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.