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For many, wild horses are a symbol of freedom, strength, and the American West. But to some they’re a symbol of colonialism and an ecological nuisance. 

Host Nate Hegyi visits a rancher on the Blackfeet Reservation, where free-ranging horses have become more plentiful than deer. They’re outcompeting cattle for forage and putting livelihoods at risk. One potential solution? Slaughter.

In this episode, we dive deep into the history of eating horses – or not eating horses – and find out why this symbol of the American West is more divisive than you probably realized. 

Featuring: Craig Iron Pipe, Tolani Francisco, Susanna Forrest

LINKS

Susanna Forrest has written all about the relationship between humans and horses – from riding them to eating them. 

The Virginia Range wild horse herd has seen a substantial drop in population because of a fertility control campaign financed by a wild horse advocacy group. 

There’s some great research from the University of New Mexico that shows how the domesticated horse made its way north from tribe to tribe in the 1500s. 

You can learn all about how folks can adopt wild horses from the federal government here. 

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CREDITS

Host: Nate Hegyi

Reported, produced, and mixed by Nate Hegyi

Edited by Taylor Quimby

The Outside/In team includes Felix Poon and Justine Paradise. 

Rebecca Lavoie is our Executive Producer

Music for this episode by Blue Dot Sessions

Outside/In  is a production of New Hampshire Public Radio