Sandoval News

From March 3, 2023 post. 

The wild horses of Placitas symbolize the spirit of this community—a nod to a time past that continues today through this beautiful reminder on the landscape. No one challenges this sentiment. The challenge is how to keep these special horses and the people who live in town or drive its roads safe. Over the past 20 years, the equine and human populations have increased in Placitas. It is the responsibility of residents, local government, and public safety personnel to create and execute consistently a plan that benefits both. Currently, there is an ordinance being proposed that addresses the feeding of the wild horses because the Sheriff’s Office believes strongly that this ordinance would help keep our roads safe and promote "public safety, health and general welfare of residents." We understand that emotions run high regarding the ordinance (which is still a work in progress), so let us take a fair look at how we got to where we are.

Over the years, many ideas have been designed to deliver care to the horses and well-being to drivers and private and public property. While all efforts are and were well-intentioned, no one program has accomplished long-lasting results in any category. While the feeding of the horses is problematic, we believe that there is a shared overall goal of safety for equines and humans. If we work together with this one goal in mind, then together we can craft a solution that can be embraced by all.

This is why the Sheriff’s Office appeals to the residents of Placitas for the approval of a practical Horse Feeding Ordinance. We all are aware of the circumstances. In 2018, the County created the Free Roaming Horse Advisory Council to evaluate and propose remedies regarding the overpopulation of free-roaming horses. The Mission of this Advisory Council is succinct: To develop, oversee and recommend, long-term humane, sustainable solutions for the Free-Roaming Horses in the Placitas area that effectively address the issue to the best extent possible. These solutions may be multifaceted in nature and occur over time commensurate with available resources and in full compliance with relevant legal provisions. 

The Sheriff’s Office's participation in the Council was predicated by two situations: roadway safety issues created by Vehicle/Horse-related accidents and feeding issues that cause the horses to frequent roadways. 

These conditions still exist and has been made worse by community growth. In 2000, the Population of Placitas was 3,811. By 2020, the population was 5107, a density of sixty people per square mile. Despite the horse population control efforts of the county with the fertility control vaccine “PZP”, (Which has helped greatly but not 100%) the horse population has continued to grow.

Today, continuous new home construction means an increase in residents, an increase in vehicular traffic, and a decrease in open areas in which these horses can roam. The result is more frequent and undesirable horse-to-resident contacts. Drivers in the area have the responsibility to follow the speed limits, and we continue to cite them accordingly.

 In 2018-2019, very few residents refused to stop feeding the horses at the request of neighbors or the Sheriff’s Office. Due to this cooperation, it was not necessary to create an ordinance. Now in 2023, we have a half-dozen residents who are unwilling to stop feeding and will only stop if an ordinance is enacted. The Sheriff’s Office believes strongly this ordinance is not just about keeping our roads safe, but about the "public safety, health and general welfare of residents." This means every act of governance should be made in the best interest of all the people, not just a specific group with an agenda.

The goal is to mitigate conditions leading to accidents involving horses and vehicles. We strongly urge the residents of Placitas to join with the Sheriff’s Office and the County to develop a compassionate and practical best possible outcome for all. 

Sandoval County and its Sheriff’s Office want Placitas residents to know that there has never been a plan discussed that would remove all the horses from Placitas. In cases of emergency such as a forest fire, an evacuation plan for people, as well as horses, other animals, and livestock would be implemented.  

• No road is planned from I-25 to Highway 14.

• No horse-vehicle accidents have been staged. Neither speeding nor Driving Under the Influence caused either of the two recent horse-vehicle accidents along Highway 165. Both unfortunate crashes were investigated by a crash reconstructionist deputy—a certified expert on investigating crashes.

• Amending the existing Animal Ordinance has been a priority of the County for a long time.

• The County does not have the authority to change the speed limit on Hwy 165. Hwy 165 is a State Highway under the jurisdiction of DOT.   

The Sheriff’s Office would like to reiterate, this ordinance is not just about keeping our roads safe, but about the "public safety, health and general welfare of residents." This means every act of governance should be made in the best interest of all the people, not just a specific group with an agenda.

Original source can be found here.