Educational Media Reviews Online

This video discusses the evolution of the wild horse in North America from its prehistoric origins, to its disappearance approximately 4,000 years ago, to its reintroduction by the Spanish in the early 1500's. As a Fund for Animals film, it is strongly focused on the animal rights side of the issue, although it tries to present issues from the governmental and ranchers' sides as neutrally as possible. The film presents the argument that North America is the actual origin of the horse, and that its reintroduction into North America is returning a species back into its natural habitat. The arguments put forth by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and that Western ranchers indicate that the wild horse is a "nuisance" animal, and that it disrupts cattle and other livestock and their grazing habits. This viewpoint is strongly opposed in the video. Representatives of the BLM are interviewed in the film, and explain that the 1971 Free-Roaming Wild Horse and Burro Act, as well as the "Adopt-a-Horse" program, are their attempts to control and maintain the wild horse population. The video's sponsors argue that these programs are neither scientific nor fair, as they are strongly controlled by pro-rancher lobbies and by animal control experts. While recommended, this rating carries the caveat that El Caballo is sponsored by pro-animal rights groups.