60 to 50 mya

5 mya   

Equus, the only surviving member of the once diverse family of horses, gave rise to modern horses (caballines), as well as asses and zebras. Their migrations from North America to Asia and South America spread Equus around the world. Fossils of Equus are found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica.

10,000 - 8,000 years ago

Horses vanish from the North American continent. Reasons for their disappearance are still subject to debate and range from climate change to over-hunting by native peoples.

6,000 years ago   

For at least 50,000 years, horses provide food and perhaps hides and sinew for native peoples in Asia and Indo-Europe. They are utilized by various cultures for meat and other purposes.

4,000-1,500 years ago    

The Hittites are among the earliest people to master horsemanship, riding horses and crafting wagons for horses to pull. They are credited with inventing the horse-drawn war chariot, a swift and deadly weapon with which they conquer Egypt and Mesopotamia. Their knowledge of horses spread quickly into Europe by 2000 B.C.

Mounted soldiers, wearing armor of various materials, appear on the scene in support of foot soldiers. Horses enable travel, exploration and communication. Messengers on horseback convey commands between far-flung outposts of the Persian Empire, the largest empire of its time. From the birth of the Roman Empire until its collapse about 1,500 years ago, horses enable the spread of Greco-Roman culture throughout Europe and North Africa.

1519    

Horses are re-introduced to the North American continent by Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez.

1600 to mid 1800s    

Spanish horses are dispersed by settlers throughout the Southwest and California. Indian tribes disperse them further into the Great Plains, the upper Green and Colorado River basins, and the Snake and Columbia River Plateaus. Escapees form vast herds of "mestengos," the feral descendants of the Spanish horse. They may number as many as a million when Americans begin to settle the West.

Horses have still not found their way into the interior of the Great Basin.

Late 1800s     

The mustang is almost completely exterminated from the Southwest, California and east of the Continental Divide. Most of the remaining herds are in the upper Green and Colorado River basins, and the Snake and Columbia River Plateaus.  

Mining in the Great Basin begins to wane, decreasing the demand for horses. Ranchers are not as diligent about maintaining their herds. These horses rejoin their wild brothers on the range.

1897

Nevada passes a law allowing citizens to shoot unbranded horses on government lands (public domain).

1901    

Due to protests of Nevada ranchers that their horses were being shot, the 1987 law is repealed.

1905     

Feb. 1

The Forest Service is created and 63 million acres of public domain are transferred to the Department of Agriculture.

Early 1900s       

Mechanized equipment is beginning to replace horses on farms and the end of the Boer War result in thousands of excess horses which roam with wild herds throughout the West and whose numbers increase rapidly.

During World War I, many mustangs are rounded up and shipped to Europe.

1912

March 5

Velma Bronn Johnston (Wild Horse Annie) is born in Reno Nevada. By this time, about 100,000 horses roam wild (unclaimed) in Nevada.

1920s

Fueled by the new commercial demand for horse meat and other byproducts, efforts to capture as many wild horses as possible begin in earnest.

1930

R.B. Cunningham Graham publishes The Horses of the Conquest.

1930s

The Great Depression makes tractors unaffordable for many farmers in the South, and many captured wild horses are diverted from the slaughter houses to Southern farms.

1934

June 28

The Taylor Grazing Act is passed to manage grazing on public lands. Ranchers pay a minimum fee to graze their cattle, but release their horses to the wild. The Federal Government joins the war against wild horses.  

J. Frank Dobie publishes The Mustangs.

1945

Walker D. Wyman publishes The Wild Horse of the West.

1946  

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is formed in the Department of Interior.

1955

Frank Gilbert Roe publishes The Indian and the Horse.

1958

About 33,000 wild horses are estimated to be on public lands.

1959

Sept. 8

The Wild Horse Annie Act is passed, prohibiting the use of aircraft to round up wild horses on public (federal) lands. Although roundups still continue to take place by other means, the population of wild horses stabilizes.

1962

Secretary of Interior Stewart Udall establishes the Nevada Wild Horse Range on the Nellis Air Force Base.

1965

Jan. 13

The National Mustang Association is incorporated in Utah.

May 27

The International Society for the Preservation of Mustangs and Burros is incorporated in California.      

1966

Marguerite Henry publishes Mustang: Wild Spirit of the West

1967

The BLM estimates there are about 17,000 wild horses left.

1968

Sept.

Secretary of Interior Stewart Udall establishes the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range.

1969

Spring

Utah Senator Frank Moss introduces a bill drawn up by the National Mustang Association proposing that the mustang be protected as an endangered species.

1970

Jan. 30

After having intervened for the protection of the Pryor Mountain mustangs 18 months earlier, Wyoming Senator Clifford Hansen introduces a bill drafted by Clyde Reynolds, mayor of Lovell Wyoming, into the Senate. It was very similar to the Wild and Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act passed almost two years later.  

Oct.

