost! The last couple of years the Brazeau and Nordegg areas were not counted and in 2023 the Elbow zone was not included. These numbers do vary from year to year. That is not the argument.
For several years when I was on the FHAC committee I argued that no decision to cull or such can be made on the counts for just one year. It would take 3-4 years of high stable counts to be able to make an accurate assessment on a management strategy for that particular zone. To show you the ups and downs here are the counts for the last 4 years.
If these counts are used to determine a cull, then the system is seriously flawed. In 2024 the Clearwater and Elbow Zone showed counts over the maximum threshold that was arbitrarily chosen and the government was going to take action by a capture and contraception program in these zones. This year both are under this threshold when nothing was done, but the Ghost is way up. We are talking according to their counts, 90 horses. Are they going to call for a cull here now?
As I stated no decisions on removing horses based on just one year’s count. Also the people doing the counts are also the government people making the decisions about population control. Is there something afoot here?
Why Are the voices of the First Nations People being ignored?
When the FHAC first started there was no representative from the First Nations people and some of us questioned why they were not included. The head of the committee could not give an answer as to why they were ignored. Then when the second go round of the FHAC began, a representative of the Stoney Nation was included and he was their conservation expert and very knowledgeable as to the lands and the history of the wild horses that live on their traditional lands.
During the committee meetings his insight about the horses and the effect they may be having on the lands was extensive and thoughtful. In the FHMF that was produced as a guideline to managing the wild horses, they even state in the objectives that; “First Nations perspectives and knowledge are considered in how horses are managed” . This definitely was not done. When their representative was informed of the MOU that was signed between the government and WHOAS, he was very upset. The Stoney people were not informed about this MOU being signed or were even consulted to gain their input. Why not?
My own opinion is that the Stoney representative, remember a conservationist, had stated in the FHAC meetings that cattle should not be allowed to graze on these lands. Once he stated that he was shut out of any input into the management strategy and subsequent signing of the MOU.
Is any research being done to show what type of negative impact cattle grazing has on the rangeland of the foothills?
The whole time that I have been involved with the wild horses, I have heard over and over again that the horses are causing severe damage to the rangeland of the Equine zones and that is the reason that their numbers have to be controlled and/or reduced. When asked for scientific evidence and research to back up these claims, the government was unable to produce any to the FHAC horse advocacy groups. The office of the chief scientist for the government quotes lots of research papers on wild horses on the landscape, but all but one are from the United States. As we have stated before, these claims about damage being done by the wild horses in the Equine zones have been shown to be unsubstantiated, by professional Canadian researchers, the governments own rangeland assessment reports and even the head of ESRD at one point stated that they could not point out any specific damage.
What was pointed out from some of the stakeholders of the FHAC and other conservation groups is that it is the cattle on the range allotments in the Equine zones doing the damage and not the horses. So why is this not being heard by those in charge of Forestry and Parks, who make the decisions concerning wild horse population control?
Why is there no research being done on the negative effects of cattle grazing on our Alberta public lands? Research in other jurisdictions have shown that cattle indeed do have a negative impact. Instead of going into detailed descriptions here are some of the points that have been presented about this for you to ponder and come to your own conclusions.
1/ Cattle grazing defoliates native plants, tramples vegetation and soils. 2/ Cattle grazing accelerates the spread of exotic (invasive) species resulting in a shift in landscape function. 3/ Cattle grazing degrades riparian zones and wetlands, which are also significant carbon sinks. 4/ Cattle grazing has also been shown to remove native perennial grasses establishing the ability for exotic species to take over. 5/ Cattle grazing on public lands can have significant impacts on the environment, including soil erosion, reduced biodiversity, and increased green house gas emissions. 6/ Cattle grazing disrupts natural processes and contaminates waterways with fecal waste.
With all these factors about the negative effect of cattle grazing on public lands, why is there a refusal of our government rangeland management to look at the damage being done to the ecosystems, not by the horses, but by the cattle? Over the years I have stressed that damage in the equine zones that is blamed on the wild horses, is also being inflicted on grasslands where there are no wild horses, all along our foothills.
The future of our Alberta Mountain Horses depends on you not letting the government make unsupported decisions on the welfare of our beautiful horses. I have more questions regarding the FHMF strategies that the government outlined but are ignoring. So to be continued.
