New Malatest Poll Reveals Majority of Albertans Want Alberta Government to End All Wild Horse Management Programs.

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EDMONTON, Alberta, Jan. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – A new survey conducted by one of the largest polling and research companies in Canada, created by Zoocheck, reveals that if the Government of Alberta moves forward with administrative plans to reduce the province that is already exhausted. communities of free-roaming Alberta Mountain Horses, would be acting contrary to the views of the majority of Albertans.

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According to a recent survey of Alberta residents conducted by RA Malatest and Associates Ltd, “a large majority of participants expressed a preference for hands-off management and more protection to ensure the sustainability of the wild horse population… The results of the survey suggest that there is an opportunity for the provincial government to -Alberta to review its current position to better align with the public interest in the protection and conservation of Alberta’s wild horses and their habitat.”

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Key results:

• 79% of Albertans agree with a management approach other than culling horses or reducing the population through sterilization programs, and,
• 76% of Albertans favor improving the protection of wild horses.

Julie Woodyer, Director of Campaigns for wildlife charity Zoocheck said, “We are not surprised that the majority of Albertans want to protect Alberta’s free-roaming horses given the high level of public interest and support for wild horses. We understand that Premier Danielle Smith’s office has recently received hundreds of emails and letters from Alberta residents urging her to abandon plans to reduce the province’s wild horse population.”

Wooyer added, “Science supports many of the public’s views. Our review of the rangeland health reports the province relies on to make management decisions about horses shows they are not a problem. Also, we know scientifically that horses from North America and that today’s free-roaming horses are genetically equivalent, and provide the same ecological benefits, as their ancestors did 8,000 years ago.”

Zoocheck commissioned the poll to help the Alberta government gauge public opinion on its views on Alberta Mountain Horses and to continue to encourage all Albertans who care about horses to voice their opinions to the Premier. We still have time for the Alberta Government to cancel the rounds scheduled for the end of this month.

Malatest wild horse survey link: https://www.zoocheck.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/AWHS-Summary-Report_Dec-20-2024.pdf

Julie Woodyer, Director of Campaigns, Zoocheck 416-451-5976

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