With the Gifford Fire having burned through 132,000 acres on California’s Central Coast, the Black Mountain wild horses, the only wild horse herd on the Central Coast, have been spared. Their designated territory includes 13,215 acres of Los Padres National Forest and 635 acres of private land about 20 miles east of San Luis Obispo.
A little known but very important fact about wildfires and wild horses is that grazing by wild horses can reduce wildfire risk. New studies find they are especially effective in remote and inaccessible areas or rugged terrain. Their grazing is particularly helpful in Mediterranean landscapes such as the Central Coast. The Black Mountain Wild Horse Territory consists of blue oak, annual grasslands, and chaparral vegetation. In addition to lowering wildfire risk, Wild horses maintain, protect, and help to rebuild environmental systems and allow other native species to thrive.
Alarmingly, the Black Mountain wild horses have been reduced to only eight or nine mares, no stallions and no foals, so the herd will die out. This information was only discovered through data the U.S. Forest Service provided in response to Freedom of Information Act requests, and my on-site observations. But the Black Mountain Wild Horse Management Plan set the herd’s population at 15 to 20 horses to achieve genetic viability. The herd should already have been supplemented. If the Forest Service would protect the herd, which it’s required to do anyway, it would be a win-win situation. There could be a healthy herd and environment with lowered wildfire risk.
Wild horses evolved in North America, and as a native species need to be protected as such. But wild horses were nearly eradicated until Congress unanimously passed the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Congress found wild horses “are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West; that they contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people; and that these horses and burros are fast disappearing from the American scene.” The law set policy for wild horses to be protected in areas where found on public lands. Federal agencies, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service, were required to designate territories for wild horse use, and develop management plans for horses. Black Mountain is a legally designated territory for wild horse use and the horses are to be protected, preserved, and managed by the Los Padres Santa Lucia Ranger District.
Finally, agencies cannot simply round up and remove wild horses and claim that is “management.” A U.S. judge in Nevada handed wild horse advocates a victory in ruling on mustang management plans and ordered an environmental assessment to include the potential impact of roundups on wildfire risks.
Agencies should integrate using wild horses in wildfire management planning moving forward. Case in point is the planning for Los Padres’ Forest Wildfire Risk Reduction Project.
Without delay, the Forest Service should update the four-decades-old Black Mountain Wild Horse Management Plan. Then, through the mandated National Environmental Policy Act process, the public can participate in management planning to help ensure the survival of our beloved Black Mountain wild horses, which would also help reduce wildfire danger. Δ
Colette Kaluza is the welfare team assistant director for Wild Horse Education. Send a response for publication to letters@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Aug 28 – Sep 7, 2025.
America was built on the back of horses, they have served us since the beginning of time. Millions have sacrificed their lives for us from building to the farmers, the pioneers, the Pony Express and so many thousands of other services . They are what should represent FREEDOM !! But this is the thanks they get. Abuse, cruelty, inhumane treatment. Slaughter. The horrific use of helicopters. Mares running and dropping her baby onto the ground from fright and fear. I saw a video with a little foal running trying to keep up with his Mother he ran until his hooves fell of and he died a slow death .. How can these people sleep at night and doing this as a job. So disturbing. Such trauma . I am a extremely angry human , I am ashamed to be an American while this is taking place. These horses should be honored!!
Wild horses evolved in North America??? Technically correct. They evolved and were completely wiped out by the early Native Americans who ate them. These peoples killed off virtually all edible large mammals except for the Buffalo.
Wild horses in NA were extinct by 1492 CE. Kaput. Gone.
Any wild horses on the North American continent since 1492 came from the evil Europeans who introduced them. The Plains Indians were using European descended horses. All wild horses in the US are essentially an invasive species.