Keep supporting efforts to stop any capture or contraception by signing the petition. There is still time to get these signatures in by May 31, 2025.
We would like to acknowledge that the Alberta Mountain Horses inhabit the traditional lands of the Stoney lyethkabi, (mountain) people.
Besides these two boys having a scrap, there is a lot of negative things happening around the Alberta Mountain Horses. The government has decided to go ahead with plans to remove a number of wild horses and also to apply a contraceptive vaccine to an undetermined number of wild horse mares. This is despite all the information that has been presented to show that at this time there is really no need to do so. For the last 10 years no capture season has been undertaken and the population of the Alberta Mountain Horses has stayed relatively stable, in fact some years it has gone down. So why now?
Is it because of the pressure from only 33 grazing allotment holders who want all the grass for their cattle? Maybe those opposed to the wild horses who have deep pockets with the government getting their way. There has been so much information to show that no matter what these opponents to wild horses say, it can be proven to be false. To us it is quite obvious that the minister, Todd Loewen, has been very untruthful to the citizens of Alberta and he is in direct conflict of interest.
In order to implement these two programs, the government has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with WHOAS and has effectively shut down any other advocacy group and the general public from having a say in these decisions. WHOAS mission statement – “Wild Horses of Alberta Society’s mission is to ensure the provision of all aspects of the conservation and humane treatment of wild horses in Alberta. We are committed to the preservation of these magnificent animals in their natural environment.” – is no longer true despite them defending their actions on their Facebook page and website. It has always been the goal of the current president of this group to remove horses every year. This individual has even stated to the previous minister and other rangeland officials, that 20 per year should be removed. This is fact, not hearsay. This is so sad and what a lousy legacy to leave.
The target of this MOU is to take little ones like this, because they are supposedly easier to find adoptive homes. It is obvious to some of us that this adoption program has not been that successful since some horses have been sitting in their holding pens for over two years. Why? Because they were holding them for a Trainer’s Challenge event to supposedly sell them for higher prices, to make money off these beautiful creatures! This was never the original plan when WHOAS started the adoption program back in 2013. That is also why they became a registered charity at that time knowing that just to adopt the horses did not cover all the costs of taking care of them. They are planning another trainer’s challenge this year. So individuals who have been donating to WHOAS thinking they are helping to save them are in fact just supporting their efforts to remove the horses from the landscape and thus make money.
This MOU that has been undertaken as of January, 2025, also states that the government will be granting them money to support their infrastructure. Does this mean a new capture pen system? This is your Tax dollars at work supporting a small group of wild horse opponents against the wishes of the vast majority of Albertans.
The other point is that the contraception vaccine that they plan to use has not been approved for use in Canada and thus an emergency drug release (EDR) has to be applied for through the CFIA. The money for this program we believe is coming from the drug company, SpayVac for Wildlife, Inc., and the University of Calgary, where the two veterinarians who will administer the program operate from. Again we find this to be very upsetting because at present it is totally unnecessary to interfere with the natural lifecycles of these wild horses. LEAVE THEM ALONE!
A lovely very pregnant mare.
The decisions being made in reference to the carrying capacity of the equine zones under the Feral Horse Management Framework is being done by Mike Alexander, Director Rangeland Conservation and Stewardship, and his staff. Now this is the same individual who told a couple of our members that horses only cycle twice a year. Quite the insight on horses!!
Some of these carrying capacities are the reasons they are using to reduce numbers in certain areas. Again where are these carrying capacities for the number of horses in each equine zone coming from? Could it be from the Rangeland Assessment Reports that they even show that it is not the horses doing the damage to the environment? The horses are being used as scapegoats to appease a very small number of groups who oppose the horses.
This MOU with WHOAS and the decision to go ahead with these two programs was done completely behind closed doors without any consultation with other advocacy groups and our First Nations partners.
This is a disgrace and very upsetting to those of us who really do care about the environment, ecosystems, wildlife and of course our Alberta Mountain Horses that in habitat our public land. The refusal of the government people to accept true and factual information that is readily available to all, acting only on their own preconceived prejudices and the money stakeholders, is truly a shame.
Horses absolutely did not do this damage.
