Controversial Nevada horse roundup allowed to continue

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks denied Nevada-based Wild Horse Education’s lawsuit against the government due to lack of evidence. The lawsuit argued that the government’s way of rounding up wild horses is illegal and inhumane and should be stopped. Thirty-one of the 2,500 wild horses that were gathered died during the monthlong roundup. Hicks said that the United States is doing everything it can to gather the horses as humanely as possible.

Why did the horses die? Federal land managers said in court filings that the deaths are an expected part of efforts to curb the growth of large herds. They said that 31 deaths are consistent with the 1 percent average mortality rate of roundups from the past decade. Opponents said the deaths were unnecessary and resulted from inhumane tactics used to round up the horses.

Dig deeper: From the WORLD archives, read John R. Erickson’s report on why horses are essential to ranch life.