Feral horse management framework released

By 
Staff
Reading Time: < 1 minute

Published: October 6, 2023

A wild horse on Alberta's eastern slopes.

Alberta has a new, science-based management framework that’s meant to recognize feral horses and ensure their future sustainability.

More than 1,400 feral horses roam across six equine management zones in Alberta. Some zones face significant challenges to long-term sustainability, the province says, because of the number of horses on the landscape.

Alberta’s public rangelands are productive ecosystems that support many land uses, including wildlife and livestock, the province noted in a recent release.

Read Also

RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, photographed outdoors in a suit against a backdrop of autumn foliage. Photo: Supplied

Alberta agriculture minister returns from first China trade mission since 2018

Alberta exported $1.4 billion in agri-food to China in 2025. Sigurdson’s visit was the first by an Alberta elected official since 2018.

As the feral horse population grows, horses move into areas that are less able to support them. This puts pressure on other wildlife and livestock and creates challenges for ecological stability, the province says.

explore

Stories from our other publications