The Brutal Reality of Wild Horse Management with Jenny Lesieutre

Send us Fan MailThis week, Venessa Wood sat down with retired BLM veteran Jenny Lesieutre about the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act and today’s wild horse and burro crisis. Jenny outlines the act’s origins, key amendments (including FLPMA allowing helicopters, adoption authority, AML requirements, and the Burns Amendment), and says horse and burro numbers have far exceeded appropriate management levels: about 85,500 on-range as of March 1 (not counting foals) plus roughly 60,000–63,000 in holding. She argues that overpopulation is degrading rangelands, displacing wildlife, and reducing legal grazing, while taxpayer costs have risen from about $38 million to $144 million. Jenny criticizes animal activist groups, discusses restrictions on euthanasia and slaughter policy riders, and advocates following the law as written, increasing adoptions/sales, gathering to reach AML, and using fertility control only once numbers are manageable. She also mentions her documentary “Hell Bent” and how to contact her. Support the showThank you for joining us at Ag Talk hosted by Ag Women Connect! America's Platform for Women in Agriculture. " Your Story Matters." We love recognizing our women in this industry! Go to www.agwomenconnect.com to find out a little more about us, and how you can connect with other women in agriculture! Want to be a speaker? You can reach us at [email protected] our Facebook Group | Connect With us on Instagram | Join Ag Women Connect