State Veterinarian Attends Piceance-East Douglas/West Douglas Wild Horse Gather

The State Veterinarian is on site this week with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) during the 2026 Piceance-East Douglas/West Douglas Wild Horse Gather-a planned management operation to balance wild horse populations with natural rangeland resources. BLM's continued collaboration with Dr. Maggie Baldwin, Colorado's State Veterinarian, supports CDA's vision for long-term sustainability of Colorado's wild horse herds and rangelands.

Operations are going smoothly, Dr. Baldwin noted the exceptional animal handling and the horses are in good condition during gathering and holding. Despite warm temperatures this week, we have not seen any signs of stress or exhaustion in the horses; there are safety procedures in place to ensure operations only happen during appropriate weather conditions. Strong biosecurity protocols for disease control are also in place, including close coordination with the Wyoming State Veterinarian, Dr. Hallie Hasel, on interstate movement procedures.

"Our priority is the safety and health of the wild horses," said Dr. Baldwin. "Thanks to the dedicated handling crews and our strong relationship with the BLM and Wyoming partners, animal handling has been safe and the horses are in great condition."

This visit highlights a strong state-federal partnership. To advance these long-term management goals, the inaugural meeting of Colorado's Wild Horse Advisory Group was held on July 28. Stay tuned for a Wild Horse License Plate, to be released in early 2027, that supports the state's efforts to care for Colorado's wild horses.

For more details on CDA's wild horse initiatives, visit the CDA Wild Horse Management Support page. To track daily gather counts and operational updates by the BLM, visit the BLM 2026 Piceance Gather Webpage.