Wild Horses

I find this so very upsetting...

http://www.care2.com/causes/animal-welfare/blog/cloud-s-herd-is-in-danger-of-blm-roundup/

http://thecloudfoundation.wordpress.com/

ARTICLES:

New York Times Article by Jim Robbins article 10-8-09 “7 Preserves Envisioned to Manage Wild Horses”

Missoula Independent Article by Erika Fredrickson 10-8-09 “Alone on the Range”

CNS News “Interior Secretary Wants to Move Surplus Population of Wild Horses from West to East at a Cost of $96 Million” 10-9-09

Arizona Daily Star “Grijalva lauds Obama plan on preserves for wild horses” 10-9-09

Washington Post “Salazar Presents Ambitious Plan to Manage Wild Horses” 10-8-09
excerpt:
Since the 1980s, the federal government has hired cowboys to round up some excess horses and place them in holding facilities, where they await adoption by the public. But the adoption rate has slowed along with the economy. In fiscal 2008, the government placed 3,706 horses into private adoption, compared with 5,701 in fiscal 2005.

The number of horses and burros in holding facilities is now about 32,000 -- nearly the same number roaming wild on the range. Meanwhile, the cost to taxpayers for feed and care of the animals in holding facilities keeps climbing. The budget for the wild horse and burro program rose from $39.2 million in fiscal 2007 to more than $50 million last year.

A year ago, officials at the Bureau of Land Management suggested they might turn to euthanasia -- causing an immediate outcry from members of Congress, horse lovers and animal advocates. Madeleine Pickens, the wife of billionaire T. Boone Pickens and a racehorse breeder, jumped into the conflict and announced her intention to buy a ranch and adopt 30,000 horses. She created a nonprofit foundation and a Web site, at http://www.madeleinesmustangs.org, and signed a letter of intent to buy land in northeast Nevada. But her negotiations with the government have sputtered over her request for annual federal stipends to care for the horses and the use of some federal lands for grazing.

Associated Press: “Salazar Wants to Move West’s Wild Horses East” 10-8-09

***NEW POST FROM RT FITCH HERE! “Wild Horse Expert Claims BLM Cheated Wild Horses out of Half Their Habitat”***

I do not understand our need to "meddle"
These horses have long been an icon in our country. WHY round them up? WHY destroy them? So that in 20 years we can try to reintroduce them like we have wolves and bison? Why not just leave them alone???