Colorado's Wild Horse Controversy Is Heating Up Quickly

On Colorado’s Western Slope, wild horse roundups are something we are used to, but what is happening in 2026 seems different. This year, the Centennial State plans to remove more than 1000 wild horses as part of a federal plan targeting over 14,000 of them across the West.

Driven by growth and rising herd numbers, this year’s roundup is causing a growing sense that something different and more urgent is happening. Details about the roundup recently appeared in People magazine, causing Coloradans to ask questions.

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Hundreds of Colorado Horses Will Be Removed—And the Backlash Is Growing

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Wild horse herds in Western Colorado, such as the Piceance-East Douglas herd, will lose hundreds of horses to helicopters in 2026. Critics are calling this aggressive and dangerous. Many in Colorado say it feels excessive, especially the act of reducing herds by 50%. People have been protesting, venting online, and feel the government is moving too fast and ignoring less invasive options. Imagine the cost of the helicopters and fuel just in Colorado. If you think this seems strange, you are not alone.

What Happens Next—and Why Officials Say It’s Necessary

Once all the horses are rounded up, many are sent to long-term holding facilities. Some horses (not all) stay there for the rest of their lives. BLM (Bureau of Land Management) says the herds must be reduced to prevent overgrazing, to protect water, and balance land strained by drought. To do nothing means their population will outpace what Colorado can support.

Why People Are Fighting Back—and What Could Change

TSM GJ W Adams

Critics of the roundup argue solutions that are beyond this radio jocks understanding, but I do get why so many people feel strongly about this. I love hiking with our wild mustangs in Coal Canyon. I can’t debate roundups vs fertility vaccines, but I do know that seeing wild horses on the Western Slope is one of my favorite things about living in the American West. I hope conditions improve and their numbers increase soon.

UP NEXT: 10 Facts about Western Colorado's Wild Horse Sanctuary City

De Beque, Colorado, was home to the Ute people until around 1880. The town was founded not long after Colorado became a state, but before the creation of Mesa County. Keep scrolling to learn ten facts you may not have known about the "Wild Horse Sanctuary City of the West."

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

KEEP GOING: Grand Junction Spotted These Animals Out in the Yard

Have you ever looked out the window of your home only to spot wildlife making a shortcut out of your backyard? What critters have you seen out in the yard in Grand Junction? Scroll on to see what others have spotted in and around Grand Junction, Colorado.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams