Wild horses saved, but much work to do to change the way the BLM manages wild horses

[Athena89]

As you now know, Madeleine Pickens has saved the 33 thousand wild horses, but we have to continue the work to change the way the BLM manages wild horse for the future.

as stated by the predident of the AWHA:

My concern is: the BLM will KEEP rounding them up - and every male horse they take will be gelded.
All males in the 33,000 in long term holding (captivity) = the ones she wants to take - are gelded.
(That is the first step when they capture them)
It is the end of a bloodline that could easily go back 2 to 4 centuries, or more.
So it will still lead to the same end – just not as soon, or as violently.
Within 30 years, they will ALL be extinct , unless some viable herds (viable is 150 or more) are left on the range – free of BLM and Cattleman interference. To live out their lives, as their ancestors did, and that they also have a right to do!


Recommendations of BLM's Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board
http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/info/newsroom/2008/november/NR_11_19_20...
Below are 19 recommendations that the BLM's citizen-based National Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board made to the Bureau at its meeting in Reno, Nevada, on Monday, November 17, 2008. The recommendations, which were developed by a subcommittee of the Advisory Board, were endorsed unanimously by the Board, with the exception of Recommendation #16, which passed on a 7-1 vote.
The BLM will take these recommendations under advisement and will provide feedback to the Board at its next meeting, which is currently scheduled for February 23, 2009, in Reno. The BLM can accept, reject, or modify the Board's recommendations, which are not binding on the agency. The BLM greatly appreciates the diligent and conscientious work that the Board has put into these recommendations, which come at a critical time in the Bureau's management of wild horses and burros on Western public rangelands.

The Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board will eventually publish the minutes from the 11/17 meeting

(But due to the announcement from Mrs. Pickens, this might be pretty irrelevant now)

And Horsepower is going to have a full video recording of the entire meeting available later this week.

See: http://www.nvhorsepower.org/


for more on M. Pickens:
Person of the Week: Madeleine Pickens
Animal Lover, Philanthropist Rescues More Than 30,000 Wild Horses
See:
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/PersonOfWeek/Story?id=6307278&page=2

For more information on Madeleine Picken's project, visit her Web site:
www.madeleinepickens.com

[Athena89]

OFFICIAL RESOURCES
Provided below are links to various laws, regulations and resources affecting wild horse and burro management on public lands.

http://americanherdsxtras.blogspot.com/2008/06/official-resources.html


Wild Horse ORGANIZATIONS

http://americanherdsxtras.blogspot.com/2008/10/organizations-americ...

American Horse Defense Fund
http://www.ahdf.org/

American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign
http://www.wildhorsepreservation.com/

American Mustang & Burro Association
http://www.ambainc.net/

Animal Welfare Institute
http://www.awionline.org/

Conquistador Equine and Rescue Program
http://www.conquistadorprogram.org/

Corolla Wild Horse Fund
http://www.corollawildhorses.com/

Front Range Equine Rescue
http://www.frontrangeequinerescue.org/

Humane Society of the United States
http://www.hsus.org/

In Defense of Animals
http://www.idausa.org/

International Fund For Horses
http://www.fund4horses.org/

International Society for the Protection of Mustangs & Burros
http://www.ispmb.org/

Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue
http://www.wildhorserescue.org/

National Mustang Association
http://www.nmautah.org/

National Wild Horse Association
http://www.nwha.us/

Nevada Horse Power
http://nvhorsepower.org/index.html

Return to Freedom
http://www.returntofreedom.org/

The Cloud Foundation
http://www.thecloudfoundation.org/

Save Our Wild Horses
http://www.saveourwildhorse.com/

Wild Burro Rescue
http://www.wildburrorescue.org/

Wild Horses of Shackleford Banks
http://www.shacklefordhorses.org/

Whispering Winds Equine Rescue
http://www.whisperingwindsequinerescue.com/

Wild Horse Spirit
http://www.wildhorsespirit.org/

Wild Horses 4Ever
http://www.wildhorsefriends.com/

Wild Horses In Need
http://www.wildhorsesinneed.org/

Wild Mustang Coalition
http://www.wildmustangcoalition.org/

[Athena89]

An action for each of us to do:

This is for wild horses and also pretty much everything else we all care about, so I may post it in a few places. Please do this today... its so easy.

Use this online form on the Obama-Biden transition website to add your comments/views on who he should appoint to important postiions such as The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture:

http://change.gov/page/s/yourvision

here is what was written by Wayne Pacelle, President & CEO of the HSUS, for their action on this to use for reference for what you can add on the form, cut and paste parts or do your own.

