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Fiery debate erupts over growing wild horse population Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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WEBVTT BORN EVERY SPRING, AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MANAGE THEM. >> THIS POINT, THEY HAVE NO BOUNDARIES. I CAN WANDER ON THE ROAD. CHRIS: WILD HORSES ROAM FREELY THROUGH PLACITAS AND SURROUNDING AREAS. A FIERY DEBATE ERUPTED OVER HOW TO DEAL WITH A GROWING POPULATION. SANDOVAL COUNTY FUNDED A TASK FORCE IN 2014 TO FIND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS. >> THEY ARE HELL ON FENCES. THEY CAN BE DESTRUCTIVE. CHRIS: THE TASK FORCE CAME UP WITH SUGGESTIONS RANGING FROM -- >> WHERE A LOT OF THINGS WENT ASTRAY IS WHEN PEOPLE STARTED FEEDING THEM IN THEIR BACKYARDS, SO THEY KNOW THAT SHE’LL LONGER BEHAVED LIKE WILD ANIMALS. CHRIS: -- THEY NO LONGER BEHAVED LIKE WILD ANIMALS. CHRIS: THE TASK FORCE CAME UP WITH SUGGESTIONS RANGING FROM CONTRACEPTION TO RELOCATION. SOME OF THOSE SUGGESTIONS WERE FOLLOWED BY THE COUNTY. THERE ARE NOW MORE SIGNS IN THE AREAS WHERE THE HORSES OFTEN TRAVEL, AND SPEED LIMITS ARE REDUCED. AFTER THE TASK FORCE FINISHED THEIR REPORT, THE PLACITAS WILD GROUP WAS FORMED. >> I SUGGEST WE DO HAVE A SANCTUARY THAT IS SEGREGATED, ESPECIALLY FROM THE ROADS. CHRIS: THE GROUP PARTNERS WITH THE SAN FELIPE PUEBLO TO MANAGE A PIECE OF LAND FOR THE HORSES TO ROAM. NOW, SANDOVAL COUNTY IS ASKING FOR INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC IN AN ONLINE SURVEY ON THE COUNTY’S WEBSITE BEFORE MAKING FINAL DECISIONS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THE WILD ANIMALS. >> WE COULD COME UP WITH A WAY TO FENCE THEM OFF OF THE ROADS BUT MAINTAIN THEM AND LET THEM LIVE PRETTY MUCH FREELY AS THEY WOULD. THAT WOULD BE THE BEST SITUATION. CHRIS: NOVEMBER 9, SANDOVAL COUNTY IS HOSTING A PUBLIC EDUCATION SESSION ON THIS ISSUE WITH TWO LEADING EXPERTS. THAT ONLINE SURVEY RUNS UNTIL OCTOBE