Review
of some papers purporting horse damage
Reference:
“The proportion of
horse-present sites that showed evidence of recent fire was lower than that for
horse-free sites (46% versus 76%)”
Therefore showing that sites where horses are present are less likely to
be prone to fire.
“Two vegetation-related
variables were assessed; projected foliage cover and the proportion of foliage
cover that is native. No significant differences were detected among
horse-present and horse-free sites for either of these variables”
NO DIFFERENCE in vegetation cover and proportion of native foliage.
“To remove the
potential influence of wombats, macropods and exotic
grazing and browsing mammals on soil, stream stability and vegetation cover,
the data were re-analysed excluding sites where evidence of the presence of any
of these species was detected.”
The influence of wild pigs and deer were therefore not removed.
“Stream channel
width (m )Mean – signs of horses not present 1.0 Signs
of horse presence 0.9”
As above – the influence of deer and wild pigs not taken into account.
Horse presence does not mean horse damage.
Reference:
Assessment of Impacts of Feral
Horses (Equus caballus) in
the Australian Alps (wordpress.com)
“The Experimental
Monitoring Programs”
“Two studies were
established at each of two sites, as described below. The aims of these
experiments are to compare the effects of removal of grazing with continued
grazing by feral horses on floristic composition and structure of favoured
grazing areas (grasslands), and on bank condition and disturbance of two small
streams at the study sites”
“Methods”
“Replicated exclosure
experiments were established at two sites (Cowombat
Flat and Native Cat Flat). These sites were selected by the AALC and Friends of
the Cobberas as areas that support permanent populations
of feral horses but are not currently grazed by cattle (although both have been
grazed by cattle in the past).” “fenced to exclude
horses but not other grazers (rabbits, wombats, macropods), and unfenced so that grazing is unrestricted.”
To show differences in areas excluding horses, the exclosure
plots would HAVE TO EXCLUDE ONLY HORSES! They excluded very small animals like
rabbits and wombats but NOT DEER OR WILD PIGS!
2013 Observations of Pest Horse
Impacts in the Australian Alps (sqspcdn.com)
“This “Observations” Report is produced for
general information and is a record of personal observations made by the
authors for the Mt Pilot area of Kosciuszko National Park in 2013. “
Observations only. And again using exclosure
plots and therefore excluding all larger animals including deer and pigs therefore
damage that cannot be attributed only to horses.
feral-horse-impact-thesis.pdf (wordpress.com)
“Exotic species
colonised tracks, but not at the expense of the native species.”
Very old paper from 1990. Much of the paper is concerning dung piles
relative to population but then also concentrates on study of tracks. Native
species of flora even on tracks not affected !
“However, when
crossing streams they avoided the Sphagnum in favour of the more solid ground
under grassy and herbaceous vegetation, if this was available.”
Confirming what we all know that horses will avoid these soft areas if
at all possible!
“Soil is often in
a highly compacted state on tracks used by horses or other animals.”
No differentiation between horses and other animals, therefore cannot be
associated only with horses! Refers to studies done with shod domestic horses
to show trampling effects on tracks! Tracks frequented not only by many
different animals but would be used by humans also!
“However, in the
current study, many of the pre-European Sphagnum Bogs would have already
disappeared because of cattle grazing which was phased out in the early 1970’s,
leaving the open herbaceous and grassy areas.”
Speaks for itself!
feral-horse-exclusion-plot-monitoring-and-analysis_final_1.pdf (wordpress.com)
“However, these
impacts cannot be separated from those of deer”
Again the use of
exclusion plots that excluded all of the larger animals including deer and
pigs! The paper is supposed to be concerning horse exclusion but does not only
exclude horses in these plots!
feral-horse-exclusion-plot-monitoring-and-analysis_final_1.pdf (wordpress.com)
“Our study is, to
the extent of our knowledge, the first that has used BFAST to generate fPAR derivatives to explore the link between feral
herbivore impacts on the phenology of vegetation.”
Again a study done on the impact of all herbivores, where horses were
present but not necessarily the cause of the damage. Deer and in fact pigs
again would also be present in these areas!
Assessing the Impacts of Feral
Horses on the Bogong High Plains, Victoria
(amazonaws.com)
Again only observation study assuming that anywhere that horses were
present, that horses were doing any damage seen! Any one of all the wildlife
population in this area could be the cause of any damage seen!