" Wild free-roaming horses and burros are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West; they contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people." U.S. Congress, December 1971
The Spanish brought horses to our shores from Europe in the late 16th Century. The American Indians soon learned to care for and use these horses, helping to spread horses across the continent. Other horses were brought West by the pioneers and the U.S. Army Cavalry. The wild horses of today are descendants of these domestic horses that were either turned loose, abandoned, or escaped from captivity.
Burros were brought to the West by Jesuit missionaries and were later used extensively by miners and sheep herders. Some of these animals were abandoned or escaped to create the wild burro herds of today.
I hope you enjoy the images of these magnificent animals as much as I enjoyed taking them. Thank you for visiting this site. Please e-mail any comments you may have to: mac@mac.uptime.org
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