By Kathy Smith

Our Autumn/Winter 2025 issue of Canadian Horse Journal included a special feature, also featured on this website at Alberta’s Free-Roaming Horses: Historically important or invasive pests? — a topic that clearly struck a chord with readers. Continuing the conversation, in late summer we launched an online poll with the same question. The response was huge — 5,407 votes poured in — and the results are shown below:

In addition to voting, readers were invited to share their perspectives through a short 11-question survey that included space for comments and province of residence. An impressive 1,238 respondents took part, many offering heartfelt insights. 

The message was unmistakable — support for Alberta’s wild horses was overwhelming. Below, we share a brief selection of the thoughtful and passionate comments our readers contributed.

As an Indigenous person, I definitely feel that our voices should be part of any discussions about removing or altering the wild horse population. (AB)

I firmly believe that the government should keep their hands off the Alberta Wildies as every claim they make in favour of either eliminating or controlling the population has been proven incorrect. (AB)

Interest in wild horses in Alberta from across Canada and around the world generates significant tourism revenue. This should be capitalized upon and is only possible if the existing herds are preserved. I travelled with a friend and spent 10 days in Alberta: car rental, hotels, and restaurant meals. Our primary reason for the visit was to photograph wild horses in the foothills of the Rockies. (ON)

Naturalize and preserve the wild Alberta horses for the world and future generations. Make them a NATIONAL TREASURE of Canada. 

Do not touch the wild horses without the scientific studies, and work with organizations like HAWS (Helping Alberta Wildies Society). (ON)

Horses don't destroy their environment like cattle do. I was raised with both. Look at a horse pasture versus a cow pasture. The horse pasture will have one or two eroded spots. The only trees within them that get eaten are willow tips. Horses are selective about the grass they eat. 

Then look at a cow pasture. Massive erosion, ground churned up, every tree eaten off as high as the cattle can reach. All grass either stomped or eaten down. This is fact. Ranchers and the government know it. They need to stop trying to kill everything that doesn’t suit them. The bears are doing a good enough job of killing the wild horses. So much in fact that their numbers are already declining without the contraceptive actions even being implemented yet. Game cameras on the trails and in the forest are showing bear chases and a kill of a foal was captured on film this summer. DNA testing has shown these wild horses descend from European roots, not local genes, making them a long-standing species in this environment — naturalized. They deserve protection, not annihilation. (SK)

As a non-resident, potential tourist, and animal behaviourist — the wild horses are quite clearly naturalised and a part of the environment. The idea that they could be damaging a landscape they have roamed for 100s of years, more so than the growing and logging of single species and the grazing of cattle, is ludicrous. (non-resident of Canada)

They’re an invasive species. We should eat them. Clearly this survey was developed by people with an emotional attachment to these feral animals. Everyone is entitled to their opinion; however, we should not let emotions drive wildlife management decisions. (AB)

The current committee making decisions about the management of the [Alberta] wild horses should be replaced with those who are not directly involved with the Alberta government and the contracts to ranchers for cattle grazing. This issue is about money, and the horse will pay for any decisions made that are not based on facts or science. Indigenous voices are not being heard along with those who want to protect this native species. The number of horses left right now is such a very low number that any removal or birth control or sterilization will lead to their extinction. They need protection as a native species of Alberta. (AB)

These animals are an important part of our wildlife and should be protected and preserved just like the horses on Sable Island. (AB)

Look back at our struggle for freedom,

Trace our present day’s strength to its source;

And you’ll find that man’s pathway to glory

Is strewn with the bones of a horse.

—Author unknown

Photo: iStock/OnePony