The majority of horses from the Pryor Mountain herd are back on the range now that their controversial gather is complete.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) began removing the horses last week amid objections from wild horse advocates that the gather would harm the herd’s viability. The BLM initially planned to remove more than 190 horses from the Pryor range and offer 70 for adoption during a National Wild Horse Adoption Day event on Sept. 26.

But because some of the horses were located in high mountain areas, only 146 horses were gathered. Of those gathered, 57 are in short-term holding awaiting the adoption event. Three foals and three nursing mares also remain in short-term holding.

“The (attending) veterinarian thought the foals looked undernourished, so we’ll feed them here for a week or so,” said BLM spokesman Gregory Albright