Tag Archives: wild horses

Wild Horses Dying during Roundup

Dear Animal Advocates,
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior that administers America’s public lands, including the animals who call these lands home. As part of its wild horse management program, the BLM periodically rounds up large numbers of wild horses and moves them into long-term holding facilities.

Over the weekend, the BLM began its latest roundup of more than 1,200 federally protected wild horses on public lands in Nevada. The use of helicopters to run the terrified horses over miles of scorching desert resulted in serious injuries and several horse deaths, which led to temporary suspension of the roundup.

This occurred in spite of the fact that the BLM, under intense public criticism, established an open comment period on its plans for wild horses that is not over until August. Instead of waiting to hear what the American public has to say, BLM officials decided to go forward with these cruel and brutal roundups in the blistering heat of summer (several more are scheduled for the coming weeks). This, of course, is funded by your tax dollars.

What You Can Do
Call the White House Comment Line today at (202) 456-1111. The Obama Administration needs to be told — politely! — that the BLM’s actions are underhanded and inappropriate, and that the current roundup and others scheduled this summer must be cancelled immediately.

Please visit the ASPCA Online Advocacy Center at www.aspca.org/BLM to learn more about this issue and to see some tips on what to say when you call.

Madeleine Pickens & Wild Horse Coalition Call for Suspension of All Summer Round Ups!

First major wild horse roundup of summer proves deadly; critics claim Department of Interior’s public access restrictions censor truth about government wild horse program

(July 13, 2010) – Philanthropist and businesswoman Madeleine Pickens was joined today by the million-member ASPCA, the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign, and many other organizations expressing their outrage over the deaths of at least seven mustangs in a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) roundup conducted Saturday in the Owyhee Complex in northeastern Nevada. The wild horses died of dehydration-related causes — including brain swelling, colic and acute water intoxication – as a result of being stampeded by helicopters for up to eight miles in 90+ degree desert heat.

In a sign on letter addressed to President Obama and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Mrs. Pickens and the groups also harshly criticized the agency for cracking down on public access to observe and videotape roundup operations. The advocates released footage of a BLM representative stating publicly that public video of a prior roundup caused the agency to have “a really hard time trying to explain what’s happening.”

Continue reading Madeleine Pickens & Wild Horse Coalition Call for Suspension of All Summer Round Ups!

Seven Horses Die Following Day One of Nevada Roundup

Dear Friends of America’s Wild Horses,
These are remarkably trying times, considering the recent deaths of our wild horses in the West. Despite a public outcry against the massive and dangerous roundups of these treasured animals, the Bureau of Land Management is pressing forward, leaving the broken bodies of our mustangs in their wake. When we have unpreventable disaster like earthquakes and hurricanes, it is indeed frustrating to watch a man-made disaster unfolding on our public lands in the West against innocent wild animals who only want to live in peace with their families.

Despite our anger at being ignored by the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management, we must not let our emotions get the best of us. Any thoughts of violent actions or illegal behavior of any kind need to be put out of our heads. Instead, we must focus on legal methods to make a difference. Here is what you can do right now, today, and for the weeks and months that follow.

Continue reading Seven Horses Die Following Day One of Nevada Roundup

Doubt Cast on Pilot Valley “Estray” Horses Rounded Up by BLM

July 7, 2010 – CHICAGO (EWA) – On June 23, 2010, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Elko District office buried on its website a notice that  approximately 175 “abandoned, domestic, estray” horses located within Pilot Valley, NV, were scheduled for impoundment beginning June 25. The round up was expected to take 3 – 4 days with corrals set up on nearby private land owned by Simplot Land and Livestock until the horses could be transported and placed under the jurisdiction of the State of Nevada.

According to Nevada laws, an estray is a horse that is found running loose on public lands but shows signs of domestication and the owner is unknown. A horse is considered “feral” under Nevada law if the animal was domesticated or is the offspring of domesticated horses and has become wild with no physical signs of domestication. The state of Nevada owns estray and feral horses. Wild horses and free-roaming Mustangs are protected by the BLM under the 1971 Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act.

Nevada authorities plan to sell the horses rounded up by the BLM at auction on July 10. The horses will be available to all buyers and are therefore at risk of ending up at slaughterhouses in Mexico or Canada.

Continue reading Doubt Cast on Pilot Valley “Estray” Horses Rounded Up by BLM

Western Radio Addresses Unwanted Horse Issue

The Horse Radio Network’s Western Radio Show Explains the Dilemma of Unwanted Mustangs

Horse Radio Network at www.horseradionetwork.com

Lexington, KY – One of the Horse Radio Network’s newest shows, The Western Radio Show, takes a look at the controversial mustang situation in a way that anyone can understand.  With the help of Dr. Don Hoglund, author of Nobody’s Horses, The Dramatic Rescue of the Wild Herd of White Sand, hosts Alan Moorhead and Jymmy Kay Cox guide you through the history, the controversy and the possible solutions to this topic.

