Spring 2026

C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 6 109 T HEY ’ RE MAJESTIC , WITH SILKY MANES FLOWING FREELY IN STRONG BREEZES . DNA SUGGESTS THEY ARE DESCENDANTS OF HORSES THAT ROAMED THE W EST MORE THAN 12,000 YEARS AGO . T HEY EXIST IN A PLACE WHERE ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE , IN CONDITIONS RANGING FROM SNOW DRIFTS TO SCORCHING HEAT . H OURS SOUTHEAST OF C ARMEL , WHERE THE MEADOWS MEET THE MOUN - TAINS OF THE E ASTERN S IERRA , A HERD REFERRED TO AS THE M ONTGOMERY P ASS W ILD H ORSES MAKES THE LANDSCAPE EVEN MORE SURREAL . B UT IN J ULY , AS MANY AS 500 OF THEM ARE ON A SCHEDULE TO BE ROUNDED UP AND TRANSPORTED TO ALTERNATE AREAS BY TWO GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES , THE B UREAU OF L AND M ANAGEMENT (BLM) AND THE U.S. F OREST S ERVICE .T HE AGENCIES CITE OVERPOPULATION AND POSSIBLE HAZARDS TO MOTORISTS AS JUST TWO OF THE REASONS FOR THE MASSIVE UNDERTAKING . B UT CRITICS CALL THE PLAN A TRAVESTY AND SAY HORSES WILL DIE FROM TRAUMA DURING THE ROUNDUP OR TRANSPORT , OR WORSE — END UP IN THE HANDS OF THE SLAUGHTER TRADE . I NDIGENOUS TRIBES BASED IN THE AREA , WHERE THESE HORSES HAVE EXISTED FOR GENERATIONS , ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF MAKING SURE THIS DOESN ’ T HAPPEN . T HEY ’ RE BEING ASSISTED BY ACTIVISTS AND ARTISTS BASED IN C ARMEL .