Over the course of history, horses have been used for everything from transportation to agriculture and combat. Today, horses play a different, more informal role in the lives of humans, said Heather Tiel-Nelson, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Twin Falls public affairs specialist.
“We have transformed over history from really relying on horses,” Tiel-Nelson said. “They are most definitely a recreation.”
As horses are used less frequently for labor in the U.S. their numbers have increased throughout the country. Tiel-Nelson said historically, farmers and ranchers released their labor horses to the open range. These wild horses formed herds that reproduced and greatly populated the western range lands. The BLM pastures over 48,000 wild horses, either in long-term pastures in the Midwest or corrals in western states.
“Wild horse herds really have no natural predators to speak of,” Tiel-Nelson said. “A horse herd can actually double in size every four years. We have really been focused on trying to encourage the public to adopt wild horses.”
Yishan Chen | Blot Magazine
Since 2009, University of Idaho Extension and the Idaho BLM have collaborated to create a 4-H club. This program encourages potential owners to adopt horses.
Before adoption, basic training is required and the horses are usually between six to 12 months old. As of now, 250 horses have been adopted and $17,000 has been raised.
Horses are often used to bond on an emotional basis, or for sports and recreation. UI is a part of this transition, connecting students to horses given to the university. The Horse Polo Club is one of these outlets.
“Our team, we come and we take care of our own horses,” said Horse Manager, Linsay Kiel. “We play horse polo in an indoor arena. We (also) go on trail rides for fun.”
There are two separate men and women’s horse polo teams. The club is dedicated to students so that they have an opportunity to learn how to ride and be part of the sport. Kiel said some students had never ridden or owned a horse before joining the team. The fall semester is the time when new members learn how to ride and then, later, the game itself, Kiel said.
“It becomes a whole horse polo family,” Kiel said. “They’re not just friends, because we spend so much time with them.”
UI’s Horse Polo team and BLM 4-H programs’ purpose is to encourage teamwork and help build relationships with the horses. Based on the Equine Therapeutic Program, riding horses has been proven to be an emotional remedy. Some owners learned to love these creatures at an early age, while others discovered it in their adulthood.
“It’s hard for me to describe my love for horses,” said Sara Holtz, Vice President of the UI Horse Polo Club. “I’d say they are my life. I think I’ve always loved them, and I think some girls grow out of that phase, but I just never grew out of it.”
Tiel-Nelson said that wild horses really have a romantic pull for a lot of people.
“I grew up with horses … We would often haul our horses to the Owyhee desert and enjoy some of Idaho’s great open spaces, and loving that freedom that comes from riding horses,” Tiel-Nelson said.
UI gives its students the opportunity to experience the benefits of horse ownership without the financial commitment. For students there can be a budget struggle without even considering the additional costs of caring for a horse.
“There are a couple of people throughout the Northwest that have a little bit of money but most of us, we’re just college students,” Kiel said.
Tiel-Nelson said some people may be apprehensive about buying or riding horses due to their lack of experience. That’s where the BLM steps in and bridges the gap by training yearlings before putting them up for adoption. There are requirements before adopting, such as having proper facilities and no criminal record in animal cruelty, Tiel-Nelson said. This program is primarily to help maintain wild horse herds free-roaming the West, and to keep range lands healthy.
“I think it’s so special when people bond with these wild horses,” Tiel-Nelson said. “There is just nothing like when they touch them for first the time.”