An advocacy group wants Alberta to give protection to the nearly 1,700 wild horses that roam in the Rocky Mountain foothills in the central part of the province. The horses, which have been around since the early 1800s, descended from escaped or released domestic horses used for ranching, logging and mining operations. Bob Henderson, the president of The Wild Horses of Alberta Society, wants the Alberta government to provide protection for the horses like Saskatchewan did for the Bronson ponies in 2009. Henderson says he is worried the government may implement another cull where a few are adopted out and the rest are sent to slaughter houses. He says a five year pilot project where some of the horses were given a contraceptive has now ended and more support is needed going forward.