The Secretary of the Interior oversees the enforcement of key wildlife laws, such as the Endangered Species Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and wildlife management practices on hundreds of millions of acres of federal land. We think the best candidates for this position are Representatives Raúl Grijalva and Jay Inslee and former Interior Department Deputy Secretary David Hayes. Conversely, we oppose Representative John Salazar, as he has been hostile to a wide range of animal protection policies, including efforts to halt the trophy hunting of polar bears and to protect wild horses from slaughter. Salazar was even aligned with former Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo in an attempt to weaken the Endangered Species Act.
With oversight of the Animal Welfare Act and the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, the Secretary of Agriculture is responsible for enforcing a broad range of laws -- including those covering puppy mills, animal slaughter, animal fighting, and food safety. We believe that John Boyd Jr., founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association, and former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, would be excellent choices for this post. However, we strongly object to former Representative Charlie Stenholm, who has been extremely hostile to even the most modest animal protection reforms, and has been a paid lobbyist for the factory farming and horse slaughter industries. It would be a disaster for animals if he were to be appointed to this position or any other position of authority over animal welfare matters.

*If you have not done that HSUS action already, the link is:

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/FED_2008_obama_secretaryofag2?r...

[Athena89]

If you havent already signed this petition, please do so.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/10/investigate-blms-wild-horse-burro...

its also at:
http://americanherdsxtras.blogspot.com/2008/11/petition-powered-by-...
(at the American Herds page here, you can also download and print a petition for hand signitures if you want to do more, see the link on the page)

[Paula]

God Bless madeleine Pickens It is a total outrage that any horses go to slaughter this is a horrific practice and it sickens me. I am myself would love to be able to do what Mrs. Pickens did all though it is not possiable. But I do feel I make a difference I have taken in three rescues in the past several years. I feel any persons whom can say they love horses and no what these wonderful animals go through and thinks slaughter is ok has no love at all or compassion. Horses are not part of the american food source. I also feel BLM does many things we have no knowlege of. We as horse lovers need to stand up for what is right we can make a difference in numbers. God Bless any one who stands up for what is right

[Cindy Dages]

Hi
I am sorry I'm not as involved in this matter as I would like to be, but I still have an opinion. We have a small wild mustang herd home range about 20 minutes from here. It is the Sulfur Springs herd. Supposedly this herd has the most Spanish Mustang blood lines of all the herds. It's a small herd, but it is there to be enjoyed and watched by the next generations.

For centuries these herds have roamed free range employing survival of the fittest. They still survive. Nature is, and always has been, survival of the fittest. That is the way nature balances these kinds of things. The problem started when humans started trying to change things. Imagine that!

On my list of things to do is adopt a mustang. That has been one of my dreams. From things I have read on the topic, there is no fence sitting on this. Either you Love them for faithful, trainable companions, or you won't touch them with a 10' pole.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Cindy

[Athena89]

hi Cindy
Yeah, humans sure do mess things up. The wild mustangs here in the US are actually from the horses that the Spanish left when they were battling here centuries ago. Thanks to those people, we have our wild mustangs... but then there are the darn cattle ranchers, trying and succeeding to use all of the BLM land they can get... and they have lots of money for lobbyists to do it.
I hope you can adopt one someday. I too feel as you do... dont get involved with a horse unless you plan to be totally commited to them and to all of thier needs. As a former horse "owner", I know how much work is involved to properly care for them.
I am not sure what area you are in, but see the above links and maybe you can start helping the mustang herd near you with one of those groups. It sure would be worth a try if you are interested.
Good luck.

[Cindy Dages]

Hi

I am in SW Utah. I have 3 horses now, and can't really afford to get another, especially since only one of the 3 are broke. 4 rides on the 3yr old and one on the 2 yrs old. All we did with her was saddle her the first time, got on, with some preliminary ground work naturally, and lead her around the paddock for about 10 min. Haven't been out of the round pen with the 3 yr. old.

I want to make sure I can get a horse rideable before getting a fully wild one.

Cindy

[Crystal]

We have meddled so much w/ survival of the fitest:( Gelding and releasing sounds like a disaster to me. There are limited rescourses and they should be going to the horses that can keep the lines going. The herds could be culled w/out shipping for slaughter. Culling sounds like the only realistic solution to the problem. The cattlemen are not going to give up the allotements and the gov is going to make them.Also its going to be up to the private sector to fund this in the future. 5-10 years the blm will be lucky to have 2 pennies to rub together. When the federal belt gets tightened who do you think the public will fund? Police,fire, education services are not getting cut for a bunch of horses in some desert. It sucks but it seems like reality.

[Athena89]

yeah, well, that is the case in a lot of issues, but people keep fighting. Its no reason to give up. Cattle ranchers keep lobbying and we keep fighting too. Just look at all the org's listed above... and that is not all of them.
Its never easy for any issue we all care about. gotta keep going
cheers!

[Athena89]

hi Cindy,
I love Utah. I am in NV.
Hey, check out some of those orgs above to get involved in helping if you can.
cheers!