In Business Since 2001 We accept Paypal
Home Article Directory
More from Bill Platt
"Bill Platt for Book Authors" Youtube Channel
Training for Book Authors
Other Resources for Book Authors & Publishers
FictionPlots.com (350+ Plots & counting)
Please Support Our Advertisers

 
D9 Hosting


Wild Mustang Horses in the American West

Copyright (c) 2008-2023

It is natural to believe that wild horses have "always" roamed America's Western States, but that simply is not the case. Horses were native to North America until the end of the last ice age, 10-12,000 years ago, and then they died out.

It took the joint actions of Christopher Columbus and Hernando Cortez, to bring horses back to North America. In 1493, Christopher Columbus brought horses from Spain to the West Indies, during his second voyage to the Americas. In 1519, the Spanish conquistador Cortez brought horses to the mainland, as the captain of the third Spanish expedition.

Horses arrived in North America, by way of Mexico and Florida, as a tool of the Spanish conquistadors and were used to great effect by Cortez in the defeat of the Aztec empire.

Many horses went wild after their riders were killed. Other horses escaped from their corrals, and many more horses were integrated into Native American societies. Within just a few decades, horses had migrated from Mexico and Florida and entered into the North American interior.

The History of American Horse Breeds

Nearly all of the horses currently running wild in the ranges of the Western United States hailed from the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, in a region defined by modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations suggests that there are 17 individual horse breeds that can be defined as "Iberian horses". Three of the breeds hail from Portugal and the remaining 14 originated in Spain. Most of the Iberian horse breeds are considered to be Baroque horses, comprised mostly of horses of Andalusian, Arabian and Barb ancestry.

Many of the Native American tribes became master horse breeders, most importantly, the Comanche, the Shoshoni, and the Nez Perce nations. Through selective breeding by the Native American tribes, the first truly American horse breed was the Appaloosa.

The wild horses of the Western United States are actually more accurately referred to as horses that have gone "feral", or horses that were once domesticated and now are wild. Just as there is a huge population of feral dogs near the big cities of America, most notably near Miami, Florida, there is also a substantial population of feral horses in America.

Free-Roaming Horses Eventually Required Protection From Congress

In 1900, it was estimated that there were as many as two million free-roaming horses in the United States. During the early years of the twentieth century, the free-roaming horse population was severely diminished through a combination of factors including the capture of horses for use in the military, and more revoltingly, by companies who killed the horses to make dog food.

By the 1970's, the plight of wild horses in the United States had attracted the attention of the U.S. Federal Government. This newly focused attention eventually led to the passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971.

In recent years, it has been estimated by the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management that there are as many as 29,000 feral horses and burros on BLM-managed lands in ten western states. The ten Western U.S. states that have feral horses running wild includes: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming.

It is estimated that more than half of the wild horse population resides in Nevada, and Montana and Oregon are the other states with significant wild horse population numbers. There is another few hundred head of wild horses free-roaming in Alberta and British Columbia, in Canada.

Through the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, the Bureau of Land Management has the responsibility of managing the numbers of wild horses and burros, to ensure that healthy herds thrive on healthy rangelands. Within the mandate of the BLM, they are responsible to manage the herd numbers of wild horses and burros that roam the American West.

The BLM Wild Horse and Burro Adoption and Sale Program

Wild horses left to their own wits can literally double their population within four short years, provided that drought and wildfires do not diminish their numbers naturally. Horses do not have natural predators within the rangelands of North America, so their numbers will generally run unchecked without BLM intervention.

The beauty of the 1971 law is that as the BLM culls horses and burros from the wild population, those horses and burros will become available for adoption and sale through the BLM program to individuals and groups willing and able to provide humane, long-term care to these beautiful animals.

To learn more about the adoption of purchase of horses or burros, you can visit the Bureau of Land Management website at: http://www.blm.gov or give them a call at: (866) 4MUSTANGS. You can actually adopt and purchase feral horses through the BLM program in states on both sides of the Mississippi River. Sales are held yearly throughout the South, the West and even in Illinois.


About The Author: Shop Amazon - Top Gift Ideas
Robb Fowler writes about horses and horse ownership. To find horses available for sale, in nearly every state, please visit the HorseClicks Horses for Sale website: http://www.horseclicks.com

VOTE ON THIS ARTICLE
Needs Work >> 0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 << Excellent Article

Tell our authors what you think about their article.



