January 30, 2008

• Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue is asking Minnesotans and midwesterners to adopt abused and neglected domestic donkeys and wild burros as they report having more than 1,000 being kept in sanctuaries across the west. Click Here to read the article in full to see if you can help.
• Yesterday the owners of Barbaro announced they will make his final resting place Churchill Downs. Barbaro's was the winner of the 2006 Kentucky Derby and survived a horrific breakdown at the Preakness in May 2006. After a lengthy battle with laminitis, Barbaro was euthanized and cremated last year. Click Here for full article.
• Tuesday's Horse, a blog from the International Fund 4 Horses, has an interesting article titled Cattlemen Fight Horse Slaughter Ban. Click Here to read the article in full.
• The BLM is seeking bids for one or more new pasture facilities to care for and maintain wild horses. With over 70,000 wild horses and burros being removed from public lands in the last six years, there are now more wild horses and burro in containment centers than roam free on "their range". BLMs estimates that as many as 2,500 will continue to be removed annually. The solicitation for bids ends March 24, 2008. Click Here to read the article in full.

January 27, 2008

URGENT!

• Help needed in rescuing horses. Oklahoma Land and Timber Company (formerly Mississippi Land and Timber) has without warning terminated the grazing leases on Blackjack Mountain near Finley, Oklahoma. These Spanish Mustangs have to be removed by February 29, 2008. The problem is that the company (which has recently purchased the land) had previously agreed to extend the leases (contract in writing) and has since broken their word. Unfortunately, they not only canceled the lease without notice but they have ALREADY begun spraying the one and a half million acres with chemicals in order to kill the ground vegetation and sterilize the land for the next two years (except for the timber company's pine seedlings). These straight Spanish Mustangs (Spanish Colonials) are eligible for registration with the Southwest Spanish Mustang Association and probably with the HOA (Horse of the Americas). Included in the large number of horses is a small number of purebred Choctaw and Cherokee Indian Ponies. As such, there are less than 200 of these living legacies of the "Trail of Tears" remaining in the world. Also it should be noted that this is the herd that Frank Hopkins's Hidalgo was released into at the end of both the movie Hidalgo and in real life. These horses are also the legacy of the late Gilbert Jones' preservation activities. Can we let this rare resource and piece of our National heritage perish? I surely hope not. If you are interested in knowing more about this situation, please contact, Bryant Rickman at 580-743-1991.
  
  As a side note, David and I were at Bryant's ranch and at the Gilbert Jones' Medicine Springs Ranch this weekend. There are approximately 150 horses needing to be removed from the mountain. Unfortunately, Rickman was not able to obtain an exact number due to the horses being deeply spooked and scared by the helicopter and planes dropping the herbicides. As such, there is also deep worry concerning the safety of the chemicals which has now contaminated the horses' water and food resources. Needless to say, the situation is dire. If you cannot reach Bryant, please feel free to call David or I at 479-696-9677 and we can relay the messages to Bryant. American Herds does not know the history of this situation nor is this announcement to be construed as an endorsement. It is offered merely to be supportive and offer exposure for those who aim to help American horses - the reader is encouraged to contact those listed for further information.
• Heaven's Gateway Horse Rescue and founder, Jan Ferguson, has put a call out for help through donations - whatever you can spare - to keep their rescued horses and the Rescue afloat. Contact Heaven's Gateway Horse Rescue at: P.O. Box 163 -Howard, CO 81233 Phone: (719) 371-0265 or 942-3712. American Herds does not know the history of this Rescue nor is this announcement to be construed as an endorsement. It is offered merely to be supportive and offer exposure for those who aim to help American horses - the reader is encouraged to contact the Rescue for further information.
• The Animal Welfare Institute has issued a press release stating the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has been lobbying Congress to block passage of the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act and is claiming the AVMA has been directly responsible for promoting the suffering of American horses and is part of a coalition founded by the companies that own the defunct domestic slaughterhouses which are now exporting horses to Mexico and Canada for slaughter. Click Here to read the full article.
• Toby Keith's voice has now been added to those who are urging Congress to finally pass the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act to protect America's horses. Click Here to read the article in full.
• The BLM has confiscated 200 horses from an American Indian and his son who they say have been grazing the animals without a permit near the Nevada-Oregon line. This follows after a similar impoundment of 123 cattle near Winnemucca, Nevada on Monday. Click Here to read the full article.
• Western Horseman Magazine and author Jennifer Denison offer a hard-to-find enjoyable article entitled "In Search of Wild Horses" as the New Mexico desert is explored and bands of wild horses are sought. Click Here to view the full article.
• Reno Gazette Journal posts a story of how Nevada is home to the largest population of wild horses in the United States. Mostly it is a BLM press release for an upcoming adoption at the Warm Springs Correctional Facility in Carson City on 2/10/08. Click Here to read the article in full and stop by to leave a comment!
• BLM is also seeking more bids for anyone who can take the mass of wild horses and burros they have been so diligently and continuously removing from public lands. Click Here to read the article in full.
• Canadian legislation has passed an amendment to clear up any confusion about what methods are banned for the capture of wild horses in changes to the provincial Stray Animals Act. Click Here to view the article in full.
• The Daily Astorian publishes an article titled, "A Seaside Horse-Owner Convicted of Neglect In October, Won't Spend Any Time Behind Bars" but fails to report anything about the case at all in what appears to be a "seaside shell game of facts". This was noted by the only person who commented on the article as they complained that it was devoid of any reporting at all! Click Here to view the article in full.
• Documentary entitled "What About The Horse?" Questions public awareness on the wide array of issues that threaten American horses. A well written summary of many of the current issues with a good dose of statistics and facts. Click Here to view the article in full.
• Darla Clark of Strawberry Mountain Mustang Rescue and Susan Pohlman of Whispering Winds Mustang Ranch are featured in this story about saving horses from abuse, neglect and slaughter. Click Here to read the article in full.
• Equines Unlimited, a blog by Laura Bell, posts a story titled, "Why the Eradication of Mustangs and Burros Affect Us All". Click Here to read the article in full.

