KBR's World of Wild Horses and Burros

In 1971, Congress passed legislation to protect, manage, and control wild horses and burros on public lands. The Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act declared these animals to be "living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West."

Congress further declared that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death..." and that they are "...an integral part of the natural system of the public lands." Furthermore, Bureau regulations require that wild horses and burros be considered comparably with other resource values within the area.

The Bureau of Land Management maintains and manages wild horses or burros in "herd management areas," (HMAs). In the ten states where BLM manages horses, there are 270 herd areas.

A management objective for the herd area is to ensure proper utilization of the area by wild horses at a level sufficient to guarantee their continued existence without exceeding the overall carrying capacity for all animals - livestock, wildlife and horses.

Another objective is to develop a recreation and viewing area for the public to observe wild horses in a natural setting.