We include this picture that shows damage to a pristine hillside done since 2022 by some ATV users. The damage has gotten much worse through runoff and overuse since last year. Just for a note, there are no ATV trails on the top of this ridge. So why are they going up there? The same rangeland management director, Mike Alexander, was contacted back then and still has refused to take any steps to stop this damage to the environment he is supposed to be taking care of. Instead they want to go after the horses.
So what can you do? Sign the petition if you are against culling of our Alberta Mountain Horses. Sign the petition if you want to see our Alberta Mountain Horses given a “naturalized species” designation and then better protection.
Continue to email or write the Minister Todd Loewen and the Premier Danielle Smith. You likely won’t hear back from them but we need to keep filling their inboxes. I find it upsetting that they were elected to represent the people of Alberta but are seemingly dedicated to their own self interests and that of their friends. A sad state of our democracy.
We would like to acknowledge that the Alberta Mountain Horses inhabit the traditional lands of the Stoney lyethkabi, (mountain) people.
Over the years we have heard from the government and those opposed to the wild horses, that they have no economic value. Rubbish! As people become more aware that we have these iconic Alberta Mountain Horses, more and more are wanting to travel to Alberta to visit and photograph them in their natural surroundings.
The wild horses represent the free-spirit of Albertans and Canadians, which is becoming more important considering all the other things that are happening in this country. These magnificent horses have roamed throughout the province for a very very long time and embody resilience and freedom. The Alberta Mountain Horse holds a special place in our cultural and historical story. They are the enduring bond between nature and humanity. Understanding their rich history and current challenges will help us appreciate the complex legacy they carry and underlines the importance of ensuring their continued existence on the Alberta landscape. One of the best ways of doing this is through tourism and what better time to take advantage of this when more and more people are staying in Canada to enjoy all that this country has to offer.
Dr. Claudia Notzke, wild horse advocate, published a report based on a survey which showed an overwhelming number of respondents were interested in wild horse tourism. Her 2008 report was titled “The Role of Tourism in the Management and Protection of Wild Horses”. In the series of podcasts from The Wildie West, the latest interview was with Sandy Sharkey, a world renowned photographer. She talked about wild horse eco-tourism, outlining the great increase in people seeking out such an adventure. Here’s a link to the podcast.
People from around the world continue to come to Alberta to witness the beauty of our province but especially that of the Alberta Mountain Horse. Over the years we are also seeing more tourist destination locations in the foothills starting to cater to this phenomenon. The one we are most experienced with is Sunset Guiding whose operators are so passionate and protective of the horses. They have rescued wild horses themselves and if you visit them they may introduce you to one of them – a first hand experience! They also have the odd herd come into camp to visit. Here’s a link to contact them and you can also follow them on their Facebook page.
Here are some pictures of the Alberta Mountain Horse and other wildlife you can see when you visit our beautiful province. These are some of the foals from past springs and if you come in the spring and early summer months you will be able to witness the new generation of beautiful horses.
No matter what time of year you come, you will have an opportunity to photograph and visit the herds with ever changing seasonal backgrounds.
There is so much other wildlife that you may have the opportunity to witness. All these creatures live throughout wild horse country with the Alberta Mountain Horses.
Your tourism and support can definitely help us in our struggles to protect and save our Alberta Mountain Horses. So pack your bags and cameras, stay here in Canada and visit us here in Alberta. You will find our hospitality to be friendly and welcoming. “Elbows up!”
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 ourpublic lands. Quit blaming the horses and the wolves (that’s another story!).
We would like to acknowledge that the Alberta Mountain Horses inhabit the traditional lands of the Stoney lyethkabi, (mountain) people.
One of the biggest arguments being used against our Alberta Mountain Horses is that they are consuming the available forage in the Alberta equine zones and thus taking it away from the cattle and the other wildlife. The government is continually feeding us misinformation to justify their attack on the horses. Now I will be the first one to admit that I do not have a degree in agronomy but these observations are based on over 60 years of experience in the Alberta foothills and mountains.
Grass is one of the most hardy and diverse plants and despite overuse will always come back the next year. However over a period of time it can be degraded and its biomass reduced through chronic overgrazing. In my observation over the years this is what is now happening. It is definitely not the horses that are doing this, but it is the cattle that are responsible. Several well known scientists and agronomists have documented and researched this which shows that only over grazing decreased grassland biodiversity. Also, it was determined that above ground biomass is more sensitive to grazing than below ground biomass. Then when you include drought conditions by the end of summer in areas where cattle grazing has taken place, there is absolutely nothing left.
