Llimited depth perception in Wild Horses and the effects during roundups
During helicopter roundups, horses are:
Driven at sustained high speeds
Chased from behind or above
Prevented from stopping or lowering their heads
Forced across unfamiliar terrain
That combination breaks the horse’s natural visual processing.
What this means on the ground
When depth perception is compromised under stress, you see:
Physical injury
Horses misjudge: Washes- Drop-offs - Fences
Resulting in: Broken legs - Collisions- Fatal falls
Horses rely on vision to feel safe
Helicopters:
Destroy auditory calm
Overwhelm visual cues
Panic narrows perception even further
Foals & seniors at extreme risk
Foals lack experience reading terrain
Older horses have slower reaction times
They cannot “opt out” or pace themselves
Depth perception limitations are manageable only when horses control their movement.
Helicopter roundups:
From a welfare and animal behavior standpoint, this is predictably harmful, not accidental.
This is one of those issues that looks “emotional” on the surface—but is actually grounded in biology, neurology, and behavior science.
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East Pershing Roundup