Freedom for Wild Horses

Carol J. Walker
  • 4.9 (30)
  • NATURE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Freedom for Wild Horses Podcast explores wild horses and their families, behavior, and iconic symbol of our western heritage. Join Carol J. Walker, leading Advocate for wild horses and award-winning author and photographer, as she leads you to discover why wild horses deserve a place on our public lands, why we need the tonic of their wildness in our lives, the threats they are facing from the agency that manages them, and what you can do to help. Learn more at http://WildHoofbeats.com. This is the show for you if you find yourself asking questions like: -Are there wild horses in the United States? -How do I find out about wild horses? -What are the issues facing wild horses on our public lands? -Is livestock ranching in conflict with wild horses? -How are domestic horses different from wild horses? -What is the family structure and the relationships of wild horses? -Are wild horses being sent to slaughter? -What organizations are actively helping wild horses?

  1. 2D AGO

    68. Closing in on Wild Horses

    What happens when the people shaping public lands policy are closely tied to the very industries competing with wild horses for those lands? In this episode, I look at the growing influence of grazing and extractive interests on public land policy, and why these changes could have serious consequences for America's wild horses.            I explain how proposed grazing changes could reduce public oversight, weaken protections for land health, and prioritize livestock grazing above wildlife conservation. I also discuss the expanding sale authority program for wild horses, the increase in online sales and transport to states with nearby slaughter auctions, and why many advocates are deeply concerned about where these policies are heading.        You'll hear why these developments matter right now, how Project 2025 connects to current policy changes, and what actions you can take to speak up for wild horses. I also outline why contacting senators and representatives is so important as Congress considers the fiscal year 2027 budget and ongoing public lands policies.        Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/68         If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

    9 min

  2. APR 20

    67. Planning for the Red Desert Complex Wild Horses Needs Your Comments

    Have you heard about the new herd management plan for the Red Desert Complex? If not, now is the time to pay attention. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released a plan that will impact the wild horses in this area, and the comment period is open. In this episode, I explain why submitting your comments is crucial and how they can influence the future of these horses.     The BLM is planning how to manage the wild horses across 753,000 acres of the Red Desert Complex. This is your chance to speak up. I outline the main concerns with the current management plan, including water availability, drought conditions, sterilization, genetic diversity, and the continued reliance on non-scientific approaches in managing the horses.      I also explain how these factors could affect the horses' ability to thrive in the Red Desert Complex. You'll learn what specific issues you should address when submitting your comments and why it's so important to ensure that the BLM considers long-term sustainability for these wild horses.     Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/67       Submit your comments here by May 4, 2026: https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=6c9a6ab7-c027-f111-8341-001dd804183b&       If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

    15 min

  3. MAR 16

    66. The Winter that Wasn't with the Wild Horses of Salt Wells Creek

    What is it like to visit the wild horses of Salt Wells Creek during a winter with almost no snow? In this episode, I share what I saw during my recent trip to this Wyoming range, where unusually dry conditions made travel easier but also raised concerns about the lack of moisture across the region. You'll hear about several of the families and bachelor stallions I observed during my time in the range, including familiar horses I have followed for years and new foals born outside the official foaling window defined by the Bureau of Land Management.     This visit also highlights how wild horses organize themselves during winter, when survival takes priority and conflicts between stallions are often subdued. I reflect on the families I observed, the young horses growing within those bands, and why understanding the realities of wild horse life on the range matters when decisions are made about how they are managed.     Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/66      If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

    11 min

  4. FEB 16

    65. A Year for Wild Horses

    What could this year mean for wild horses? As we enter the Year of the Fire Horse, a symbol of movement, passion, and freedom, I reflect on what lies ahead for the horses who embody those qualities more than any other. Wild horses represent vitality and resilience, yet their future remains uncertain as policies and priorities continue to shift.     More than 64,000 wild horses are currently confined in holding facilities, and over 22 million acres have been removed from herd management areas. Oversight remains limited, roundups continue to loom, and transparency has steadily declined, leaving the public with fewer tools to ensure these horses are protected. In this episode, I share what I believe must change, from ending roundups and restoring habitat to creating independent oversight and returning horses to public lands.         Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/65      If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