Top-Level Category: Nature and Pets Articles || Related Categories: Education Articles

10 Most Recent Articles Written by Robb Fowler

The Heart Of The Thoroughbred Horse Can Only Be Found In Competition
Written by: Robb Fowler | Distributed: 2008-04-13 | Word Count: 734 | Page Views: 4078 | Votes: 8 | Rating: 2.25
If you have ever watched the Kentucky Derby or other events in racing's Triple Crown, you have had the opportunity to see Thoroughbred horses. If you're not a racing fan, but watch the news on a regular basis - particularly after the 2006 running of the Kentucky Derby and on through the rest of the year, you're likely familiar with the story of Barbaro, the 2006 Derby winner that was put down after shattering a hind leg during the 2006 Preakness Stakes: the beautiful, calm Thoroughbred Horse was beloved by many.

Understanding The Importance and Popularity of the American Quarter Horse
Written by: Robb Fowler | Distributed: 2008-04-10 | Word Count: 739 | Page Views: 3895 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 1.50
Quarter Horse seems like a strange name for an animal, but only until you understand that Quarter horses are able to run a quarter mile faster than any other horse can run the same distance (in some situations, a Quarter Horse has been recorded at over 50 miles per hour while running at full speed), then its given name makes good sense.

Understanding What A Paint Horse Is, And How To Identify One
Written by: Robb Fowler | Distributed: 2008-04-08 | Word Count: 737 | Page Views: 3929 | Votes: 8 | Rating: 2.38
Paint horses got their name for a far more obvious reason: in every case, whether their pattern falls into the Overo, Tobiano or Tovero category, the horse is marked by some percentage of white hair over un-pigmented skin in addition to another color: brown, tan, black or gray.

Understanding The Art Of Buying A Good Horse
Written by: Robb Fowler | Distributed: 2008-04-03 | Word Count: 757 | Page Views: 3698 | Votes: 4 | Rating: 1.75
Anyone looking through a list of horses for sale needs to have a strong sense of what they are looking to buy. When buying horses in Texas, or anywhere else, most people are going to find right off the bat that they are not just looking for a brown horse, they are going to be looking for horses that will serve a particular purpose.

Florida Is Home to Sea Cows, Sea Horses and American Quarter Horses
Written by: Robb Fowler | Distributed: 2008-04-01 | Word Count: 764 | Page Views: 4186 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 1.50
Ask someone what they see when they picture horses in Florida and you're likely to hear about an imagines scene that places the rider and horse on a Gulf Coast beach with the sun setting in the background over crisp blue water. While that is, admittedly, an idyllic scene that is fairly common, horses in Florida are also likely to be scene carrying their riders along state and national park trails, at racetracks and in both dressage and jumping rings.

Horses in California Are Quite Common, Even Outside of Hollywood
Written by: Robb Fowler | Distributed: 2008-03-29 | Word Count: 815 | Page Views: 4120 | Votes: 4 | Rating: 1.00
Most famously, Californian Ronald Reagan owned horses and was very fond of going on a ride, whenever he was at home. While the Reagan's occupied the White House, both Ronald and Nancy were the proud owners of Arabian horses. Of course, horses have been kept in California even into the modern age, even by ordinary Californians, for work and pleasure.

How Judges Score Dressage Horses In Competition
Written by: Robb Fowler | Distributed: 2008-03-27 | Word Count: 810 | Page Views: 4242 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 1.20
While most dressage (a French term meaning "training") horses are warm bloods - Holsteiners, Trahkeners, Dutch Warmbloods, and Oldenburgs - some American Quarter Horses have also been very successful in dressage competitions.

Choosing the Right Horse for Calf Roping
Written by: Robb Fowler | Distributed: 2008-03-25 | Word Count: 762 | Page Views: 5176 | Votes: 9 | Rating: 1.89
When it comes to weekends at the rodeo, riders and their horses must be equally athletic. Particularly when it comes to the rodeo's timed events - barrel racing, steer wrestling and calf roping - athleticism is essential. The success of the rodeo cowboy is measured as much by having the right horse, as it is by the cowboy's athletic skills and timing.

Understanding Which Horses Make The Best Barrel Racing Horses
Written by: Robb Fowler | Distributed: 2008-02-26 | Word Count: 725 | Page Views: 5508 | Votes: 9 | Rating: 0.89
Contrary to what some people believe, not every horse is an ideal candidate for barrel racing. Though there are fewer particulars than there are when looking for a Thoroughbred that will be a winner on the race track, there are a number of different characteristics that will be found in great barrel horses.

Arabian Horses Are Widely Popular for Good Reason
Written by: Robb Fowler | Distributed: 2008-02-21 | Word Count: 710 | Page Views: 5181 | Votes: 10 | Rating: 2.90
Arabian horses have quickly taken their place as one of the most popular breeds in North America. The endurance and lung capacity of the Arabian horses make them a popular option for those who enjoy spending a day out on a long ride.

