GRAND JUNCTION — Tracy Scott dedicates her life to caring for 24 formerly wild horses and a burro on the 42 acres of sagebrush-rich land surrounding her home in Grand Junction.
Despite the challenges of managing a sanctuary like Steadfast Steeds, established in 2010, Scott finds fulfillment in her work, even as she bears the burden of it alone.
Her husband has taken a job in town to sustain their sanctuary amidst financial struggles, leaving Scott to handle daily tasks like hauling hay, filling water tubs, and nurturing the trusting bond between the mustangs and humans.
“Caring for that many horses is cumbersome,” Scott shared.
“The love is there. The care is there. If I had money, I’d hire somebody to help me.”
Scott’s commitment stems from her realization that many horses would face a grim fate had she not adopted them from government holding pens, a situation she described as the most terrible for these animals.
“Yes, they’re cared for, they have food and water, but every bit of their life is stripped from them,” she said.
Apart from her responsibilities at the sanctuary, Scott actively participates in discussions with other wild horse advocates and government officials, primarily through Zoom, to explore sustainable solutions for wild horse management.
In 2023, the Colorado legislature formed a group aimed at addressing ongoing wild horse issues, but with its conclusion nearing, some advocates express concern regarding the future of wild horse management in Colorado.
While a bill passed in April extends their efforts, its implementation won’t commence until a year later, limiting scope due to the constrained state budget.
Moreover, many seasoned advocates, including Scott, are aging, sparking concerns about a lack of younger individuals ready to take on advocacy roles.
“There haven’t been a whole lot of younger people stepping in to pass it off to,” Scott remarked.
For decades, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has overseen four wild horse herds—approximately 1,400 horses—along the western edge of Colorado.
These herds inhabit diverse terrains, from rolling hills to steep canyons, often sharing territory with other wildlife and livestock.
Managing horse populations to maintain ecological balance presents a significant challenge, particularly in areas where horse numbers exceed sustainable limits.
According to Jason Lutterman, a public affairs specialist with the BLM, finding this balance is crucial to ensure that wild horses, alongside other species, have access to adequate food, water, and habitat.
Collaborative efforts between the BLM and local organizations are essential in this management, with many of these groups led predominantly by older women.
They focus on improving water access, repairing fencing, and controlling horse populations through fertility practices.
Despite various initiatives, traditional solutions to overpopulation often involve herding horses with helicopters, leading to their placement in adoption facilities, where many remain unadopted due to confinement and limited exposure to potential adopters.
In 2024, approximately 5,000 horses were adopted or sold; however, over 13,000 horses were removed from the range nationwide, leaving around 62,000 horses still awaiting homes as of April.
The financial burden of unadopted horses is significant for the BLM, which allocated $101 million in fiscal year 2024 alone to their care.
To tackle the wild horse dilemma, Colorado lawmakers established the Colorado Wild Horse Working Group in 2023, consisting of 23 members with varied backgrounds, including the BLM and advocacy organizations.
Leading this initiative, Wayne East from the Colorado Department of Agriculture expressed optimism about the collaborative venture.
“I’m hopeful that this continued collaborative effort, this emphasis from the state, will continue to make things better in the future,” East stated.
The group’s mandate is to propose actionable solutions regarding wild horses collected by the BLM, focusing on aspects like adoption incentives and new housing arrangements.
One of the crucial areas of focus for group members is the management of fertility control efforts on the range, seen as vital for regulating herd sizes.
However, limitations imposed by the bill, which prevents the group from suggesting halting helicopter gathers or eliminating livestock in the areas, have raised eyebrows among advocates.
As Kerry Ferguson of the Cloud Foundation remarked, “It would have been preferable for more meaningful, wider scope of change to be addressed.”
Another group member, Cindy Wright, co-founder of a BLM partner nonprofit, acknowledged the complexities of reaching a consensus on such divisive issues.
“I think it’s a very, very positive step,” Wright reflected, emphasizing the importance of their collaborative efforts despite differing opinions.
The state allocated $1.5 million to the Colorado Department of Agriculture for fertility control and essential range management projects.
In the Sand Wash Basin, the Wild Horse Warriors for the Sand Wash Basin utilized state funds to improve water sources, enhancing the availability for the horses in the area.
Judy Cady, president of Friends of the Mustangs, noted the significant work accomplished thanks to youth involvement from the Western Colorado Conservation Corps, furthering the cause while building youth capacity.
Despite the collaborative achievements, concerns about continuity linger as the group’s official meetings conclude.
The recently passed bill will delay the formation of a Wild Horse Advisory Committee until July 2026, raising fears about the potential loss of momentum.
“We want to keep going because we really feel like we’re on the edge of making some major changes,” Wright asserted.
Moreover, budgetary constraints loom over future projects, as the state faces significant financial cuts affecting all departments.
“There’s absolutely going to be a fiscal impact and limitations on what we can do on wild horse projects until we get a budget,” East said.
As many voices in the community grow older, the need for younger advocates surfaces as a pressing issue.
Scott revealed that Steadfast Steeds would not be taking in any more horses and acknowledged the imminent aging out of both her and her husband.
“The range management progress that we have made will just go back to kind of a zero,” Wright warned, emphasizing the urgency of involving younger individuals in advocacy efforts.
This lack of youth participation could stem from various societal factors, such as financial constraints and diminished opportunities for outdoor exploration.
Wright noted that there have been minimal efforts to engage youth in the region, which could yield long-term repercussions for wild horse advocacy.
Recognizing the necessity for younger recruits, Bittner from the BLM pointed out that fostering partnerships for recruitment is essential for sustaining effective advocacy.
The tight budget for wild horse management restricts resources for both range management and youth recruitment efforts, with potential cuts on the federal level expected to further worsen the situation.
While hope remains for the future of wild horse advocacy, training programs targeting young people are emerging across the state to increase engagement.
Organizations like Wild Rose Mustang Advocacy offer training for youth, seeking to connect them with mustangs through summer programs, while competitions such as the Meeker Mustang Makeover promote hands-on involvement.
Initiatives like these aim to create a new generation of advocates focused on preparing mustangs for adoption.
Brittany Ference, of Great Escape Mustangs, emphasized that involving youth is crucial for the future of mustangs and fostering a sense of responsibility among the younger generation.
Through unique programs, trainers not only seek to prepare horses for new homes but also aim to instill essential life skills within the youth participants.
“It’s not only saving the youth’s life, but we’re getting mustangs a chance, a fighting chance to continue on,” Fries reflected.
While uncertainties loom over Colorado’s wild horse management, the persistent love and desire for progress among advocates like Wright continue to drive the movement forward.
“It’s a real roller coaster. But I am optimistic,” Wright affirmed.
As she and her fellow advocates strive for a brighter future for wild horses, they remain committed to ongoing dialogue and collaboration as systems evolve.
image source from：coloradosun