    7 min

  5. JAN 26

    64. Why BLM's Expansion of Sales Threatens Wild Horses with Debbie Coffey

    What happens to wild horses once they are removed from public lands and placed in holding facilities? In this episode, I examine a new Bureau of Land Management policy that expands the use of sales as a way to reduce the number of wild horses in government care, raising serious concerns about oversight and protection.   I'm joined by longtime wild horse advocate and Freedom of Information Act expert Debbie Coffey to explain what this policy change allows and why it matters. We discuss how increased reliance on sales, especially group sales, creates risks when transparency is limited and public access to information continues to decline. We also outline why advocates view this shift as a direct threat to wild horses belonging to the American public and what listeners can do in response.    Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/64   If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

    23 min

  6. 12/29/2025

    63. Revisting Wild Curly Horses

    Have you ever wondered what makes a wild curly horse so distinctive? In this episode, I revisit my first experiences with the curly horses of Salt Wells Creek and share how discovering this rare lineage changed the way I understood the diversity within America's wild horse herds. These horses carry traits that set them apart from others on the range, and encountering them for the first time revealed just how unique this population truly is.   As I revisit this story, I also share why these horses are now at risk. Salt Wells Creek is one of the herds slated for full removal under the new land use plan, and curlies were notably absent from public adoptions after the most recent roundup. I hope this episode encourages you to learn more about what is happening to these unique horses and to take action to help protect the wild curly herds that remain.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/63   If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

    11 min

  7. 12/08/2025

    62. Wild Horses: Where We Are Now and Remembering Where My Journey Began

    Have you wondered what is happening with America's wild horses as 2025 comes to a close? In this episode, I share a clear look at where things stand today. After more than twenty years of observing these herds, the gap between what the law intended and how wild horses are managed has never felt more evident.   I also break down the political forces shaping the future of these herds, including how appropriate management levels are set, what the most recent government funding does and does not protect, and why Project 2025 continues to cast uncertainty over the years ahead. In this moment of reflection, I return to why these horses matter and share an excerpt from my first book, Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses. This episode offers both an honest look at the challenges ahead and a reminder of what we are fighting to protect.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/62   If you'd like to know more about my book, "Wild Hoofbeats: America's Vanishing Wild Horses," click here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/product/wild-hoofbeats-americas-vanishing-wild-horses

    8 min

  8. 11/17/2025

    61. The Lost Horses: It's Time to Pass the SAFE Act

    What can you do to help stop our horses in this country from going to slaughter? Horses from every discipline, age, and background are being shipped for slaughter every year. In 2024 alone, 20,000 horses were killed. Many people do not realize how easily a Thoroughbred, a child's lesson pony, a show horse, or even a mustang can be sold at auction and bought by kill buyers.   In this episode, I talk with filmmaker and advocate Ashley Avis, creator of Black Beauty and Wild Beauty, about her newest project: The Lost Horses, a national campaign designed to help finally pass the SAFE Act. Ashley shares how her work documenting wild horse roundups led her into the undercover world of Texas auctions, where she witnessed the brutality of the slaughter pipeline firsthand. Her team is now using cinematic storytelling, celebrity-voiced PSAs, and coordinated outreach to bring widespread attention to this issue.   Get full show notes and more information here: https://www.wildhoofbeats.com/61

    29 min
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out of 5
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About

Freedom for Wild Horses Podcast explores wild horses and their families, behavior, and iconic symbol of our western heritage. Join Carol J. Walker, leading Advocate for wild horses and award-winning author and photographer, as she leads you to discover why wild horses deserve a place on our public lands, why we need the tonic of their wildness in our lives, the threats they are facing from the agency that manages them, and what you can do to help. Learn more at http://WildHoofbeats.com. This is the show for you if you find yourself asking questions like: -Are there wild horses in the United States? -How do I find out about wild horses? -What are the issues facing wild horses on our public lands? -Is livestock ranching in conflict with wild horses? -How are domestic horses different from wild horses? -What is the family structure and the relationships of wild horses? -Are wild horses being sent to slaughter? -What organizations are actively helping wild horses?

Information

  • Creator
    Carol J. Walker
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ⓒ Copyright 2026, Carol J. Walker, Wild Hoofbeats™, All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Freedom for Wild Horses