Madeleine Pickens, wife of oilman T. Boone Pickens wants to create a 1 million acre refuge for wild horses and burros.

Pickens told the Associated Press that she’ll take over the horses and burros now being held in holding pens by the Bureau of Land Management. The horses sent to such facilities are too old or are considered unadoptable. The BLM said it may have to kill some of those horses to control the herds.

According to BLM estimates, there are about 33,000 horses and burros in 10 western states, although half of those are in Nevada. The BLM wants the herd reduced to 27,000.  

BLM spokesman Tom Gorey said the agency told the AP that he welcomes Pickens’ offer.

"Right now we couldn't be more pleased with her interest, and we hope that materializes so that we can get many of these horses out of holding," he said.

"It's such a beautiful sight to see," Pickens said. "This is our national heritage, and it needs to be preserved."