Another factor to consider is that other plants including noxious weeds take over in areas that have been overgrazed. Weeds are seldom a problem in vigorous, well managed rangelands. These weeds diminish the productivity of an area, threaten biological diversity, but reduce structure and function and sustainability of the ecosystems. Another reason that overgrazing negatively affects the range. Over grazing not only affects rangeland health, but also has a very large negative impact on all our wildlife that calls these lands home.
One has to consider the difference between cattle grazing and horse grazing. Cattle graze by using their tongues to wrap around the plant and pulling it up. At times that can be the whole plant including the roots. Horses in the meantime are constantly on the move and use their front incisors to nip off just portions of the grass as they move about. One of the arguments used to allow the cattle onto the public lands is that they mimic the buffalo in grazing patterns, and thus allegedly reducing the fuel for fires. However, again this is not true fact. Cattle move into a particular part of the lease and will camp there until the food source is gone then only then will they move on. Horses on the other hand are constantly on the move never staying in one place too long and this is how the vast herds of buffalo used to keep the prairie grasslands healthy. Just ask our Indigenous peoples about this. In our opinion the horses should be used instead of cattle to maintain good rangeland health. Horses are here all year round and now some research has shown that grazing in the nongrowing season, i.e., winter, is a benefit to grassland management. So leave the horses alone…they are helping, not hurting!
To hear the government officials talk about the reasons for having to reduce wild horse numbers, it is because they are blaming the horses for the damage being done by the cattle. This is not true. One only has to go outside the equine zones and into the grazing leases where there are no wild horses, to witness that the damage done in the equine zones is just as bad or worse. In these areas where overgrazing has happened we know that in the spring the grass will hopefully return, but it is these areas that the wildlife (elk and deer), rely on for winter survival. What I have seen repeatedly is that there is very little left for them. Look at the Sheep River valley where there is a bighorn sheep sanctuary and the cattle by the end of summer have eaten all the grass in the valleys and have migrated up onto the high ridges before they are removed by October 15th each year. Again no wild horses here. And nothing left for the sheep.
There is so much more that can be said about rangeland health and lots of research is occurring which much of it conflicts with the government’s basis for the Feral Horse Management Report and the removal of horses. (I hate the word “feral” as it so demeaning to such wonderful creatures!)
Let’s Look at the Numbers
Here are some numbers to help you make up your mind about this situation.
The province of Alberta has six equine zones where all this controversy surrounding the horses is focused. In total these equine zones encompass 5,603,710 acres. In 2024 the total number of horses counted was 1,478. There are a total of 33 cattle grazing allotments in these zones and in these allotments during the summer there are approximately 34,200 cow/calf pairs that are allowed to graze. To be fair though, the Nordegg and the Brazeau zones each have over 1 million acres which are unsuitable for cattle grazing and wild horse habitation. In fact, the Brazeau has no cattle allotments and the Nordegg has two. The last count done for horses in these areas in 2023 showed the Brazeau had 18 horses and the Nordegg only 33 horses. There was no count done in 2024. Also in the Elbow zone, which incorporates 444,565 acres, horses are only found in the northern part where the count was 111 in 2024. It is this zone though that the government has plans to remove some horses. Why is this? Is this because the government is getting pressure from lease holders who want this land for their cattle?
How does the government arrive at these reasons for allowing the number of cattle (AUMs)? Each year rangeland assessments are supposed to be done by the allotment holders. These assessments are done through guidelines laid out in the “Rangeland Health Assessment for Grassland, Forest & Tame Pasture” on public lands established by the government of Alberta. Even these assessments are biased but in an analysis from 2015 done by an agronomist for Zoocheck shows it is indeed not the horses that are negatively affecting the rangeland health. Another point is that the government will not willingly allow access to assessments done since 2015. Why is this…what are they afraid of?
So in fact it would appear to many of us that 33 individuals or grazing associations are dictating to the government that there are too many horses and they should be removed. What do you think?
A mountain meadow before cattle arriveSpringtime and new grass and no cattle
We will be continuing with more information coming soon. Keep up your good work writing to the government about your concerns. The Alberta Mountain Horse Society and the horses thank you!