There are over 34,000 formally free roaming mustangs currently in holding pens across America. The disposition of these horses has been the subject of heated debate and emotions recently. This two part series on the Western Radio Show at www.westernradioshow.com offers a better understanding of the mustangs’ displacement and disposition alongside the options currently available.

Continue reading Western Radio Addresses Unwanted Horse Issue

Update from Cloud’s Mountaintop

A letter from Director Ginger Kathrens

Dear Friends of Cloud and all wild horses:

We just returned from a wonderful week with the wild horses of the Pryor Mountains.

Abundant rain has turned the range emerald green. All the horses are fat, and most are sleek, except for a few yearlings who still have remnants of their scraggly winter coats. There were twenty-some babies atop the mountain, including a charming trio of foals sired by Cloud’s son, Bolder. I can’t help but remember another trio of foals 15 years ago, sired by the magnificent black stallion, Raven. His son, Cloud, was a leggy white foal who loved to pester his two sisters, Smokey and Mahogany, and make wild runs around the clusters of fir trees after sunset.

Continue reading Update from Cloud’s Mountaintop

Commercial Zoning Proposed for Currituck Off-Road Beaches

May 22, 2010 – A request to bring commercial development to the Currituck Off-Road Beaches will be heard once again by the Currituck County Board of Commissioners at their June 7, 2010, meeting.

Presented by Bissell Professional Group for developer Gerald Friedman of Swan Beach Corolla, LLC, the proposal — closely resembling two previous requests in 2005 and 2008 — has taken the form of a rezoning request from Residential to General Business – Conditional District.  Two parcels in Swan Beach, totaling 37.36 acres, would be rezoned from residential to commercial.  If passed, the proposed map amendment could set precedent and allow rezoning to commercial throughout Currituck Off Road beaches.

The Proposal would permit construction of a 320-unit inn and accessory uses, 19,200 square feet of neighborhood commercial, a wellness center, a fishing pier with accessory structures, and outdoor recreational facilities. A chapel, school, and fire station are also included in the request.

Continue reading Commercial Zoning Proposed for Currituck Off-Road Beaches

BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program

Americans are passionate about wild horses and burros, and there are many different, often conflicting, perspectives about how they should be managed. The BLM is committed to bridging these differences by working closely with our partners, stakeholders, the public and our employees to develop a strategy and find solutions that are best for wild horses and burros, wildlife, and the many other uses of the public lands. Over the next 60 days, we invite our interested stakeholders to offer their opinions and suggestions about the draft goals and objectives, as well as the series of possible management actions.

Please visit www.blm.gov for more information on the Wild Horse and Burro Strategy Development Document.

We value your input and look forward to any suggestions you may have to assist the BLM to improve the Wild Horse and Burro Program. Thank you for your interest and participation in this important effort.

Tennessee Horse Slaughter Bill Criticized by Willie Nelson Fails in House Panel

May 4, 2010 – NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A horse slaughter bill that was criticized by Willie Nelson has failed this session of the Tennessee General Assembly.

The measure sponsored by Republican Rep. Frank Niceley of Strawberry Plains was unanimously sent to a summer study committee by the House Finance Committee on Tuesday. The companion bill has been withdrawn from consideration in the Senate.

Niceley’s proposal stated that the slaughtering of horses is “best addressed by proper state regulations and inspection and not by banning the humane slaughter of surplus domestic horses at the federal level.”

Continue reading Tennessee Horse Slaughter Bill Criticized by Willie Nelson Fails in House Panel

New Foal! The First Freedom Fund Foal Has Arrived, by Ginger Kathrens

Photos by Baerbel Stuetzle
Photos by Baerbel Stuetzle

Dear Fans of Cloud and Our Wild Horses,

Makendra and I had just landed in Columbus this morning to begin the Equine Affaire weekend when I got the message that I was “a grandmother!” Not of a two-legged, but of a newborn bay four-legged.

Baerbel Stuetzle, manager of the ranch at the base of Pryors where our Freedom Fund horses live, had left me this message: “The bay mare in Bo’s band (Chalupa) foaled this morning to a very strong baby — very healthy.” Baerbel couldn’t tell if it is a boy or girl yet, but the foal was about three hours old when she snapped these pictures. What’s your best guess?  Is it a boy or a girl?

The little one was born in the snow, but born with his or her family thanks to so many of you who donated to save them and keep the bands together.  Bet this little one doesn’t know he or she has thousands of grandparents all around the country!

Once we know the sex, we will let you know and we think it would be fun if you kids out there (anyone 16 or younger) submit a name for the baby and we will choose the winning entry. Sound like fun?

Best to you all.  Spring really has arrived!

Happy Trails!

Ginger

The Cloud Foundation

107 South 7th St

Colorado Springs, CO 80905

719-633-3842

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