All of Author's Articles on this site:

Most Recent "Nature And Pets" Articles

How Safe Is Your Pet's Flea and Tick Killer?
Written by: Gary Le Mon | Distributed: 2011-07-20 | Word Count: 714 | Page Views: 4949 | Votes: 5 | Rating: 1.20
How did your favorite flea and tick control product do in EPA laboratory testing for new product registration? All seven popular treatments I uncovered revealed shocking adverse health effects on dogs and cats.

The Importance of Good Cat Health
Written by: Riley Santoso | Distributed: 2009-09-01 | Word Count: 476 | Page Views: 3940 | Votes: 3 | Rating: 1.00
Anyone that has ever owned a cat for any extended period of time realizes the importance of being actively involved in promoting good feline health. Even newcomers learn quickly that there is a great deal of information to learn when it comes to taking care of a cat. There are a number of ways in which you can be prepared to take good care of your cat to try to avoid any problems down the road.

What Makes a Siamese Cat So Different?
Written by: Susan Miller | Distributed: 2008-10-09 | Word Count: 1082 | Page Views: 7782 | Votes: 20 | Rating: 2.75
The traditional Siamese cat or Apple Head as sometimes recognized is one of the oldest breeds of domestic cats. It still looks to this day as the breed originally would have looked when it was first imported from Siam. The breed is still a lovely muscular athletic looking cat with a beautiful round head and striking blue eyes.

Origin and Evolution of Arcon Method for Search and Rescue Dogs
Written by: Jaime Parejo Garcia | Distributed: 2008-09-26 | Word Count: 1845 | Page Views: 5090 | Votes: 9 | Rating: 3.00
In this article we will discuss the origin and evolution of arcon method for search and rescue dogs.

Phases in the Training Process Arcon Method
Written by: Jaime Parejo Garcia | Distributed: 2008-09-24 | Word Count: 3215 | Page Views: 4230 | Votes: 14 | Rating: 2.64
In this article we will discuss the phases in the training process arcon method.

Arcon Method Techniques
Written by: Jaime Parejo Garcia | Distributed: 2008-09-18 | Word Count: 1546 | Page Views: 4146 | Votes: 13 | Rating: 3.00
The Arcon Techniques are strictly faithful to the rational demands of the conventional scientific technique and have been repeatedly subject to the corresponding process of experimentation and verification.

Introduction to the Arcon Method
Written by: Jaime Parejo Garcia | Distributed: 2008-09-16 | Word Count: 2372 | Page Views: 5142 | Votes: 8 | Rating: 2.63
Method Canine Catastrophe Rescue consists of using dogs to find people that have been accidentally buried for whatever reason (explosions, earthquakes, structural flaws, hurricanes, tornadoes, avalanches, landslides, etc.).

Birds Go Nuts for Peanut Butter
Written by: Andy Perrin | Distributed: 2008-06-26 | Word Count: 329 | Page Views: 4296 | Votes: 7 | Rating: 1.57
Part of the attraction at Leeds Castle is the Aviary. The Hon. Olive, Lady Baillie had a passion for birds and started to introduce her collection of exotic birds back in 1957. In 1988 the present aviary with its 48 irregularly shaped hexagon flights was opened and they have had many notable successes breeding rare birds. The Aviary is run by Laura Gardner (Curator of Birds) and her team.

The Glory Of Hilary Duff...Morning Glory, That Is!
Written by: Wesley Berry, AAF | Distributed: 2008-05-07 | Word Count: 422 | Page Views: 5026 | Votes: 12 | Rating: 2.58
Hilary Duff, born September 28, 1987, with her acting talent, beautiful face, lovely voice, and trendy sense of style is indeed a young lady with a glorious career still ahead of her. Could all of Ms. Duff's glorious talents be attributed to the fact that she was born in the month of the morning glory?

Sending Birthday Flowers To Pamela Anderson
Written by: Wesley Berry, AAF | Distributed: 2008-04-16 | Word Count: 499 | Page Views: 4638 | Votes: 18 | Rating: 2.33
Each month of the year has a birth flower associated with it. Some even have several different types of flowers. New parents often look up the flower associated with their newborn and may even record the flower next to the birthstone in the child's baby book.