We would like to introduce Claudia Notzke, PhD, who is a life-long advocate for our Alberta wild horses. She has travelled the world studying and supporting wild horses in different countries, especially here in Canada and Alberta. Her knowledge of wild horses we believe is comprehensive and inclusive. With her permission we would like to share her analysis of the Alberta government’s latest plans on the wild horse management file. We hope when you read her article you’ll be inspired again. The Alberta Mountain Horse Society is in agreement with all her points.
She has several important points you can include if you are writing or emailing government officials. We know it is frustrating to keep getting back their response in a form letter. However, your efforts are important and we appreciate all of you who are working with us to stop any culls or contraception of our beautiful Alberta Mountain Horses.
Many Albertans (and Canadians) are unaware that wild horses exist in the Rocky Mountain Foothills. And yet they have been an indelible part of this landscape for more than three centuries, sharing this ancient landscape with the mighty bison prior to their near extinction. The fate of near extinction is being shared by the wild horse. Throughout the 20th century their numbers were reduced to a small fraction of what they once were due to bounty systems, unregulated capture, and indiscriminate killing. Over the past 50 years, under public pressure, attempts were made by the provincial government to remove the most blatantly inhumane elements from wild horse capture, but this has not prevented the majority of caught animals from being slaughtered, and illegal poaching of horses continues unabated.
After a decade long reprieve (in response to public opposition to unsustainable captures) the Alberta government is planning another cull for this coming winter. This time the cull is being rationalized to the public under the guise of “science-based management”. This approach is being outlined in a 2023 government document entitled “Feral Horse Management Framework”. This document was subjected to a detailed (peer-reviewed) analysis by Wayne McCrory, an objective, highly reputable and experienced wildlife biologist. His report constitutes a devastating indictment of a government’s failure to adopt a science-based and evidence-based approach to managing the wild horses of Alberta’s Foothills and extensively documents the government’s lack of transparency and public accountability while being strongly suggestive of institutional bias and lack of objectivity.
After a thorough study of both documents and based on my own almost two decades of researching wild horses in my home province of Alberta as well as throughout Canada and worldwide, I whole-heartedly endorse this eminent biologist’s conclusions. One of his important observations is the fact that the entire government document is long on assumptions and short on scientific data and proof. The Foothills free-roaming horse population is being isolated and targeted for controversial and questionable control measures with minimal evidence supporting that they are a serious threat to rangeland health. No data or information whatsoever are provided on other contributory factors of cumulative effects, such as cattle outnumbering the horses 7 to 1, clearcut logging or heavy OHV traffic. No scientific accounting and quantitative information on the level of grazing pressure by 8,544 head of cattle is being provided in the Framework. One of the most disturbing observations is the government’s apparent suppression of its own data documenting that the majority of range damage is caused by industry and recreational activities. Over the years, McCrory as well as myself have been frustrated by the government’s (and industry’s – in my case forestry’s) inability to document wild horse caused damage to the ecosystem.
Another point that is extremely troublesome is that the entire governmental management approach is based on a faulty premise. The very fact that the Framework remains positioned within the management confines of Alberta’s Stray Animals Act runs counter to the true identity of the free-roaming horses. Neither are they strays, i.e. recent barnyard escapees, nor are they non-native (like cattle). There is abundant peer-reviewed scientific evidence that would justify a reclassification of these wild horses as a returned native species to an ecosystem that has been home to them for millennia. It is a well-known fact that North America gave rise to the family Equidae (horse!) almost 60 million years ago. Over a period of hundreds of thousands of years various subspecies and/or ecotypes of Equus Caballus coevolved with their habitat in North America while undergoing extinctions, migrations to Asia and return migrations. North America’s last extinction only occurred about 5,000 years ago, much later than assumed until recently, a mere blink of an eye in terms of ecological time. Not only is this “big picture” conveniently overlooked by government managers, but Alberta’s Foothills horses themselves are being misrepresented.
They are not strays but animals filling a vacant niche in our Foothills ecosystem. They BELONG- naturally, having returned to their ecological home as well as representing a unique cultural history. A recent genetic analysis of Alberta’s wild horses by reputable equine geneticist E. Gus Cothran of Texas A&M University revealed a strong preponderance of Spanish breeds ancestry in Alberta’s wild horses in addition to a connection with the Canadian Horse, Canada’s National Horse. Due to indigenous people’s trade (and natural expansion?) these horses entered today’s Alberta long before the first Europeans did, and have mirrored our own history in this province ever since.
