Room to Roam - Managing Free-Roaming Horses Across the US for April 7, 2026

When we think of wild horses we traditionally think of mustangs roaming the picturesque landscapes of the Western US, but they're just 25% of America's free-roaming horses. Join us today as we explore the population of 300,000 free-roaming horses across the US, how they're commonly managed, and how federal regulations cross into it. Listen in...

HORSES IN THE MORNING Episode 3921 –Show Notes and Links:

• Your Hosts: Julie Broadway (President) and Emily Stearns (Health, Welfare, and Regulatory Affairs Liaison) of the American Horse Council
• Guest: Sarah Coleman, Kentucky Horse Council
• Guests: Dr. Melissa Esser and Kayla Gram from The Science and Conservation Center
• Link: Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board
• Sponsors: Zoetis - Wild Horse Refuge
• Subscribe to the American Horse Council Podcast - Search American Horse Council Podcast on your podcast player.
• Follow Horses In The Morning on Facebook
• Follow the American Horse Council on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter)

Time Stamps:

• 00:30 - AHC monthly episode and feral horse topic intro
• 01:00 - Define feral vs wild horses; where they live
• 02:48 - Introduce SCC guests Kayla and Melissa
• 04:27 - Introduce Sarah Coleman & Kentucky Horse Council
• 06:42 - Kentucky free-roaming horse history & coal country context
• 11:29 - What free-roaming herds look like on public lands
• 12:03 - Why population control matters for range and safety
• 14:37 - Kentucky residential conflicts and nuisance road horses
• 16:49 - Kentucky’s three‑prong approach (gelding, removal, PZP)
• 19:05 - Federal range management: gathers, holding, adoption
• 31:12 - How PZP darting works and who uses it
• 34:02 - How listeners can volunteer and get involved
• 36:46 - Wild Horse Refuge sponsor & segue to law/policy
• 38:21 - Wild Horse & Burro Act, AMLs, tools, oversight & board