Placitas Wild Horse Meeting
On June 5, 2013, Sandoval County Commissioner Orlando Lucero convened a meeting of interested parties to discuss the wild horse situation in Placitas. While there were many participants, only a few ideas were offered.
Both the San Felipe Pueblo and Santa Ana Pueblo disclaimed any ownership of the horses, but San Felipe did say that they have implemented a birth control plan using PZP, but there were no further details.
WHOA commented that they want to remove 30 – 40 horses and want to implement their own PZP plan, but need approval from the NM Livestock Board.
Coronado Water and Soil Conservation stated that the issue is one of soil erosion and drinking water and that the horses are heavily contributing to these problems. They have requested that the NM Livestock Board have the horses removed.
The BLM stated that the NM Livestock Board has jurisdiction over the horses and, that due to current litigation, they cannot comment further at this time.
The NM Livestock Board admitted that the horses are their responsibility, but offered no plans.
The US Forest Service said that if the horses continue to have a negative impact on USFS land, they will request that the NMLB remove the horses.
No plan was offered as to how to manage the horses in their current location, other than the use of PZP to attempt to control further breeding. The onus appears to be on the NM Livestock Board, since they are the governmental entity responsible for the horses.
ES-CA will continue to monitor the situation and will work with other entities if there is a practical plan put forward that has the support of required government agencies. However, it appears as if the NM Livestock Board has to take the lead, since they are the only governmental agency that is responsible for these horses.