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