Most Viewed "Nature And Pets" Articles

Race To The Perfect Gift With Nascar Themed Flowers
Written by: Wesley Berry, AAF | Distributed: 2007-12-31 | Word Count: 414 | Page Views: 10185 | Votes: 9 | Rating: 1.22
You need to send a really outstanding gift to someone special in your life. You rack your brain and try to come up with something that will say what you're feeling, strike a personal chord, and be a fun gift that the recipient will really enjoy. Your special someone's passion is Nascar racing, but a shirt, hat, or other memorabilia alone seems so overdone. What can you do? Try presenting that Nascar gift with a new and exciting twist-send it with flowers.

History of the Cherry Tree
Written by: Patrick Malcolm | Distributed: 2006-08-24 | Word Count: 1210 | Page Views: 8279 | Votes: 21 | Rating: 2.14
A history of fruiting and flowering cherry trees.

What Makes a Siamese Cat So Different?
Written by: Susan Miller | Distributed: 2008-10-09 | Word Count: 1082 | Page Views: 7782 | Votes: 20 | Rating: 2.75
The traditional Siamese cat or Apple Head as sometimes recognized is one of the oldest breeds of domestic cats. It still looks to this day as the breed originally would have looked when it was first imported from Siam. The breed is still a lovely muscular athletic looking cat with a beautiful round head and striking blue eyes.

Blue Pearls of the New Zealand Paua
Written by: Yvonne Mal | Distributed: 2007-01-10 | Word Count: 424 | Page Views: 7752 | Votes: 7 | Rating: 2.14
The Blackfoot Paua (Abalone: haliotis iris), one of eight mollusk variety found around the Pacific Rim, is indigenous to New Zealand coastal waters. Read on to learn more about pearls.

History Of Blueberry Plants
Written by: Patrick Malcolm | Distributed: 2007-01-08 | Word Count: 1120 | Page Views: 7645 | Votes: 21 | Rating: 2.67
Very few historical records exist on ancient blueberry culture in the Greek and Roman empires. Those cultures did use parts of the blueberry plants and fruit to eat or to treat ailments.

History of Walnuts
Written by: Patrick Malcolm | Distributed: 2006-08-18 | Word Count: 1111 | Page Views: 7550 | Votes: 16 | Rating: 2.44
Ever wanted to know the history of the good old Walnut? Learn of its history and other facts in this article.

Canna Lily Sales Face a Chaotic Future
Written by: Patrick Malcolm | Distributed: 2006-09-14 | Word Count: 970 | Page Views: 7395 | Votes: 18 | Rating: 2.00
Many agricultural plants that are reproduced by vegetative division face a mysterious problem that results in a decline in the clone vigor, and most farmers and nurserymen claim that the plant crop has "run out." A number of factors adversely affect the plant clone to the point that it becomes unproductive and uneconomical to continue growing.

The Rose: Christina Aguilera's Favorite Flower?
Written by: Wesley Berry, AAF | Distributed: 2008-01-17 | Word Count: 497 | Page Views: 7174 | Votes: 13 | Rating: 1.85
The rose has long been a favorite flower of many women, but is it the favorite flower of Christina Aguilera? The truth is, I don't know, but judging by the elaborate floral chuppah of brightly colored orange, yellow, and burgundy roses conspicuously present at her wedding and the thick bouquets of hot pink roses and rose petals surrounding her wedding cake, it's a sure bet the rose ranks high on Aguilera's list of favorite flowers.

What's in the Name – Tahitian Pearls
Written by: Yvonne Mal | Distributed: 2007-01-16 | Word Count: 1035 | Page Views: 6783 | Votes: 9 | Rating: 2.11
With the exception of Poe Konini, Poe Rava and Titian, the Cook Islands Black Pearls, Black-lipped Pearls, Black Pearls, Black South Sea Pearls, Black Tahitian Pearls, Grey Pearls, Tahitian Black Pearls, Tahitian Cultured Pearls and Tahitian Pearls are all common names used interchangeably when referring to pearls cultured in the black-lipped pearl oyster (pinctada margaritifera) or Te Ufi.

Ancient Explorers Discovered Unique Native Nut Trees Growing In America
Written by: Patrick Malcolm | Distributed: 2006-10-19 | Word Count: 1404 | Page Views: 6772 | Votes: 16 | Rating: 2.31
History of American nut trees.

Highest Ranked "Nature And Pets" Articles

Discover a High In the Sky Holiday
Written by: Travel Alberta | Distributed: 2006-12-16 | Word Count: 751 | Page Views: 4192 | Votes: 10 | Rating: 3.20
The first time I saw the Northern Lights, I was leaning over the steering wheel of a dusky purple 1977 Chevy Nova on a northern highway near midnight, trying to roll down the driver's side window to get a better fix on it during my holiday, even as my passenger was shouting to be heard over the ghostly radio voices fading in and out. Within seconds it multiplied and changed colors, soaring over us like an exploding rainbow. Nature's primal postcard, my holiday highlight delivered free.