They are not ecological misfits but fully integrated in their ecosystem with positive rather than negative impacts on their habitat and other species. They are unique amongst the world’s free-roaming horses in having to contend with a full suite of large predators resulting in an extremely low rate of foal survival. This reality flies in the face of current governmental management goals. According to the IUCN (The World Conservation Union) Equid Specialist Group a minimum population of 2,500 mature individuals constitutes an important threshold for a species to be considered Endangered. The current count of wild horses in Alberta’s foothills of <1500 individuals is not even close to that. This population is comprised of sub-populations which are not in contact with each other. The past decade without a cull has not resulted in a population explosion but rather shows a dynamic equilibrium typical of many wildlife populations, with some variability. Alberta’s wild horses are very effectively (not to say brutally) managed by natural selection. There is no need for human intervention, neither by birth control nor removal.
The government’s action plan shows no consideration for the genetic viability of these populations which speaks to the fact that the animals are being managed as a nuisance species rather than a valued ecological and genetic resource. The proposed population thresholds for individual Equine Management Zones in the double digits are a mockery of sustainable populations for any species, and are not rationalized by any evidence, scientific or otherwise.
In summary, there is strong indication that Alberta’s wild horses are being managed out of existence. The provincial government’s “science-based approach” makes a mockery of science and constitutes a travesty of resource stewardship. It appears to be a purely political move in response to a small but vocal lobby of ranchers, outfitters and forestry interests while running roughshod over a large number of other stakeholders: a rapidly increasing number of photographers and artists whose vocation is inspired and nurtured by wild horses; the many recreationists whose overall experience is enriched by an encounter with wild horses; the large number of tourists -domestic and international- who come to pay homage to this widely acknowledged symbol of freedom and western heritage; and the countless Albertans and Canadians who may never see a wild horse and yet are inspired by the very existence of wild horses leading self-determined lives.
Claudia Notzke Ph.D. The author is a geographer, Professor Emerita at the University of Lethbridge AB, wild horse researcher and lifelong equestrienne.
As the year draws to an end, it has been our pleasure and enjoyment to share pictures and stories about our Alberta Mountain Horses with you. DNA research shows that these horses are indeed very unique to our Alberta foothills and mountains. They played a large part in the history and development of our province and are worthy of our protection. It is for these reasons that we believe in order to have proper management they need their own distinct designation and that is what our group – the Alberta Mountain Horse Preservation Society – is stiving to obtain.
We have put together a 15 minute video, set to music, showcasing the beauty of these magnificent wild horses. It takes you through all 12 months of the year. Enjoy!
Recently the Feral Horse Advisory Committee (FHAC) was emailed regarding the minister’s public announcement about the next steps in implementing the feral horse management framework. This includes the removal of 30 horses from EMZs in the “red zone located along the Eastern slopes and the contraception of up to 90 more horses in those same areas. In this message, the writer indicates that the committee made a compromise of recognizing feral (wild)horses on the landscape with a “green” level of 1119 horses as an acceptable level of feral horses on the landscape.
We feel it is imperative that the government provide specific information as to where the horse population limit of 1119 comes from, and where the scientific evidence is that would back that number. Especially since published scientific studies are already in place – The McCrory Report and the de Kock Report – both of which have been presented to the government – that indicate that the horses are not the reason for ecological damage to the west country.
According to the last government Equine Area (EA) counts in the spring of 2024 and the same government department’s predetermined maximums thresholds per EA, they should only be removing 17 horses. 6 from the Clearwater EMZ and 11 from the Elbow EMZ as those two areas are the only areas in which the level 2 threshold has been exceeded. However and in reality – since the horses are a nomadic species, who easily travel from one zone to another, multiple times in any given week or month, the government cannot in all good faith, realistically use broken out numbers per each EA to determine removal. If the government cannot provide indisputable, scientific evidence indicating the entirety of the 6 equine zones can only ecologically handle the combined Threshold 2 number of 1760 horses, then there should be no removal or management. Currently, there is a total count of 1478 horses between all 6 EMZs, which is well below the stated Threshold 2 level.
In addition, we would like to know – Who is going to capture these 30 horses and from where will they be removed? Where are they going once captured? Our understanding is that WHOAS is already at capacity and having trouble adopting out the horses already on site. They also do not, to the best of our knowledge, currently have anyone with both the capability and the experience required to capture wild horses, nor do they have any full time qualified people on site who are physically capable and knowledgeable of properly handling these horses. So in our opinion, that is no longer a viable solution for any captured horses.
Who is going to administer the contraception to the proposed 90 mares? In what area(s) will they be administering the contraception and which contraceptive product are they proposing to use?
Furthermore – The gov’t counts are indicating that the Clearwater EMZ increased from 97 horses in 2023 to 156 horses in 2024. That’s an increase of 59 horses in one year. Clearly the majority of these horses have migrated from the Sundre Equine zone to the Clearwater zone, since coincidentally, the Sundre EMZ is down by 130 from last year’s numbers. At least these were where the horses were during last year’s count. Otherwise it’s fair to say we are talking about a zero mortality rate for the Clearwater zone and a survived reproductive rate of 61% of the previous year’s population! Unheard of!! In addition, according to the last counts, the Elbow EMZ has apparently had a zero mortality rate and a surviving reproductive rate of 33% in order to have jumped from 84 horses in 2023 to 111 horses in 2024! Also – unheard of!! There’s something fishy in River City is all I’m sayin…….. So – according to the government counts, and assuming horses respect invisible EMZ boundaries (!) I guess 130 horses died in the Sundre EMZ and no foals were born or survived?
Let’s recap. The total count of horses in 2023, for all 6 zones, was 1512. The total count in 2024 for only 4 zones, was 1478. If we include the 2023 counts for the other two zones for 2024, the total would have been 1529 for all 6 zones in 2024. Even with these ridiculous counts, that represents only an increase of 16 horses. In 6 zones. And the maximum number of horses in all 6 EMZ’s according to the government’s “Threshold 2” numbers is 1760. So we are still well below Threshold 2, which by the way – has yet to be scientifically proven as a legitimate ecological “threshold”.
(We will note, the only zone we could remove from the cumulative total counts for the 6 zones would be Elbow as there is no easy way for wild horses to migrate between other zones to or from the Elbow EMZ.)
Because these numbers just smelled wrong on a scientific level, we decided to do some “counting” of our own! If we calculated the expected horse population change from 2023 to 2024 – based on scientific information from the McCrory and the de Kock reports, the following can be assumed:
Adult survival rates are roughly 75 – 80%
Reproductive rates are roughly 50-70%
Foal survival rates are roughly 10 -30% in harsh environments, 30 – 50% in less harsh environments.
So let’s do the math! In 2024, 1478 horses were counted, 166 of which were subadults. This represents about 12% of the total population. Using those same numbers and applying the percentage of subadults to total horses counted, we could assume in 2023 that:
Of the 1512 adult and subadult horses counted, only 80% (on the high end) would have survived to 2024. That equals 1210 horses.
Of those horses, it’s fair to say that 12% are sub adults, which brings our mature horse count to roughly 1065.
Of those mature horses, let’s say 60% of them are mares. That’s 639 mares of breeding age. Using a high rate of 70% of those mares successfully reproducing, we would have 447 foals on the ground in the spring.
Of those 447 foals, the survival rate is on average 30%, between the more harsh and less harsh environments. That means roughly 224 foals survive. Which brings our total count to 1210 mature and subadult horses plus the 224 surviving foals.
This all calculates out to about 1434 horses in all 6 EMZ’s in 2024 vs 1512 in 2023.
We are not saying our numbers are spot on – but it makes a person think, doesn’t it? Obviously, there are environmental changes from year to year that affect survival rates that might make a population surge and dwindle, but all of that happens mostly through nature without interference from government , etc. In fact, the more interference there is, the more screwed up the balance of nature becomes and the more issues are created.
So what can you do?
Please help our Alberta Mountain Horses!
Please send your concerns and questions to the Minister:
Todd Loewen, Hon., MLA Minister of Forestry and Parks Office of the Minister Forestry and Parks 323 Legislature Building 10800 – 97 Ave Edmonton, AB T5K2B6 email: fp.minister@gov.ab.ca
Also, forward you questions to the Premier:
Danielle Smith, Premier 307 Legislature Building 10800 – 97 Ave Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6 email: premier@gov.ab.ca
