WHY is jurisdiction so important?

Jurisdiction creates the frame of management; law and actions. 

If a horse lives on tribal land and is in distress? That land is not public land and those are not public horses. The issues surrounding that area are not solved by BLM or Congress, they are addressed by a tribal council. A lot of times you will see a lot of fundraisers on tribal horses and no follow up reports from those requesting funding. Tribal horses are in a lot of trouble; a lot of attention, little action. 

When state horses are discussed (like the Virginia Range) many times what we are talking about is urban encroachment; horses going into yards, onto roads and little, in any, infrastructure to manage both horses and land. Most states just employ the "complain and capture" strategy; someone complains and the horses get picked up. There really is no "land management" or adoption programs involved. Calling your Congressman, unless you live in that state, is not part of that jurisdiction and not an appropriate action.

Understanding the different federal agencies is also important. National Parks and Fish and Wildlife Services are not bound by the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act. That mandate falls only on BLM and Forest Service. 

When the public, and even some organizations, confuse these jurisdictions we can end up with a real mess trying to get appropriate public action and appropriate debates in Congress.

Recently an article appears on the surface to be about BLM wild horses, but most of the examples are not about BLM lands. The tribal horses live in an area contaminated by pollutants and these horses could have been in trouble a long time. Multiple examples appear in the article that have little to do with the title.  Articles like these fuel inappropriate impressions in Congress, the public and media, when jurisdictions get confused. (you can read article here)

What you can do

The SaFE ACT

We begin this section on wild horses and slaughter with a fast action item dated 9/7/2018

Horse slaughter effects both wild and domestic horses. Once adopted or sold, wild horses fall under the same laws as our domestic horses. Tribal and state jurisdictions have no legal protections.

Slaughter is simply cruel.  Horses are inhumanely transported long distance, in cramped trailers without food, water or rest. Horse slaughter is a predatory industry primarily used to facilitate over breeding for competitions like racing or reining. Sadly, the vast majority of the equines who become victims of this predatory and deceptive industry are young, healthy animals

U.S. horses are not raised for food. In the US we give a wide variety of drugs, and veterinary treatments, that make their meat unfit for human consumption. With domestic livestock intended for food we do not give them drugs that render their meat dangerous.

Congress must act to end this practice. You can help. 

The Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, H.R. 113/S. 1706, would ban domestic horse slaughter and stop the export of horses for slaughter abroad. A majority of House members have signed onto the SAFE Act as sponsors and cosponsors. This bill should immediately schedule the bill for a floor vote.

There are a lot of bills in Congress right now that are helping to speed up destruction of habitat for our wild horses. These profit driven, fast tracked, bills are going to create devastating habitat loss. Then wild horses will be removed from the land. Once removed they are in the same danger as their domestic cousins of going to slaughter.

Call your representative in the House and say: 

 "Please ask House leaders to schedule the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, H.R. 113/S. 1706 for a floor vote. This bill would prevent horses from being exported for human consumption and I urge you to, please, vote to pass the SAFE Act."

Find your representative here: https://www.govtrack.us/