Learn about Wild Horses
Horses first originated on the North American continent more than 55 million years ago. Over millions of years, they roamed the grasslands, slowly extending their range to most continents on earth. Around 8,000 B.C. they disappeared from the North American continent completely, succumbing to climate change and human predators. The horse was reintroduced to North America via Spanish explorers who came to the New World in the 16th century.
Modern American wild horses—also called mustangs—are descendants of these Spanish forbearers as well as horses who wandered from wagon trains, farms and ranches. Roaming free over the public ranges of the western United States, they were respected by ranchers for their strength and speed, and were an integral part of the building blocks of America. However, the 1920s saw tractors begin to replace horses on American farms, and since they were no longer a necessary resource, wild horses began to be considered a nuisance.
Learn more about wild horses...
Modern American wild horses—also called mustangs—are descendants of these Spanish forbearers as well as horses who wandered from wagon trains, farms and ranches. Roaming free over the public ranges of the western United States, they were respected by ranchers for their strength and speed, and were an integral part of the building blocks of America. However, the 1920s saw tractors begin to replace horses on American farms, and since they were no longer a necessary resource, wild horses began to be considered a nuisance.
Learn more about wild horses...
Labels: ASPCA, Horses, Wild Horses
posted by ASPCA at 11:09 AM PERMALINK
1 Comments:
The belief that wild horses are direct descendants of the Spanish Colonial Horse is a myth. There is no proof whatsoever that the wild horses as we know them today are linked to the escapees of early settlers and voyagers.Sure sure you can refer me to several links that provide information on the American wild horse's origin. Allow me attempt to reeducate those whom have fallen into the trap set by the Bureau of Land Management that wild horses are an invasive species because of their alleged origin. First of all,wild horses were here long before the Spanish wild horses ever stepped hoof on this continent.No I am not referring to Equus Pliohippus that vanished from North America 10,000 years ago!I am referring to the wild horse that roamed here at the same time ranchers and homesteaders had domestic horses that were released or escaped from their confines.So where is the proof of my claim? Look at your history!? Native American Indigenous people were using the aid of horses for centuries,long before the Spanish Conquistadors showed up with their war steeds,and that even includes Christopher Columbus's arrival here in North America. In the 13th centuries,the Eskimos (Inuit and Yupik/Yupiit) and Aleuts migrated down from the arctic through North and Northwestern America.At that time they settled and populated.Wild Horses were captured from the rangelands by these early Natives and trained them for transportation,hunting and other daily tasks.So why hasn't that been documented? It hasn't been documented because no one and I mean no one has taken the time to research the history of the early nomads. I just want to set the record straight that Native Americans did not discover horses after the Spanish arrived.It was long before that the these animals were part of our intricate ecosystem as they have always been.In all reality there was no such thing as a 10,000 year gap between the Pliohippus and reintroduction of horses here in North America in the 14th and 15th centuries.Wild horses as we have come to know them today,have always been here.They should not be considered an invasive species nor should they be considered feral.They are as much a wild indigenous species as the elk,wolf,and cougar.Wild horses deserve to remain as free as the wind that blows across the prairies.
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