Wild horse and burro populations in the American West are managed through controversial roundup and holding programs that raise serious welfare concerns at every stage.
The management of wild horses in the American West illustrates the welfare costs of population management that prioritizes speed and cost over animal wellbeing. Helicopter roundups cause deaths and injuries. Long-term holding strips animals of the freedom and social complexity that defines their lives. Yet the political will to transition to fertility control — proven effective, less welfare-damaging, and ultimately cheaper — has been slow to materialize. Advocacy for fertility control-centered management is one of the most impactful welfare positions for wild horse advocates to take.