January 19, 2008

• The Humane Society of the United States has asked all of us to speak out and up for America's horses by urging everyone to participate in the National Call In Day For Horses on Tuesday, January 22, 2008. PLEASE everyone participate and let your voice be HERD! For more information and dowloadable flyers, Click Here to read the issues and how you can help!
• Nevada Department of Agriculture's Executive Director Donna Rise issued a statement that involved a courteous correction of NDA's position on the recent announcement of a draft cooperative agreement being worked out for Virginia Range wild horses and the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center. Director Rise felt state veterinarian Dr. Anette Rink statements in a previously published article did not accurately reflect NDA's position - one of willingness to work towards a plan to support a viable herd and habitat for the historic Virginia Range herds. http://www.nevadaappeal.com:80/article/20080118/DAYTON/112044187
• The American Chronical presents a brutally descriptive article about horse slaughter and animal cruelty of a staggering variety with musings on the psychological damages to both individuals and societies as a whole. http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/49446
• In yet another old familiar scene being played out to the tune of "can't make up their mind", an article by the AFP titled, "Kill all wild horses in Australian national park: environmentalists", those reporting on the "crisis" of wild horses to the native habitat just can't seem to make up their minds about WHAT those impacts are. First the article reports that 1,700 wild horses, known as "brumbies" in Australia, have cause HAVOC in Kosciuszko National Park! Then officials go on to state that "It is a very undisturbed. It is a very intact ecosytem". So which is it? http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gGIeingejGE2OSQp9bRBJ-9wy2Qw
• Award winning author Deanne Stillman has proudly announced the release of "Mustangs: The Saga of the Wild Horse in the American West" available for pre-order at Amazon and is due out in June 2008. Deanne has been compiling information, stories and facts to create this accounting of our wild horses for almost 10 years. We are all eagerly anticipating its arrival! Thank you Deanne!!!! You can place your order now at: http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0618454454/104-7106821-2507123?SubscriptionId=15VEWHERF6Q30X94NX82

