Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
HERRIMAN -- The federal government says it will shut down a much-criticized horse corral it operates within the next couple of years. The Bureau of Land Management began moving its wild horses out of the Butterfield Canyon facility this week. But not everyone is happy about this decision.
Lisa Wisner, a horse enthusiast, said this corral is needed in the Salt Lake Valley. At the beginning of October there were more than 200 horses here. Today, the BLM shipped 64 of them to Gunnison where they will be put up for adoption. All will be gone by the end of the month.
Lisa Wisner has always been drawn to mustangs. Wednesday, she's visiting the colt she wants to adopt.
"This one that has the white legs, her coloring - she's called a paint," she said. That's the one that's going to make her home at our house."
As much as she loves horses, Wisner also loves this facility, the Salt Lake Wild Horse and Burro Center in Herriman. She volunteered here and often brings her kids, to enjoy the view and animals.
To me, it's like taking the Liberty Bell and shipping it to Gunnison. No one's going to be able to view the Liberty Bell.
–Lisa Wisner
"It is relaxing and it helps my children. It's good bonding time when I bring my kids up here."
So she was upset when she found out the BLM plans to close this place down, a place that she thinks symbolizes the wild west and freedom.
"To me, it's like taking the Liberty Bell and shipping it to Gunnison. No one's going to be able to view the Liberty Bell."
Today, the BLM continued moving the horses out of here. They'll be split between a similar facility in Delta and the Utah State Prison in Gunnison, where they'll be gentled by inmates for eventual adoption. The agency says, they're moving the animals because it's difficult to manage manure and mud during the winter.
"So, for the welfare for the horses, we've decided to ship these horses out starting now to prepare for the wet season." said Jill Silvey, field office manager for the Salt lake BLM office.
She said the decision to close the corrals has been in the works for several weeks. Last spring, a video posted to YouTube showing muddy corrals, played a part in the decision. An investigation showed the horses were not mistreated but it forced the agency to rethink the facility's purpose.
"This facility was never meant to be a year-round facility. It was always meant to be a preparation facility and open primarily during the summer months," Silvey said.
Wisner wrote a letter to Sen. Orrin Hatch about the issue. She said something should be done to keep this place open.
"To ship them off, to me, that's not an option."
If this facility is shut down, it's unclear what the property will be used for. The horses may be brought back this spring, but that decision hasn't been made.
Email: [syi@ksl.com](<mailto: sti@ksl.com>)
