The McCullough Peaks Mustangs are an incredible herd of 181 wild horses that live a vibrant life just outside of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. They have their own families, likes, dislikes, failures, and triumphs. Photographers, wild horse advocates, and visitors from around the world have fallen in love with them, know them fondly by name, and look forward to seeing how their lives have unfolded year after year. But the future of the herd is in danger, with a round-up planned for later this year. Until August 12, 2023, you have the chance to learn more about the situation, form your own opinion, and submit a comment to the governing body which will play a role in determining the future of these magnificent creatures.
For your copy and paste convenience, click here to view talking points you can copy and paste to submit to the BLM, provided by wild horse photographer Sandy Sisti of Wild At Heart Images. For more information, please read on.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a government body that oversees and manages wild horses across the United States. In their proposed plan for 2023, they plan to round-up up to half of the McCullough Peaks herd for permanent removal from the place they’ve called home their entire lives. The BLM, or selected outside contractors, will set up enclosures and lure the horses in with hay and similar “bait” and then decide which horses will be euthanized, removed, or set free.
Sandy Sisti of Wild At Heart Images is a photographer who has spent more than a decade documenting the stories of the McCullough Peaks mustangs. She is advocating for a “No Action Alternative” to the BLM’s plan. Sandy has written an extensive article detailing the alternative, the impact of this round-up on the genetic viability and mustang habitat, and suggested talking points for submitting comments to the BLM before August 12 at 4:30 PM (16:30h) Mountain Standard Time.
Explore Sandy’s article and submit a comment via the link below. You can also explore the following podcast episode, where Sandy is featured on the Freedom for Wild Horses podcast. Host Carol Walker shares that this podcast is “the place to find out about wild horses in the American West and what you can do to help them stay wild and free”. If you love wildlife, wild horses, and the freedom that they stand for, this show is for you.”
Wild horses are living symbols of freedom and the resilient spirit that lives within so many of us. Individual round-ups such as this add up to have a significant impact on their future and determine whether these majestic creatures continuing existing among us. Please consider learning more about this issue and protecting their legacy before they are gone.
Comments must be received by 4:30 PM (16:30h) Mountain Standard Time on August 12, 2023 to be considered. You do not need to be a U.S. Resident or a resident of the state of Wyoming to comment.
For your copy and paste convenience, click here to view talking points you can copy and paste to submit to the BLM, provided by wild horse photographer Sandy Sisti of Wild At Heart Images.
While HorseGrooms is supportive of equine health and advocacy worldwide, this article reflects the stance and opinion solely of the author. Please educate yourself and form your own opinions.
Growing up as an English rider on the East Coast of the U.S., I always dreamed of heading West and finding true partnership with horses through ranch work. From working cattle on horseback in the remote Medicine Bow National Forest to exploring the Big Horns with the horse of a lifetime, that connection between horse and human is something I’ll continue chasing my entire life.
Now, based out of one of the most famous cowboy towns of the American West, I create handcrafted brands and websites for wildly ambitious people through my design company, Unbridled Form.
As Creative Director of HorseGrooms, I oversee and execute branding, website design, and visual content curation.