January 16, 2008

• The United States Human Society has provided an easy way to urge America's Senators to QUIT STALLING and get on reversing the Burns Amendment that stripped the last remaining protections from slaughter from America's wild horses and burros. Click Here to be herd!
• Tuesday's Horse, a blog for the International Fund 4 Horses posted an article titled The Horse On The Hill, which details smear campaigns and misinformation running rampant in our major media sources bought with the blood money of slaughtered horses. Unable to get letters published that provide evidence to refute the slaughter industries frenzied PR campaigns, reporters are hanging up because they don't want to hear anything but what they have been paid to say (my words, not theirs!). The author counters with a reminder that January 22, 2008 is National Call In Day for Horses where the people have the opportunity to let our representatives know we have not been bought and want the slaughter of America's horses stopped, here or across the borders! Click Here for complete details on how you can help!!!
• Australians are getting ready to defend their wild horses with their lives! Spokesperson Peter Cochran for the Bush Users Groups stated, "We're left with no choice. This is a government which takes absolutely no notice of the people...." Click Here to read the full story.
• The Nevada Appeal has published an article about a new plan between a group of wild horse advocates and an industrial park owner intending to provide a "habitat management project" for about 450 of the Virginia Range wild horses. Click Here to read the full story.
• An article posted by The Times presents conflicting numbers and information on the National Wild Horse & Burro Program. First it says tens of thousands of mustangs roam freely on public lands, then it says thousands of removed animals are available each year, then it finally gets it right by reporting that free-roaming horses have disappeared for six states and fewer than 25,000 still remain on public lands. It finishes with a complete error by reporting that Montana, not Wyoming has "other significant populations". http://mywebtimes.com:80/ottnews/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=351685
• The World Wildlife News has posted American Wild Horse Preservation Campaigns Action Alert on the need for public input for BLMs management plans for a rare herd of wild pinto burros in Utah due on or before January 23, 2008. Click Here to read the full article.
• KOLO-8 News reported on the January 11, 2008 meeting of the Nevada Commission for the Preservation of Wild Horses but ya wouldn't know it from the way the article is written! It begins with a quote from Allen Biaggi, Nevada's State Director for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, who oversees nine different departments in Nevada and the Nevada Commission for the Preservation of Wild Horses is one of them. Now becoming the spokesperson for the Commission instead of the Commission itself, Director Biaggi testified that Nevada could sue the feds for more money to "manage" wild horse herds. (my emphasis) Translation - removing them since that seems to be the only real "management" that has gone on in Nevada for years! This bright idea was started when Wyoming sued BLM and came to a consent agreement (totally illegal by BLM owns regulations!) to manage wild horses at some number pulled out of a hat for convenience sake, not because this was the population the range could support. Every since, Nevada has been salivating over the idea with Nevada's Wildlife Commissioners leading the way on threatening to bring lawsuits against BLM on several occasions since. Apparently, the Wild Horse Commission is jumping on board too. Click Here to read the full article.
• Return To Freedom was the big winner in the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Equine Fund grantees as they were awarded a $300,000 three-year sponsorship to expand educations and outreach programs supporting their conservation efforts. Click Here to see the full article and ASPCA's other grant recipients.
• "Mustang Blue" posts on the Save Our Mustangs My Space about the wild horse removals conducted in Wyoming in November. Click Here to read the full article.
• About 70 wild horses and burros will be available for adoption in Mobile, Alabama from January 18th through the 20th. Click Here to view full article.
• Award winning author Deanne Stillman has proudly announced the release of "Mustangs: The Saga of the Wild Horse in the American West" available for pre-order at Amazon and is due out in June 2008. Deanne has been compiling information, stories and facts to create this accounting of our wild horses for almost 10 years. We are all eagerly anticipating its arrival! Thank you Deanne!!!! You can place your order now at: http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0618454454/104-7106821-2507123?SubscriptionId=15VEWHERF6Q30X94NX82
• The Bureau of Land Management in Utah has bombarded the public with FIVE Draft Management Plans for establishing how public lands will be managed within the next 10-20 years. These plans will become the guiding foundation for HOW Utah's wild horse and burro herds will be administered and grant BLM the future authority of what they do to those herds. Land use plans are huge documents that require hours of study of BLMs proposals. Posting five of them all within the same few months is yet another effort by land managers to overwhelm the public and consequently, discourage public awareness, participation and involvement.
  
