DIGGING IN THEIR HOOVES

Published in the June 13, 2026 issue.

Wild horse organizations from across the West are rearing up to protect local herds, but for the Inyo National Forest, the issue is less a passion project than a matter of administrative duty.

On Monday, the Inyo National Forest held a virtual public hearing on a proposal to use helicopters and other motorized vehicles to round up wild horses outside the Montgomery Pass Wild Horse Territory on the California–Nevada border, where federal agencies are planning a large-scale gather that could begin as early as this summer.

The proposed operation, in collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management, would remove an estimated 300 to 500 horses from outside the territory boundary, according to the project’s Environmental Assessment, which was completed in 2024 and resulted in a Finding of No Significant Impact in 2025.

If executed as slated, the project would be the most significant removal of horses in the area’s history. So, wild horse groups have been digging their hooves in on this issue for quite a while.

Among them, Rebecca Falk, an official of Advocates for Wild Equines, said during the meeting, “The American people are tired of seeing taxpayer money go to cruel helicopter roundups,” and argued that “the best possible thing to do to control horse numbers is use fertility control and bait and trap.”

Multiple speakers opposed conducting a gather during foaling season, warning that foals could be separated from their mothers or injured during the roundup. They also worried about the welfare of pregnant mares and senior horses.

“Foals are routinely separated from mares and established family structures are permanently disrupted,” Liz Holland of Friends of Animals said.

Many also maintained that the horses are native to the area, a claim disputed by the Inyo National Forest. On its website, the agency states that “the origin of the Montgomery Pass Herd is unknown, but it is speculated that the herd originated in connection to mustang drives between the Owens Valley and Nevada.”

Tribal representatives had their own objections, arguing that the horses are part of their history and that the helicopter gathers could damage cultural sites.

“The horses are not just a number,” Rhonda Kauk, a member of the Mono Lake Kutzadika’a tribe, said. “They are an extension of our culture and who we are today.” 

Ahead of the public comments, Joseph Swisher, a Forest Service rangeland manager said the gather is required to reduce impacts to public safety and natural resources, stating that horses outside the territory are “causing harm to natural resources,” contributing to “decreased nuisance animals on private lands,” and creating “safety concerns for the public and the horses along major highways.”

Swisher cited a 2024 aerial survey that estimated between 694 and 699 horses in and around the territory, well above the management target of 138 to 230 animals.

He also said helicopters are “humane and often more effective and efficient than other types of gather methods,” explaining that aircraft operate using “pressure and release methods” to safely guide horses toward capture facilities.

Public commenters overwhelmingly disagreed with that characterization, and many argued that the Forest Service was not adequately considering public input.

“We have little proof that you are giving our comments the serious consideration and weight that they deserve,” advocacy group Wild Horse Education representative, Marie Milliman, said. She called for a formal written response to public input, as is traditionally done in NEPA or CEQA reviews.

Deniz Bolbol of the Cloud Foundation, a wild horse advocacy group, urged the Forest Service to install cameras on helicopters, trap sites and holding pens used during gathers.

“The cameras are the only way to ensure transparency for the public and accountability for the agency,” she said.

Several speakers reported difficulty accessing the webinar and requested an additional opportunity to provide comment. Agency officials did not respond to this request, and encouraged people to provide written comments if they could not log on to the webinar.

The gather is authorized under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, according to the Environmental Assessment.

In that document, the agency said captured horses would be transported to off-range corrals, evaluated by veterinarians, and made available for adoption or sale.

As the public comment period concluded, agency staff reiterated that comments will be recorded and reviewed, though none of the officials on the call acknowledged any of the statements made.