Rumor Control

Wild Horses Can't be Killed

SOURCE: Email distributed by G. R. "Ray" Field entitled, "well now."

Ray Field is distributing emails implying that he has read the law and has concluded that wild horses can't be slaughtered.

"With just a little looking into the new appropriations bill I wonder if any of these folks read the bottom line."

(He highlighted specific words in a sentence indicating that appropriated funds "shall not be available for the destruction of healthy, unadopted, wild horses and burros in the care of the Bureau or its contractors.")

STATUS: Sentence is True, conclusion is False

DISCUSSION: Field apparently overlooks the rather salient point that horses sold under the provisions of Rider #142 are no longer in the care of BLM or its contractors, as well as the accompanying language that exempts those animals from protections afforded under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971.

Furthermore, Cathy Barcomb,Executive Director of the Nevada Wild Horse Commission, indicated that the statement referred to by Field was struck in Conference Committee and is not part of current law. Barcomb's contention has been supported by both active and retired BLM personnel.