Monthly Archive for: ‘May, 2017’

Guess who just Joined The Band!

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

#ImWithTheBand — our new social media awareness campaign — launched today with a reach of nearly 4 million people!

Music legend Carole King and actor Wendie Malick have Joined the Band to defend wild horse families (known as bands) from unprecedented threats to their future.

Are you with them?  Our wild horses and burros need you to be.

The Administration wants to slaughter tens of thousands of these innocent and iconic animals and drive their wild populations down to near extinction levels. We must tell Congress to stop this lethal plan!

Visit StandWithTheBands.org, where you’ll be able to create your  “backstage pass” — your own shareable graphic — to promote on your social media pages, take action and watch our new educational video. 

Help us harness the power of the people to save America’s mustangs…Join The Band today!! 

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Meet “COLT” and please help him if you can!

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The following is from Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang:

Meet “COLT”, the newest orphan at Chilly Pepper. Colt was born in the wild and was severely injured by coyotes. After getting permission from the proper authorities he was brought in. That’s when life became even more “interesting”.

As usual, there is never a dull moment at CPMM. Matt and I had just gotten home from an event in Carson City with Lacy J Dalton to fund raise for the wild ones. We had taken Sapphire, Diesel and Stormy, the resident orphans, for a “meet and greet” at Lacy’s request. The even was amazing and so many folks got to “touch” a wild horse in the proper way. The babies did awesome and it was a great evening for all.

Matt and I spent the night with the babies in Gardnerville as we had to pick up Buddy, a sweet 4 year old mustang that we helped place in a new home up in Idaho. The next day we went home to meet the vet and brand inspector to get the 6 ready for their trip to Idaho.

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Racing Medication Bill Introduced

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The following is from the American Horse Council:

 

Today, the Horseracing Integrity Act of 2017 (H.R. 2651) was introduced by Representatives Andy Barr (R-KY) and Paul Tonko (D-NY).  The bill would create a new Horseracing Anti-Doping and Medication Authority and uniform racing medication rules.  Representatives Barr and Tonko had previously introduced a racing medication bill that only applied to Thoroughbred horseracing. The recently introduced bill, while similar to the previous bill, has several key differences.   Most notably the new bill would apply to Quarter Horse and Standardbred races as well, not only Thoroughbred races and prohibits the use of any substance within 24 hours of a race.

The AHC is continuing to review the bill to determine its impact on the horse racing industry and taken has no position on this legislation.

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Our biggest fear

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

We knew this was coming, and now our worst fears have been realized.

Yesterday, the Trump Administration released its budget request to Congress for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and it literally places the lives of over 90,000 wild horses and burros in jeopardy.

The Administration is asking Congress to lift the ban on killing healthy wild horses and burros or selling them for slaughter. The BLM wants permission to destroy “unadoptable” horses and burros as well as those it considers to be “excess” on the range. If Congress approves this request, the mass killing of the 46,000 wild horses and burros in holding facilities and the 46,000 “excess” animals on the range would begin.

We must make sure Congress stands firm against slaughtering our national icons!

This is going to be an intensive 4-6 month campaign to defeat this lethal budget proposal in Congress.

Right now, we need you to do these three things IMMEDIATELY!

1. Send a strong and unified message to Congress.

2. #JoinTheBand to send a tidal wave of public support for wild horses and burros on social media on May 30

3. Donate so that we can elevate our grassroots and legislative campaigns to the seismic level necessary to save our national icons!

The fight is on to save our wild horses and burros!  We’re ready, but we NEED your help. Let’s protect our wild horses and burros from this Administration’s lethal plans… Take action today!

In Freedom,

Suzanne Roy, Exectuive Director

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What’s New with Roll? Leading the Hourglass Pattern

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After being off last week, Roll was more than happy to come with me today. The air was brisk with a bit of a breeze and Roll was even a little snorty walking up to the work station. We spent a good amount of time with the Goody hairbrush getting the undercoat loose and I then went over him with the shedding blade to get the excess on top. He was still shedding hair all over, so I decided to go ahead with the vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner serves a dual purpose: it pulls the remaining loose hairs from his coat while stimulating the capillaries to come to the surface of the skin. This increased circulation makes for an extremely soft and healthy coat. He still has a lot left to shed, but his hair now feels silky to the touch. I then put Roll in his surcingle, Eggbutt Snaffle bridle and “Elbow Pull” for his core muscle, postural leading lessons.

