Navajo Nation reverses stance on horse slaughter

Bill Richardson and Robert Redford

The Navajo Nation, under fire by animal protection groups for its wild horse roundups and public support for a return to domestic horse slaughter, says it is reversing its stance following talks with former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. 

Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly says he met with Richardson over the weekend and the two have agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding to work together to find more long-term and humane solutions to the horse overpopulation problem. 

Tribal officials estimate the Navajo Nation has 75,000 feral horses drinking wells dry and causing ecological damage to the drought-stricken range.

 Richardson and actor Robert Redford this year created the Foundation to Protect New Mexico Wildlife, which is fighting efforts by a Roswell company to a horse slaughterhouse.

Navajo Nation reverses stance on horse slaughter