Navajo Nation reaches agreement for wild horse management

Thursday, May 1, 2014  

The Navajo Nation has reached an agreement to manage and protect wild horses on the reservation.

The tribe initially supported the issuance of federal permits for horse slaughtering facilities. But President Ben Shelly changed course and reached a memorandum of understanding with the Foundation to Protect New Mexico Wildlife, a group created by former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) and actor Robert Redford.

"Working together to resolve challenges is our approach as we work with Governor Richardson and his foundation. They will give us funding and find more resources to reverse the population of feral horses,” Shelly said in a press release. “We will continue to treat these animals humanely and implement the best solutions to our rangeland issues.”

Estimates put the number of wild horses on the reservation at 75,000.

Get the Story:
Tribe, Robert Redford group OK wild horses plan (AP 5/1)

Navajo Nation leader no longer supports horse slaughtering (10/8)
Navajo Nation president explains support for horse slaughter (08/12)
NCAI, Navajo Nation back controversial horse slaughter plant (8/1)