The Wild Horses of the Chilcotin: Their History and Future

The Chilcotin’s magnificent wild horses are under threat.

British Columbia’s vast Chilcotin region is home to a magnificent population of what most people call wild horses, although technically they are “feral” horses since they descend from stock that was long ago tame. They are romantic and beautiful, but they are also controversial: they are seen as intruders competing for range land with native species and domestic cattle and, as a result, they have been subject to government culls and are not officially protected.

In this compelling book, wildlife biologist Wayne McCrory draws upon two decades of research to make a case for considering these wonderful creatures, called qayus in traditional Tŝilhqot’in culture, a resilient part of the area’s balanced prey-predator ecosystem. McCrory also chronicles qayus’ genetic history and significance to the Tŝilhqot’in, juxtaposing their efforts to protect qayus against movements to cull them.