Roll practically pulled me down the alleyway to the dressage arena, but was very well behaved when we stopped to give Augie and Spuds a treat of oats. Roll was okay with sharing as long as I gave him more oats, too!

Roll and I then walked to the gate and he went through beautifully as always.

We marched along the pens and gave treats to all the mules who would be his audience.

Roll launched into the hourglass pattern on the lead rope with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. He squared up easily, but was still reluctant to put all the appropriate weight on his right hind foot.

 

 

 

 

 

He kept an upright balance through the turns and was markedly better in balance over the ground rails.

He even trotted a bit along side of the pens once I got out in front of him, but when I asked him to trot back to the gate, he was too tired! The chiropractor had come out to see him last week and said that he was locked up in his right hip, so it may be he needs another chiropractic visit this week as well.

At any rate, I was pleased with his progress and even though he missed his lesson last week, he still did better than in prior weeks. The hind feet were no longer twisting after his trim on May 19th.

It may very well be that he can graduate to the round pen soon for bulk muscle building. His core is solid now and after his workout, he was much tighter in the abs and filled in nicely over his topline.

Roll is carrying just a little more weight than I would like to see, but he did look less obese after his lesson and when we begin the bulk muscle building, it should disappear rapidly as the fat evolves into muscle. At twenty-six, Roll is doing so much better than I ever would have expected given his questionable history.

 

Have You ‘Joined The Band’ Yet?

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

On May 30, we want to send out a loud message calling on legislators to protect America’s wild horses, and we will do so using a platform called Thunderclap. It’s a tool that allows people to pledge a tweet or Facebook post that will be posted along with thousands of other supporters on the same day. Think of it as a massive flash mob on social media with a collective message calling on the world to Stand With America’s Wild Bands. It’s completely secure and will post a single, one-time message on your behalf. If all of our supporters take part, we can reach millions of people on May 30 when the message is blasted out. Only the power of the people can save our national heritage animals. Spreading the word is absolutely critical, and now it couldn’t be easier! If you’re With The Band, please sign up today!

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Say NO to BLM Roundup of Wyoming Wild Horses

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

The wild horses living in the Red Desert Complex in Wyoming need your help! The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing a massive roundup and removal of 2,096 horses, or 80% of the 2,620 horses residing in and around the Complex that includes the Antelope Hills, Crooks Mountain, Green Mountain, Lost Creek, and Stewart Creek Herd Management Areas. The BLM’s goal is to reach a low Appropriate Management Level of only 524 wild horses on 753,000 acres of public land.  Please take a minute and submit your comments urging the BLM to consider more humane and effective alternatives to the proposed removal of Wyoming wild horses from their homes on the range… Click below to take action today!

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Meeting with Navajo on Humane Wild Horse Management

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

On Monday, May 15, AWHC Executive Director Suzanne Roy accompanied Salt River Wild Horse Management Group President Simone Netherlands to Window Rock, Arizona, the capitol of the Navajo Nation, to present information on humane wild horse management options. Also presenting at the meeting was Leland Grass (pictured at center above) of Dine’ for Wild Horses & Seminars. Leland is a prominent wild horse advocate and member of the Navajo nation. The Navajo face a complex problem of managing a large popultion of domestic, semi-feral and wild horses on the 18 million acre reservation. Officials from the Fish and Wildlife, Agriculture and Natural Resources divisions attended the meeting and were very welcoming toward us and the information we presented.

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More Heartbreak and Some Happily Ever After at Chilly Pepper

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The following is from Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang:

Once again my heart feels like it has been shattered into a million tiny pieces.Early Wednesday morning, Matt backed in the trailer to our loading area and I went to get Frosty and Braveheart.

To my horror, I noticed something was wrong with Braveheart. Just the night before he had been be-bopping around and feeling great. But this morning, something was terribly wrong. His poor little face was swollen halfway up, and you could tell he was done.