  To access ALL currently proposed Draft Management Plans, go to: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/prog/planning.1.html
• Moab Draft Management Plan - Public Comments - Closed
• Vernal Draft Management Plan -Supplemental - Public Input Due by January 3, 2008 Public Comments - Closed http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/vernal/planning/rmp/draft_rmp_eis/draft_rmp_eis.html
• Kanab Draft Management Plan - Public Input Due by January 10, 2008 - No Wild Horse or Burro HMAs are in this planning area. http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/kanab/planning/draft_rmp_eis.html
• Richfield Draft Management Plan - Public Input Due by January 23, 2008 http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/richfield/planning/rmp/draft_rmp_eis.html
• Monticello Draft Management Plan - Public Input Due by February 8, 2008 http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/monticello/planning/draft_rmp_eis.html

January 11, 2008

• Participate in a limited time poll that wants to know if you are in favor of H.R. 503, To amend the Horse Protection Act to prohibit horses from being shipped to slaughter and S. 311, A bill to amend the Horse Protection Act to prohibit horses from being shipped to slaughter. Click provide links so you can be herd!
• Veternarians For Equine Welfare has issued a press release titled, VEW Releases White Paper on Horse Slaughter. The white paper was created to address misinformation being circulated by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVM) and other organizations opposing a potential ban on horse slaughter in the US and exportation of horses to slaughter. The VFW press release also has a link to the white paper titled, "Horse Slaughter - Its Ethical Impact and Subsequent Response of the Veterinary Profession." Click Here to view article and links.
• International Fund 4 Horses blog, Tuesdays Horse, grants this weeks "Horse Dung Award" to presidential candidate Mike Huckabee for admitting to both eating and enjoying horsemeat.Click Here to read the review.
• A story about "wild horses" in Ethiopia in danger of extinction. Totaling a mere 11 remaining, the article states that the Ethiopian wild horses are truly wild because they have never been domesticated and have roamed the Kundido Mountains for at least 200 years! These guys should talk to our "wildlife experts" who deny America's wild horse status even if they have been documented as "undomesticated" for 400 years! Click Here to read the complete story.
• Your Compassion is Suspect is the name of the article and the author tries to wake people up to the fact that their meat based diets are causing untold havoc on wildlife and the ecosystems. What is unusual is wild horses are included in the wildlife as well as the author providing a link to the story, Amerian Mustangs Killed To Make Room For Cattle Grazing. Click Here to view full article.
• A BLM Memo dated from 2003 roled in that details the priorities and organization of removing wild horses in Wyoming. Click Here to view Memo WY-2003-035.
• About 70 wild horses and burros will be available for adoption in Mobile, Alabama from January 18th through the 20th. Click Here to view full article.
• Award winning author Deanne Stillman has proudly announced the release of "Mustangs: The Saga of the Wild Horse in the American West" available for pre-order at Amazon and is due out in June 2008. Deanne has been compiling information, stories and facts to create this accounting of our wild horses for almost 10 years. We are all eagerly anticipating its arrival! Thank you Deanne!!!! You can place your order now at: http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0618454454/104-7106821-2507123?SubscriptionId=15VEWHERF6Q30X94NX82
• The Bureau of Land Management in Utah has bombarded the public with FIVE Draft Management Plans for establishing how public lands will be managed within the next 10-20 years. These plans will become the guiding foundation for HOW Utahs wild horse and burro herds will be administered and grant BLM the future authority of what they do to those herds. Land use plans are huge documents that require hours of study of BLMs proposals. Posting five of them all within the same few months is yet another effort by land managers to overwhelm the public and consequently, discourage public awareness, participation and involvement.

To access ALL currently proposed Draft Management Plans, go to: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/prog/planning.1.html

Moab Draft Management Plan - Public Comments - Closed
Vernal Draft Management Plan -Supplemental - Public Input Due by January 3, 2008 Public Comments Now Closedhttp://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/vernal/planning/rmp/draft_rmp_eis/draft_rmp_eis.html
Kanab Draft Management Plan - Public Input Due by January 10, 2008No Wild Horse or Burros HMAs are in this planning area.http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/kanab/planning/draft_rmp_eis.html
Richfield Draft Management Plan - Public Input Due by January 23, 2008 http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/richfield/planning/rmp/draft_rmp_eis.html
Monticello Draft Management Plan - Public Input Due by February 8, 2008 http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/monticello/planning/draft_rmp_eis.html

