clear cut. the bureau of land management is charged with caring for and manage nearly 40,000 horses and burrows roaming on 26 million acres of the west. but while this federal land was set aside for the horses, they don't have free reign. the land is considered multiuse. >> life stock, recreationists, mining interests, whatever. >> reporter: the blm insists it must reduce herd sizes because the land can't support the numbers. >> this ain't kentucky blue grass. >> reporter: so it holds roundups. last year the goal, remove 12,000 horses. that's right, 12,000. and take them to holding pens. >> this is our land. we want the horses on here most of us. >> reporter: armed with cameras and recorders, the activists document what they see as brutal round ups. here a helicopter chases one single burrow.