It took a minute to realize that overnight he had become 100% blind. He was struggling horribly and extremely frantic at losing his sight. Of course I called Doc immediately, and she came out to see what had happened.

The most likely explanation is due to the fact that his eye had been so horribly infected for so many months, (if not years), that he had probably had an abscess that for some unknown reason decided to burst during the night, and it caused the immediate blindness. Doc’s other thought was that it could have been an aneurysm, but in either case, the way he was standing with his head down would account for the swelling of the soft tissue.

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Wild Horses Extinct in Our Lifetime?

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Dear supporter,

Disaster is looming for America’s wild horses and burros. Congress just called for accelerated roundups and removal of tens of thousands of mustangs and burros from their homes on the range.

We have to save these cherished animals, and we can – but only with your help.

Beginning in July, helicopters will again descend our western public lands to terrorize and traumatize these peaceful animals.

Tiny foals will be stampeded for miles. Foals will be ripped from their mothers’ sides. Mares will be forcibly taken from their stallions… only to be separated forever and loaded onto trailers for their final ride.

In our lifetimes, more wild horses could disappear from on our public lands.

Contribute to the Wild Horse Crisis Fund to protect these innocent victims of government brutality.

SAVE OUR NATIONAL ICONS.  Join The Grassroots Effort.

Thank you for standing up for America’s wild horses and burros – only the power of the people can save them!

– Suzanne Roy, Executive Director

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The American Wild Horse Campaign is dedicated to preserving American wild horses and burros in viable free-roaming herds for generations to come, as part of our national heritage.

The American Wild Horse Campaign is 501(c)3 non-profit. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support our work.

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What’s New with Roll? Going for a Walk

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Roll missed his exercises last week, so we thought we had better get out there today. Both of us were a bit tired of the arena, so we opted for a walk down the hayfield road. It was a rainy day and Roll had rolled in the mud, so we just did the hairbrush and shedding blade routine without the vacuum cleaner this time.  Then we were ready to go.

Although he missed his exercises last week, he was still a bit better on the right hind foot. He did not want to put full weight on it, but I was sure he would do better after his walk in his core muscle building gear: the snaffle bridle with the dropped noseband, his surcingle and the “Elbow Pull” to make sure that the topline and abs would be engaged during the workout.

In the spring, we only turn out in dirt areas while the grass is growing. The equines will get turned out on grass on June 1st. This helps to maintain a nice stand of grass in all the turnout areas that will last all summer and into the fall. We never graze the equines on the hayfield pastures.

Contrary to popular belief, horse manure (or any manure that is not processed) will contain weed seeds and will contaminate the weed-free hayfields that we have managed to grow on 112 of our 127 ½ acres. There is an obvious size difference between us, but Roll is a gentleman and though he REALLY wanted to eat the grass, he still stuck to the routine as best that he could.

He did try to drag me off the road and over to the grass, but I just planted my feet, pulled on the lead rope as his right foot was coming forward and redirected him back down the road.

He was so good that I decided to let him have a bite and we then continued on down the road. We walked about a half mile out and back.

On the way back, Roll was breathing a bit hard, so I know he put his heart and soul into his exercise yet again. What a great guy! When he got back, he was fully weighting the right hind.

 

 

This is it

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Dear Supporters,

This is it: Your chance to stand with tens of thousands of citizens in defense of America’s iconic mustangs and burros. Sign up today to make your voice heard!

On May 30, our collective voices will rise up on social media to take a stand against mass roundups and slaughter of these cherished animals.  As a champion for these national icons, you won’t want to miss the chance to join in this groundbreaking campaign. 

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UHC Members Meet in June

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The following is from the Unwanted Horse Coalition:

The UHC will be hosting its annual meeting in conjunction with the American Horse Council’s Annual Meeting and National Issues Forum in Washington DC.  UHC member organizations and guests will hear program updates, review survey results and discuss the coalition’s objectives for the upcoming year.

For a full list of members, visit www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org/member-organizations/ or to inquire about UHC membership and programs, contact the UHC office at uhc@horsecouncil.org.

