Saturday afternoon’s auction of nearly 20 feral horses which had been captured in the foothills northwest of Cochrane has resulted in new homes for all of the animals.
According to Danny Daines of the Innisfail Auction Mart, all of the horses were purchased by farmers, ranchers or private individuals with plans to care for the animals.
The purchase prices for the horses ranged between $500 and $800, with the exception of a stud-horse which fetched $1,650.
Prior to the auction, the feral horses faced an uncertain future. The successful auction ensured the animals would not be slaughtered.
“We have a Walt Disney ending here,” Daines told CTV on Saturday.
According to a recent count conducted by the provincial government, an estimated 880 wild horses reside in the foothills. In an effort to reduce damage to rangelands and control the wild horse population, the government approved the capture of a number of the feral animals.
Earlier this year, the Wild Horses of Alberta Societies rescued 19 feral horses from the planned cull. The non-profit organization is working with the animals in the hope of adopting them to suitable homes in the near future.