January 5, 2008

• The American Horse Defense Fund has put out an Alert requesting public comments to support the elimination of inhumane double decker trailers used to transport horses to slaughter. The public has until January 7, 2008 to be heard and AHDF says we really need to be! For complete information, http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/dec07/071215b.asp
• The BLM is holding a "Trapsite Adoption" for wild horses recently scheduled for removals in the South Shoshone, Roberts Mountain, and Whistler Mountain Herd Management Areas. Approximately 760 wild horses are scheduled to be removed from the area according to the decision issued by BLM on 12/28/07. A preliminary environmental assessment was released this spring announcing the projected removals for July but other more pressing emergency removals pushed this round up into January. Now, BLM plans to adopt wild horses straight from the round up pens by either Lottery, Competitive Bid or First Come, First Serve. For Trapsite Adoption Schedule or more information: http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/battle_mountain_field/blm_programs/wild_horse_and_burro/trapsite_wild_horse.html
• "Senators Keep Horses On The Menu" is the title of this story. An update on the status of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act that includes a photo of a foal in BLM holding pens. http://www.coloradoconfidential.com:80/showDiary.do?diaryId=3278
• BLM will be conducting an adoption event in Mobile, Alabama January 19-20th with the companion animal bargain of $25.00. Article states since the inception of the WH&B Adoption Program, Alabama has claimed 4,000 wild horses and burros in the adoption process. http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/01-02-2008/0004729517&EDATE=
• "Operation Nobe Mustang" describes how Homeland Security is using wild mustangs to patrol our borders. http://www.contracostatimes.com/nationandworld/ci_7843200?nclick_check=1
• A story in the Tehachapi News describes how Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue is going to work with Texas State Park Officials to remove the Parks centuries old wild burros. State Park Officials claim they have tried every other option to remove them and shooting was the only "alternative". They also claim only 18 burros were shot. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/42601
• Article about rare Caspain horses of which only 1,500 are known to still exist. http://simplymarvelous.wordpress.com/2007/12/30/rare-caspian-horses-get-second-chance/
• PETA names West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd Person of the Year and article chronicals Senator Byrds lifetime pursuit of humane treatment to animals. http://appalachiangreens.blogspot.com/2007/12/peta-names-person-of-year-senator.html
• A blog article by a "laid back cowboy" urges people to write Congress to protect our remaining wild horses and burros and does a fair job outlining the history of wild horses in America. http://skythefly.blogspot.com/2007/12/tell-congress-to-keep-wild-horses.html
• Nevada Appeal reports the BLM will get $35 million this year for its WH&B Program. BLM spokesperson JoAnne Worley express gratitude at having sufficient funding as removals have been planned for at least another two years. http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20071224/NEWS/266757064
• Interesting excerpts from an article, "What's Your Horse Thinking?" from the publishers of Equus http://equisearch.com/horses_care/health/behavior/grandin_082207/
• Award winning author Deanne Stillman has proudly announced the release of "Mustangs: The Saga of the Wild Horse in the American West" available for pre-order at Amazon and is due out in June 2008. Deanne has been compiling information, stories and facts to create this accounting of our wild horses for almost 10 years. We are all eagerly anticipating its arrival! Thank you Deanne!!!! You can place your order now at: http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0618454454/104-7106821-2507123?SubscriptionId=15VEWHERF6Q30X94NX82
• The Bureau of Land Management in Utah has bombarded the public with FIVE Draft Management Plans for establishing how public lands will be managed within the next 10-20 years. These plans will become the guiding foundation for HOW Utahs wild horse and burro herds will be administered and grant BLM the future authority of what they do to those herds. Land use plans are huge documents that require hours of study of BLMs proposals. Posting five of them all within the same few months is yet another effort by land managers to overwhelm the public and consequently, discourage public awareness, participation and involvement.

To access ALL currently proposed Draft Management Plans, go to: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/prog/planning.1.html

Moab Draft Management Plan - Public Comments - Closed
Vernal Draft Management Plan -Supplemental - Public Input Due by January 3, 2008
Public Comments Now Closed
http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/vernal/planning/rmp/draft_rmp_eis/draft_rmp_eis.html
Kanab Draft Management Plan - Public Input Due by January 10, 2008
No Wild Horse or Burros HMAs are in this planning area.
http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/kanab/planning/draft_rmp_eis.html
Richfield Draft Management Plan - Public Input Due by January 26, 2008 http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/richfield/planning/rmp/draft_rmp_eis.html
Monticello Draft Management Plan - Public Input Due by February 8, 2008 http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/monticello/planning/draft_rmp_eis.html