 

Read on UHC Website

Omnibus Spending Bill Creates Danger for Wild Horses

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

Danger for Wild Horses and Burros on Capitol Hill

Congress just passed an Omnibus spending bill to fund the government for the next five months – until the end of Fiscal Year 2017. The good news: Congress maintained the de facto ban on domestic horse slaughter and the prohibition against the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) sale for slaughter or killing of captured wild horses and burros. More troubling, though, is a provision in Section 116 that allows the BLM to strip wild horses and burros of federal protection and transfer them to state, federal and local agencies for use as “work animals.”  

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BRAVEHEART has his surgery & More! at Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang

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The following is from Chilly Pepper – Miracle Mustang:

It’s go time again at Chilly Pepper. (Although it seems like that is the norm nowadays.) But we are moving forward and y’all have helped save alot of horses.

YOU are the reason this is all possible and we so appreciate the love and support.

A quick summary of some of the purchases y’all made :)

$ 2,800 for hay
$ 2,500 Foal Lac Powder & Pellets
$ 400 bedding
$ 3,200+ vet bills
$ 250 farrier expenses
$ 750 Colostrum & misc

Those are just some of the major expenses. There are lots of other miscellaneous costs for these kids, but you have made it all possible with your love and support, so Thank You! (At least you know we are not wasting a penny of your much needed donations.)

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Time is Running Out! Don’t Wait…Donate!

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The following is from All About Equine Animal Rescue

WE ARE IN THE HOME STRETCH!

Big Day of Giving ends at midnight! We are about half way to our goal, but there is still time to donate.  Help us meet our goal in the last 4 hours!

This year, our goal is to engage 200 donors and raise $10,000 to help us FILL THE BARN to help support our feed and care costs! 

Do you know what your donation could do?  

Last year it cost over $50,000 for feed, supplements and care for the horses at AAE! Your donation of any amount will help feed a horse, assist with the cost of veterinary care, or provide for other needs such as hoof or dental care.

Help us care for these majestic animals and donate today!

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BIG Day of Giving: What Can Your Donation Do?

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The following is from All About Equine Animal Rescue:

It’s Finally Here!!  The BIG Day of Giving!!

This event started at midnight and goes for 24 hours. This is a great opportunity to give local now and show the country that our region is #1 as the most generous community on this national day of giving!

This year, our goal is to engage at least 200 donors and raise $10,000 to help us FILL THE BARN to help support our feed and care costs! 

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EMERGENCY ALERT: Danger on Capitol Hill

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The following is from the American Wild Horse Campaign:

I’m sorry to have to give you some devastating news. In the wee hours of Monday morning, Congress released a 1,600+ page spending bill for 2017. Buried on page 804 is Section 116, which allows the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to strip wild horses and burros of federal protection and “immediately” transfer them to state and local governments for use as “work animals.”

But with no definition of work animal, and no limit to the number of horses and burros that can be transferred, this language could provide a back door route to killing thousands of these national legacy animals. Although Congress added language prohibiting commercial slaughter and putting some restrictions on “euthanasia,” signalling its intent to prevent the killing of healthy horses. However, ambiguities and loopholes in the language leave it open to abuse. Especially at risk are the older mustangs and burros, now protected under federal law. Under the language these majestic, elder animals could be killed simply due to “advanced age,” a term that is undefined.

We can’t let this stand…Congress should not be allowed to undermine the will of the American people and a unanimously-passed Act of Congress – the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act – through a last-minute spending bill. 

We have just hours to make our voices heard… Please click below NOW to call and send a message to key appropriators asking them to strip this devastating provision that could result in the killing of thousands – and potentially tens of thousands — of America’s cherished wild horses and burros.

If you do one thing for wild horses and burros, please do this now!

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H-2B Cap Relief to Be Part of Spending Bill

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The following is from the American Horse Council:

 

Congress has reached a tentative agreement on a bill to fund the federal government through September 30, 2017.  Importantly, the bill contains limited H-2B cap relief and other H-2B provisions beneficial to users of the program like the horse industry.

The H-2B program is used by members of the horse industry, principally horse trainers and owners who cannot find American workers to fill semi-skilled jobs at racetracks, horse shows, fairs and in similar non-agricultural activities.

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