Hope Ryden publishes America's Last Wild Horses. In the epilogue (removed in subsequent printings of the book), she states that the number of wild horses had significantly declined from the 1967 17,000 BLM figure.  

Dec. 31

Despite mounting publicity on the issue, Senator Hansen's bill dies with the conclusion of the 91st Congress. He declines to sponsor the bill the next year, and in 1997, he is quoted as saying: "The law was intended to recognize the significance of wild horses and burros, but talk about a waste of public funds!"

1971

Several new Wild Horse bills are introduced into the House and Senate. They spur a spike in wild horse roundups by ranchers trying to remove horses before they became protected. One such roundup resulted in horses being released into the Cerbat Mountains of Arizona.

June 22

The National Wild Horse Association is incorporated in Nevada.

June 30

Wild Horse Organized Assistance (WHOA, not to be confused with the Wild Horse Observers Association or Just Say Whoa) is incorporated in Nevada. One of WHOA's founders is Wild Horse Annie, and the organization works with the BLM to place captured horses into adoptive homes.

Dec. 15

After unanimous passage in the Senate and a majority vote in the House, the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act (WFRH&BA) is signed by President Nixon. According to the 1978 and later editions of America's Last Wild Horses, the BLM estimated at that time that about 9500 wild horses and 7500 burros were on the public lands.

1973

Under the authority of Section 3(b) of the WFRH&BA which stated: where an area is found to be overpopulated, the Secretary, after consulting with the Advisory Board...may cause additional excess wild free-roaming horses and burros to be captured and removed for private maintenance under humane conditions and care, the BLM begins capturing and adopting out wild horses from the Pryor Mountain herd.

1974

A "ground count" is done and finds about 42,000 horses and 15,000 burros. The next year, the BLM concedes there were probably considerably more than 9500 horses in 1971; probably closer to 28,000. (The figure of 17,000 in 1967 was probably also low.) The 28,000 figure assumes a middle ground in the disparity between the 1971 and 1974 figures, by considering the 1974 figure to be about 10% high.

1975

July

The BLM conducts its first roundup in Nevada at Stone Cabin Valley. It water traps 80 horses, which are subsequently impounded by the State of Nevada which declares the WFRH&BA to be unconstitutional. Rather than keep the horses penned up until the matter is resolved, the BLM releases the horses. BLM roundups of burros continue in other states. The State of New Mexico also challenges the constitutionality of the WFRH&BA, and rounds up burros from public lands and sells them at auction.

1976

June 17

In Klepp vs. New Mexico the Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of the WFRH&BA.  

Oct. 21

The Federal Lands Policy and Management Act amends the WFRH&BA to allow the BLM and Forest Service to use mechanized vehicles to round up wild horses and burros. By this time, there are about 53,000 horses on public lands, and roundups to keep populations down begin in earnest. Excess animals are put into private maintenance for an adoption fee of $25.00, but there is little control over what happens to the adopted horses. Even so, there are no provisions to ever give title to the adopters.

1977

June 27

Wild Horse Annie dies.    

Drought in the West compels the roundup of about 10,000 horses over the next two years. There is talk of trying to get population levels down to the 1971 estimate.    

Anthony A. Amaral publishes Mustang: Life and Legends of Nevada's Wild Horses.

1978

Oct. 25

The Public Rangelands Improvement Act is passed stating: (6) the Act of December 15, 1971 (85 Stat. 649, 16 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), continues to be successful in its goal of protecting wild free-roaming horses and burros from capture, branding, harassment, and death, but that certain amendments are necessary thereto to avoid excessive costs in the administration of the Act, and to facilitate the humane adoption or disposal of excess wild free-roaming horses and burros which because they exceed the carrying capacity of the range, pose a threat to their own habitat, fish, wildlife, recreation, water and soil conservation, domestic livestock grazing, and other rangeland values.
The WFRH&BA is amended to reflect the concerns.

To curb the over-population of wild horses, a viable contraception method is needed in addition to periodic round-ups. From 1978 to 1991, the BLM unsuccessfully contracts for development of various methods to be used on stallions, then mares.

1980

Despite the removal and adoption of some 20,000 wild horses and burros since 1974, the estimated population has peaked at 65,000 (50,000 horses and 15,000 burros).

1981

Through the Land Use Planning Process, in accordance with § 1333(b)(1) of the WFRH&BA, the BLM sets an Appropriate Management Level (AML) of a total population of 25,000 wild horses and 5,000 burros on the public lands. This figure came from the number of animals estimated to be on public lands at the time the WFRH&BA was passed, less the number of animals on HMA's that had been zeroed out.

1982

March 9

The BLM Director raises the adoption fee to $200.00 for a horse, and adoptions fall off dramatically. Idaho Senator Jim McClure introduces S. 2183 reducing the number of horse that could be adopted by one individual in any one year from four to two, and allowing for disposal by sale of unadoptable horses. The bill doesn't make it out of committee.

1983

March

The adoption fee is dropped down to $125.00.

1985

Richard Symanski publishes Wild Horses and Sacred Cows.

