This is the end of the trap. The trap has "wings" on it that funnel the horses into a corral where the cowboys close the gates. As the horses are herded with the helicopter closer to the trap a "Judas" horse (a trained horse that runs to the trap for the others to follow) is released.
Horses have to be gathered every 4-5 years here due to overpopulation. They eat themselves out of house and home and everything else if their numbers aren't kept in check. The gathered horses are adopted out to good homes. (We have our eyes on several) The older horses go to sanctuaries in the midwest where they live out their lives in luxury. Kevin will gather about 400 horses which still leaves over 100 in the wild. He will re-release some to select for the best genetics. The horses increase by 20% every year. Kevin oversees the whole operation and does a great job! I feel priveledged to have been able to witness this so many times. It is beautiful and exciting each time and I was happy to be able to share it with the kids this time. Emma was a baby last time Kevin gathered in Wyoming.
2 comments:
I've never really heard what Kevin does--just who he works for. It sounds like a great job! And, more important, it sounds like it's something he loves.
He manages the wildhorse herds and cattle grazing on public land for the gov't (Bureau of Land Management). He does love it except for the crazy tree hugger types that create hassles for him.
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