On Thursday, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed several animal welfare bills, with a notable focus on wild horses, bison, and emergency animal care. The event featured Jewel, a 13-year-old therapy horse, who participated in the signing at the CSU Spur. One key piece of legislation, House Bill 25-1283, aims to manage Colorado’s wild horse population through fertility treatments rather than traditional roundups, which have previously resulted in health crises among the horses.
The new bill, which follows recommendations from a 2023 wild horse working group, repeals the state-owned Wild Horse Project and shifts responsibilities to the Colorado Department of Agriculture. This includes hiring professionals to administer contraceptives to wild horses in various management areas. Polis emphasized the need for humane and cost-effective management strategies, criticizing past federal roundups as both expensive and inhumane.
In addition to the wild horse measures, Polis signed bills to protect bison, allow more pets in publicly funded housing, and establish an animal protection fund. The overarching goal is to enhance animal welfare in Colorado while addressing the complexities of managing wild horse populations in collaboration with various stakeholders.
