What happens when the people shaping public lands policy are closely tied to the very industries competing with wild horses for those lands? In this episode, I look at the growing influence of grazing and extractive interests on public land policy, and why these changes could have serious consequences for America's wild horses.

I explain how proposed grazing changes could reduce public oversight, weaken protections for land health, and prioritize livestock grazing above wildlife conservation. I also discuss the expanding sale authority program for wild horses, the increase in online sales and transport to states with nearby slaughter auctions, and why many advocates are deeply concerned about where these policies are heading.

You'll hear why these developments matter right now, how Project 2025 connects to current policy changes, and what actions you can take to speak up for wild horses. I also outline why contacting senators and representatives is so important as Congress considers the fiscal year 2027 budget and ongoing public lands policies.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/68

If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

Have you heard about the new herd management plan for the Red Desert Complex? If not, now is the time to pay attention. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released a plan that will impact the wild horses in this area, and the comment period is open. In this episode, I explain why submitting your comments is crucial and how they can influence the future of these horses.

The BLM is planning how to manage the wild horses across 753,000 acres of the Red Desert Complex. This is your chance to speak up. I outline the main concerns with the current management plan, including water availability, drought conditions, sterilization, genetic diversity, and the continued reliance on non-scientific approaches in managing the horses.

I also explain how these factors could affect the horses' ability to thrive in the Red Desert Complex. You'll learn what specific issues you should address when submitting your comments and why it's so important to ensure that the BLM considers long-term sustainability for these wild horses.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/67

Submit your comments here by May 4, 2026: https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=6c9a6ab7-c027-f111-8341-001dd804183b&

If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

What is it like to visit the wild horses of Salt Wells Creek during a winter with almost no snow? In this episode, I share what I saw during my recent trip to this Wyoming range, where unusually dry conditions made travel easier but also raised concerns about the lack of moisture across the region. You'll hear about several of the families and bachelor stallions I observed during my time in the range, including familiar horses I have followed for years and new foals born outside the official foaling window defined by the Bureau of Land Management.

This visit also highlights how wild horses organize themselves during winter, when survival takes priority and conflicts between stallions are often subdued. I reflect on the families I observed, the young horses growing within those bands, and why understanding the realities of wild horse life on the range matters when decisions are made about how they are managed.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/66

If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses