The New Mexico Horse Council is seeking input from our members and stakeholders in New Mexico regarding the wild and feral horse issue in the state. Our board president, Chris Morgan, has been asked to speak to several organizations about the issue.  Below is an overview of the topics to be discussed. 

The State of New Mexico has attempted over the previous eight state legislative sessions to pass effective legislation to give the state a means and direction to manage the estimated 20,000 wild/ feral horses within the state. Due to lack of input from all parties involved, this legislation has continually failed to pass. With an eighteen-month lead and all organizations working together, we can develop a solution to begin a process to manage the wild/feral horses in the State of New Mexico. This will take form of a bill that balances private land owner rights, the rights of ranchers that lease federal property adjacent to state lands, and humane animal practices. This will not be an end all solution, but one that will start the processes to create a solution that can be replicated throughout the southwest United States.

Outline:

1) Definitions of wild/feral horses

2) Scope of herd management/ ranges of known and documented herds.

3) Past legislative failures

     a. Scope of overreach

     b. Agencies directed to manage

     c. Cost involved

     d. Burden of enforcement

4) National legislative actions

     a. Wild-Free Roaming Horse and Burrow Act of 1971, amended 1978, 1996, 2005

     b. Agencies- BLM/USFS

     c. Successes/ Failures

NMHC welcomes your input! Participants will be given the opportunity to provide a brief statement (no more than 4 minutes per person) during the meeting.