1986

March 3

In accordance with § 1336 of the WFRH&BA, regulations for the management and adoptions of wild horses are put into effect.

1989

Aug. 3

Nevada Senator Harry Reid introduces S. 1508 to increase the penalties for killing a wild horse. It does not make it out of committee.    

The Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) rules that AML's must be based on monitoring, not on estimated 1971 numbers. At the time, there are about 45,000 horses and burros on the public lands. The target number is eventually set at 28,000 (25,000 horses and 3,000 burros).

If the 1958 figure of 33,000 horses is in the ballpark, with the passage of the Wild Horse Annie Act the next year the number of horses probably remains fairly constant through the 1960s at somewhere above 30,000. The illegality of using aircraft, along with the fact that those 30,000+ remaining horses are in the more inaccessible areas, make capturing them more difficult, and "mustangers" are only able to capture enough to keep the numbers from increasing. However, increased efforts in 1970-71 probably do lower the numbers to somewhat below 30,000. If the BLM succeeds in reaching its present goal of 25,000 horses, it will probably be the lowest number since released horses began interbreeding with wild horse herds in North America.

1990

Congress's circumvention of § 1333(b)(2)(C) of the WFRH&BA by mandating that no appropriated funds can be used to destroy healthy horses leads to overcrowding of BLM holding corrals. Sanctuaries are set up for unadoptable horses.

1991

Dr. Gus Cothran releases Strategies for Genetic Management of Feral Horse Populations on Public Lands in the United States proposing genetic testing of all the wild horse populations.

A research initiative is funded by BLM and the National Park Service (NPS) to determine the characteristics of a successful contraceptive method for wild horses and ultimately, for wildlife. Field trials of PZP begin in 2001.

1997

Jan. 29

The BLM releases a Wild Horse and Burro Evaluation.  

March 7

The 43 CFR 4700 regulations are amended again to allow for competitive bidding at adoptions. Also, mare/foal pairs are no longer adopted at a two for one price, and the fee for burros is increased to a minimum of $125.00    

The BLM enters into a settlement agreement with wild horse advocate organizations to add the following language to the adoption form: "I hereby state that I have no intent to sell this wild horse or burro for slaughter or bucking stock, or for processing into commercial products."    

Hardy Oelke publishes Born Survivors on the Eve of Extinction.

1998

Jan. 23

BLM Director Pat Shea re-establishes the National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board, after a several year hiatus.

2001

Oct. 1

The BLM begins genetically testing every herd gathered. Until then, only a handful of herds had been tested.

2004

Nov. 20

Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) slips an eleventh hour amendment into the 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Bill to allow the sale of wild horses for processing into commercial products, opening the door for long-protected wild horses to be slaughtered for human consumption overseas.

Dec. 8

Despite the removal of 227,000 horses and burros since 1973, there are still 37,000 wild horses and burros on public lands (probably about the same number as in 1971, except that there are about 33,000 horses and 4,000 burros. The Forest Service may have another 1,500 horses and 100 burros).

Most members of Congress are unaware of the Burns 2004 Amendment and pass the 2005 Omnibus budget bill which amends the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971 to allow the commercial sale of un-adoptable horses without restriction.

2005

Jan. 25

Representatives Nick Rahall (D-W.VA) and Ed Whitfield (R-KY) introduce HR 297 which would repeal the Burns amendment allowing the commercial sale and slaughter of un-adoptable horses.

March 9

S 576, the Senate version of HR 297, is introduced by Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) to restore federal protections for wild horses removed by the Burns Amendment.

2006

Sept. 7

U.S. House of Representatives passes H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, by a vote of 263-146. The 109th Congress adjourns before the Senate can consider the bill.

2007

Feb. 14 

Legislation to ban the slaughter of American horses nationwide, S. 311 and H.R. 503, is introduced by Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Reps. Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Ed Whitfield (R-KY.), John Spratt (D-S.C.) and Nick Rahall (D-W.VA.).

.

April 25

The Senate Commerce Committee approves H.R. 503/S. 311, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, legislation that would ban horse slaughter for human consumption in the United States and would ensure that horses could not be shipped to other countries for the same purpose.

April 26

The U.S. House of Representatives passes H. R. 249 reinstating protections of wild free-roaming horses and burros from commercial sale and slaughter.

Oct. 4

After a series of appeals, the last U.S. horse slaughter plant closes down. Horses can continue to be shipped to horrific Mexican slaughter houses and to Canadian slaughter plants. The conditions under which the horses are shipped are inhumane.

Nov. 11*

S. 311 (Senate version of H.R. 249) is placed on the Senate’s Legislative Calendar. The bill is currently languishing in committee. *Public support is needed to bring the bill to the floor and to get it passed.  For information on how to contact your Congressman, visit www.congress.org.

Dec. 6

The United States Cattleman’s Association (USCA) opposes S. 311. The American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) also opposes the bill because the language of the bill may affect the ability of their members buy and sell horses.