Arcon Method Techniques
Written by: Jaime Parejo Garcia | Distributed: 2008-09-18 | Word Count: 1546 | Page Views: 4146 | Votes: 13 | Rating: 3.00
The Arcon Techniques are strictly faithful to the rational demands of the conventional scientific technique and have been repeatedly subject to the corresponding process of experimentation and verification.

Origin and Evolution of Arcon Method for Search and Rescue Dogs
Written by: Jaime Parejo Garcia | Distributed: 2008-09-26 | Word Count: 1845 | Page Views: 5090 | Votes: 9 | Rating: 3.00
In this article we will discuss the origin and evolution of arcon method for search and rescue dogs.

Making the Big Decision - Euthanasia
Written by: Gary Kurz | Distributed: 2006-11-24 | Word Count: 1358 | Page Views: 4216 | Votes: 18 | Rating: 2.94
Help for those feeling guilty about putting a pet to sleep.

Arabian Horses Are Widely Popular for Good Reason
Written by: Robb Fowler | Distributed: 2008-02-21 | Word Count: 710 | Page Views: 5181 | Votes: 10 | Rating: 2.90
Arabian horses have quickly taken their place as one of the most popular breeds in North America. The endurance and lung capacity of the Arabian horses make them a popular option for those who enjoy spending a day out on a long ride.

What Makes a Siamese Cat So Different?
Written by: Susan Miller | Distributed: 2008-10-09 | Word Count: 1082 | Page Views: 7782 | Votes: 20 | Rating: 2.75
The traditional Siamese cat or Apple Head as sometimes recognized is one of the oldest breeds of domestic cats. It still looks to this day as the breed originally would have looked when it was first imported from Siam. The breed is still a lovely muscular athletic looking cat with a beautiful round head and striking blue eyes.

History Of Blueberry Plants
Written by: Patrick Malcolm | Distributed: 2007-01-08 | Word Count: 1120 | Page Views: 7645 | Votes: 21 | Rating: 2.67
Very few historical records exist on ancient blueberry culture in the Greek and Roman empires. Those cultures did use parts of the blueberry plants and fruit to eat or to treat ailments.

Phases in the Training Process Arcon Method
Written by: Jaime Parejo Garcia | Distributed: 2008-09-24 | Word Count: 3215 | Page Views: 4230 | Votes: 14 | Rating: 2.64
In this article we will discuss the phases in the training process arcon method.

Introduction to the Arcon Method
Written by: Jaime Parejo Garcia | Distributed: 2008-09-16 | Word Count: 2372 | Page Views: 5142 | Votes: 8 | Rating: 2.63
Method Canine Catastrophe Rescue consists of using dogs to find people that have been accidentally buried for whatever reason (explosions, earthquakes, structural flaws, hurricanes, tornadoes, avalanches, landslides, etc.).

The Glory Of Hilary Duff...Morning Glory, That Is!
Written by: Wesley Berry, AAF | Distributed: 2008-05-07 | Word Count: 422 | Page Views: 5026 | Votes: 12 | Rating: 2.58
Hilary Duff, born September 28, 1987, with her acting talent, beautiful face, lovely voice, and trendy sense of style is indeed a young lady with a glorious career still ahead of her. Could all of Ms. Duff's glorious talents be attributed to the fact that she was born in the month of the morning glory?











Download an eBook today
 
Directory Navigation
Locate By Category:

ALL Categories
Arts & Crafts
Arts & Entertainment
Automotive
Business - Offline
Business - Online
Career
Computers
Education
Family
Finance
Food & Drink
Health & Wellness
Home & Garden
Humor
Internet
Nature & Pets
Real Estate
Religion
Self Improvement
Shopping
Society
Sports & Recreation
Technology
Travel & Leisure
Uncategorized
World Events
Writing & Speaking

Change Number of Results:
50 - 100 - 200 - 500
Article Reprint Rights
Creative Commons License

This work is
licensed under a
Creative Commons
License


You are not required to show the creative commons license notice when you reprint this work.
Article Statistics
Word Count: 825

Total Views: 5482

Article Rating: 1.29 of 5
Votes Cast: 7

More Articles By Author:



Last Distribution Date:
2008-02-19 12:48:00

Internal ID: #5694





All Articles are Copyright © 2001-2023 of the Defined Authors.

All other material and images on this site are:
Copyright © 2001-2023, ThePhantomWriters.com