The Wild Horses Act places wild horses—symbols of the West’s pioneer spirit—under federal protection and management. In southern Wyoming though, these herds largely live on “checkerboard land, in other words, lands that alternate between public and private ownership, creating a checkerboard effect. After its enactment, wild horse populations exploded, leading to damaged habitats.
The Wild Horses Act places wild horses—symbols of the West’s pioneer spirit—under federal protection and management. In southern Wyoming though, these herds largely live on “checkerboard land, in other words, lands that alternate between public and private ownership, creating a checkerboard effect. After its enactment, wild horse populations exploded, leading to damaged habitats.