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A MEMORIAL
ENCOURAGING NATIVE AMERICAN NATIONS, TRIBES AND PUEBLOS IN
NEW MEXICO TO LOOK AT NEW ALTERNATIVES FOR THEIR MANAGEMENT
OF WILD HORSE HERDS AND TO DEVELOP WILD HORSE TOURISM
PROGRAMS.
WHEREAS, it has been shown by mitochondrial
deoxyribonucleic acid testing that the modern horse is the
same horse that evolved in North America along with its flora
and fauna and is the same horse that left North America for
ten thousand to thirteen thousand years and returned with the
Spanish conquistadores; and
WHEREAS, some Native Americans consider the horse a
living historic monument under the New Mexico Cultural
Properties Act, which established the central principles of
preservation in New Mexico: "that the historical and
cultural heritage of the state is one of the state's most
valued and important assets [and] that the public has an
interest in the preservation of all antiquities, historic and
prehistoric ruins, sites, structures [and] objects of
historical significance"; and
WHEREAS, the horse has been an integral part of Native
American culture in New Mexico since the 1500s, used for
logging, harvesting, hunting, recreation, transportation,
packing, companionship, inspiration, traditional ceremonies
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and defense; and
WHEREAS, wild horses serve a major and important role in
the ecosystem that is New Mexico by increasing the dispersal
of seeds as the horses graze and by blazing trails and
breaking ice in deep winter, both of which help more
vulnerable wildlife species survive, and by serving as food
for predators and scavengers; and
WHEREAS, some Native American tribes are
wild-horse-friendly and use tribal adoptions as a method of
controlling herd size; and
WHEREAS, it is also possible to control wild horse herd
size by injections of porcine zona pellucida vaccine, a
nontoxic immunocontraception that costs less than thirty-five
dollars ($35.00) per mare and is administered by the United
States humane society; and
WHEREAS, porcine zona pellucida is cheap and effective,
can be administered remotely, is not harmful to humans or
animals and can be reversed if need be; and
WHEREAS, Native American nations, tribes and pueblos in
New Mexico are working to improve and diversify their
economies; and
WHEREAS, although tourism is the second-largest industry
in the state, wild horse herds are not advertised as tourist
attractions; and
WHEREAS, many tourists, particularly foreign tourists,
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come to New Mexico to experience the old west, which is, in
great part, the story of the horse; and
WHEREAS, the wild horse is part of New Mexico's
enchantment and essence and is an integral part of the Native
American, Hispanic, ranching and farming cultures; and
WHEREAS, the rural areas of the state, in particular,
are missing an opportunity to draw tourists from all over the
world who are intrigued by the history, culture and art of
the American southwest; and
WHEREAS, it is possible to advertise wild horse tourism
as consisting of small family-owned and -run businesses that
accept tourists by appointment only;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE
STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the Native American nations, tribes
and pueblos of New Mexico be encouraged to manage their herds
at genetically viable levels and to use birth control instead
of auction sales to limit herd size; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that when overpopulation does
exist, the Native American nations, tribes and pueblos of New
Mexico be encouraged to move excess animals to other wild
horse preserves, preferably in New Mexico, or place them with
private or state wild horse preserves; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Native American nations,
tribes and pueblos of New Mexico be encouraged to develop
wild horse tourism in New Mexico and to protect and preserve
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wild horses in New Mexico; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to each Native American nation, tribe and pueblo
in New Mexico.